SPEE3D appoints Bryan O’Connor as Global CEO
SPEE3D, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, has appointed Bryan O’Connor as its Global Chief Executive Officer. O’Connor brings more than 30 years of senior executive experience across the aerospace, defence and industrial automation sectors.
The appointment comes as SPEE3D’s current CEO and Co-Founder, Byron Kennedy, relocates to the United States to build the company’s presence, partnerships and business there. As Global CEO, O’Connor will lead SPEE3D’s operations worldwide while Kennedy focuses on driving growth in the United States.
O’Connor stated, “SPEE3D is developing game-changing technology with the potential to fundamentally change how defence forces manufacture, repair and sustain critical capability in the field. The modern battlefield demands resilient logistics and the ability to sustain operations at Forward Operating Bases.”
“It is increasingly a war of attrition, where speed, availability and resilience are critical. SPEE3D’s CriticalSPEE3D model has the potential to revolutionise Forward Operating Base logistics by enabling critical metal parts to be produced rapidly and close to where they are needed,” he added.
O’Connor has held general manager, managing director and other senior leadership roles with major multinational companies, including Moog and Apple, across Australia and Ireland. His experience in defence, aerospace technologies, sovereign capability and international business development is intended to support SPEE3D as the company enters its next phase of global growth.
As Moog’s General Manager, Asia-Pacific Defence, and Managing Director of Moog Australia, O’Connor grew the company’s regional defence business and expanded its presence across the Indo-Pacific. He led the development of key markets and technologies while supporting major defence programmes and building strategic relationships across the region.
During his time in Australia, O’Connor oversaw the construction of new facilities in 2014 and a further major expansion in 2022, supporting defence and aerospace programmes across the region. He also played a key role in securing strategic opportunities across programmes including ASCA, GCSP, F-35, GWEO and GMLRS, contributing to sovereign capability and defence exports.
Adam Lewis, Chairman of SPEE3D, said, “Bryan’s experience building and growing Defence businesses across Australia and the Indo-Pacific makes him an exceptional fit to lead SPEE3D. His deep understanding of Defence markets, sovereign capability and advanced technologies will be a game changer as SPEE3D enters its next phase of growth.”
Kennedy commented, “SPEE3D has grown from an Australian start-up into a company shaping how Defence forces sustain capability around the world. Appointing Bryan as Global CEO is a key milestone in that journey, and it lets me focus on building our presence and partnerships in the United States. It is the right next step for our global expansion, ensuring we continue delivering cutting-edge, sovereign, and expeditionary manufacturing capabilities to our Defence partners and industrial customers.”
