MoreThales Navigation, a leading global provider of GPS solutions including its Magellan consumer and Ashtech professional product lines, has appointed Neil Vancans as General Manager of its newly formed Professional Products Strategic Business Unit.
As General Manager, Vancans' responsibilities include defining the business strategy, as well as leading the sales, marketing and engineering efforts of the strategic business unit. Vancans has a proven track record of enhancing company performance through marketing initiatives and business re-engineering programs.
Vancans most recently served at Leica both as member of the management board, responsible for Leica's business areas, and as president of Leica Geosystems GPS Business Area. Leica's GPS business grew from $30 million to $90 million under his leadership. The strategic growth of GPS was a major contributor to Leica's highly successful IPO in July 2000.
As a native of the U.K. who has lived in the U.S. for six years, Vancans brings a unique and worldwide perspective of the professional GPS business. His experience in leading multi-cultural teams in diverse locations across two continents also made Vancans the perfect choice for Thales Navigation, which has 15 locations across nine countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Vancans holds a Postgraduate Diploma from University College London and also holds a B.Sc. in Geography from Plymouth Polytechnic.
