James Davis

Managing Director KBS Maritime

James Davis is strategic business executive with more than 20-years of experience within the Defence and Infrastructure sectors. James is the Managing Director of KBS Maritime, a joint venture company between BAE Systems and KBR, established in 2021 to meet the needs of Portsmouth Naval Base (PNB) and wider defence establishments. A collaborative leader, James is committed to improving Enterprise outcomes, working with Navy Command, DE&S and the DIO to digitally transform the management and delivery of infrastructure programmes and services. As a measure of success, the joint team are on track to double outputs from the PNB infrastructure programme in FY ‘25/26 compared to the prior year. Prior to forming KBS Maritime, James held Strategy and Transformation Board positions at BAE Systems Maritime & Land. He was part of the M&A team that consolidated the UK’s Warship design, build and through-life support industry under a long-term arrangement with the MoD. Trained as a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young, James went on to specialise in Project Finance, forming their Defence team. During this period, James led a number of successful defence PFI/PPP programmes, including Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, Strategic Sealift and Field Electrical Power Supplies, acting as financial and commercial advisor to both the MoD and private sector consortia.