Leidos begins search for new CEO to succeed John Jumper, who’ll remain as board chairman

Leidos, which was formerly part of SAIC, announced on Feb. 19 that its chairman and CEO, John Jumper, will retire as CEO, beginning a planned leadership transition over the next several months.

The company’s board of directors has launched a methodical process to select Jumper’s successor. The comprehensive search will evaluate both internal and external candidates.

Jumper will continue as CEO until a successor is appointed. He will remain the chairman of the board following the transition.

Jumper’s retirement from his position as CEO adds another high point to a remarkable career of nearly five decades of service to private industry and the nation, including 39 years in the Air Force, culminating in his serving as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force.

“John provided the strong leadership that SAIC, and now Leidos, needed during the transition from one world-class company to two,” said Lawrence Nussdorf, lead director of company’s board. “His ability to align the leadership team and lead through such a magnitude of change is unparalleled to any other CEO I have seen. We look forward to his continued service on our board of directors and his assistance in an orderly transition to a new CEO, as we implement the strategy being developed by the management team and the board of directors.”

Jumper was the chairman and CEO of SAIC beginning March 1, 2012, and continued his tenure with Leidos following the company’s separation on Sept. 27, 2013. Jumper has served as a member of the company’s board of directors since 2007. He was appointed chair of the board in 2012.