Ben Johnson

Experienced economist currently focused on the regulation of non-competitive UK defence contracts

London, England, United Kingdom

About

Senior defence economist, policy and regulatory executive with deep experience shaping UK defence procurement legislation, industrial strategy, and government–industry engagement. Executive team member at the Single Source Regulations Office, advising Ministers and senior defence leaders on pricing reform, supplier sustainability, and commercial strategy across £125bn of defence contracts. Extensive experience engaging major defence primes, trade bodies, and cross-government stakeholders. Recognise as a trusted adviser to Boards and senior stakeholders on defence industrial strategy, legislative reform, and strategic market issues. Strong track record of building coalitions across government and industry to deliver commercially credible and politically durable outcomes.

Experience

  • Single Source Regulations Office (10 yrs 5 mos)
    • Head of Pricing and Economics
      Dec 2017 - Present · 8 yrs 8 mos

      As Head of Pricing & Economics and Executive team member at the Single Source Regulations Office, I help shape the legislative and commercial framework governing over £125bn of non-competitive defence contracts. My work includes: • Contributing to the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy • Developing and refining legislation governing single source procurement • Advising Ministers and senior MOD leaders on contract pricing structure, industrial performance andregulatory reform • Engaging major defence primes and trade bodies including ADS Group and techUK • Leading consultations and assessment on profit policy, risk allocation and industrial incentives

    • Senior Analyst
      Mar 2016 - Dec 2017 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Responsibilities - Proposing a profit rate for non-competitively sourced defence contracts to the Secretary of State for Defence; - Conducting analysis of costs included in contracts to identify trends, compare with appropriate benchmark data and produce bespoke reports that identify best practice; - Researching trends in single source procurement to provide insights to better understand areas such profitability, use of different contract types and current and best practice in indexation of costs; and - Delivering bespoke projects on aspects of current practice in defence contracting, setting out key insights from the data available, assessing relevant benchmarks to provide insight and promoting ideas that will deliver better value for money

  • Economic Adviser - Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) at The Home Office
    Aug 2015 - Mar 2016 · 8 mos

    Responsible for developing the analytical evidence base to support a range of Home Office policies and programmes.

  • UK Ministry of Defence (6 yrs 1 mo)
    • Deputy Head - Investment Appraisal and Evaluation
      Sep 2012 - Sep 2015 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Deputy head of Defence Economics Appraisal and evaluation. Responsible for the formulation and dissemination of policy on Investment Appraisal and Evaluation throughout the Ministry of Defence, and supporting the Chief Economist in discussions with HM Treasury about interpretation of, and addition to, the Green Book: appraisal and evaluation in central government. My responsibilities are - Providing independent scrutiny and advice on the quality and content of business cases and investment appraisals supporting cases for spending put to the MOD Investment Approvals Committee (IAC), chaired by the Director General Finance. Providing support and advice to MOD staff and contractors producing business cases, investment appraisals, cost analysis and risk forecasts. Deputy leadership of a team of 5 economists and management accountants. Membership of the panel of economists advising on updates of the HM Treasury Green Book.

    • Economist
      Sep 2009 - Sep 2012 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Forecasting voluntary exit of personnel from the Armed Forces Scrutiny and advice on the conduct of investment appraisal Providing monthly foreign exchange and fuel price forecast to the MOD internal customers Formulating and advising on policy for quantifying foreign exchange risk in overseas procurement programmes Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S) focal point for economic advice, in particular foreign exchange issues and optimism bias.

  • Partner and music industry professional at Countermine
    Dec 1997 - Aug 2006 · 8 yrs 9 mos

    I was a founding partner with specific responsibility for financial management issues. The partnership delivered a range of projects and services to the music industry, including: Live touring as a musician with Bryan Adams, Blondie, The Corrs and many others. Playing at all the major UK festivals, including Isle Of Wight, Glastonbury, T in the Park and V. Providing backstage technical assistance for touring artists including Elton John, Bob Dylan amongst others. Session recording activities for international recording artists and film soundtracks .

  • Musician and Songwriter at London Records/Hit & Run (EMI) Publishing
    Nov 1997 - May 2002 · 4 yrs 7 mos

    Publishing Contract signed December 1997 Over 60 songs written or co-written Recording Contract signed February 1998 20 album tracks and 10 live tracks co-produced and recorded