DroneShield longtime CEO Oleg Vornik steps down, product boss Angus Bean takes over
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik has stepped down after 11 years in the role and chair Peter James will retire from the board.
Chief product officer Angus Bean has been promoted to the top job, effective today, with REA chair Hamish McLennan announced as independent chair-elect.
The context: After 10 years in the role, James will not seek re-election at DroneShield’s next annual general meeting on 29 May 2026. Vornik will stay on as an adviser for the next three months.
Vornik and James faced controversy in November 2025 after selling down all their shares in the company. DroneShield subsequently introduced a minimum shareholding policy in February 2026 following an independent review of its governance.
Bean was DroneShield’s sixth employee and previously served as chief technology officer from 2018 until he was appointed chief product officer in October 2025.
McLennan is also chair of ARN Media and non-executive director of Light & Wonder. He has also formerly served as Network Ten’s executive chair and CEO as well as News Corp’s executive vice president, office of the chairman.
What they said: “It has been an experience of a lifetime to serve as DroneShield’s CEO. I joined DroneShield as its first employee in 2015 and have led its growth from a market capitalisation of $27 million at its Initial Public Offering in 2016 to entering the ASX200 in September 2025 with a market capitalisation of nearly $4 billion,” Vornik said.
He also said that “leading a rapidly growing public company from inception has been incredibly demanding. After 11 years I am looking forward to taking some time off, and reconnecting with family and friends before I decide what’s next.”
James said: “Having served over 10 years on DroneShield’s board, I believe now is the right time to commence the transition to a new Chair. I am confident that these changes set the Company up for its next stage of growth, with refreshed leadership and new energy to capture the momentum in the rapidly growing market for counterdrone technology.”
McLennan said: “I have followed DroneShield’s trajectory closely and am looking forward to contributing to the next phase of the Company’s development both within Australia and abroad.”
The source: ASX
