Lesko Named Irving Shipbuilding President

Dirk Lesko. Photo: Irving Shipbuilding.

Dirk Lesko will assume the role of president of Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Irving Shipbuilding Inc. on Sept. 1, the company announced July 11.

Lesko retired in April 2022 as a vice president with the General Dynamics Corp. and the 15th president of Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. He was president of BIW from 2017 to 2022. BIW has been building ships for 140 years and is one of the primary military shipbuilders for the U.S. Navy.

Lesko, a 32-year BIW employee and third generation shipbuilder, previously held various leadership positions with the company, including Vice President DDG 1000 Program, Vice President Surface Combatants and General Manager. He also served as Chairman of the General Dynamics Engineering and Technology Council.

A Maine native, Lesko earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The University of Maine and a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

Ross Langley, Irving Shipbuilding’s vice chairman, is expected to continue as interim president until Lesko joins the company in September.

Irving Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of Canadian conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.

“We are very pleased that Dirk Lesko is joining us as president,” J.D. Irving, Ltd. Co-CEO Jim Irving said. “He brings extensive experience in military shipbuilding which will continue to enhance Irving Shipbuilding as Canada’s combatant shipbuilder.”

Irving Shipbuilding’s previous CEO, Kevin Mooney, resigned in June due to personal reasons after two years on the job.