Poppy Gustafsson, co-founder of cybersecurity tech firm Darktrace, has been appointed as the UK government’s new investment minister.
Gustafsson, who recently stepped down as chief executive of Darktrace following its sale to a US private equity firm, will take on the role of minister at the Treasury and the Department of Business and Trade. She will also lead a new investment unit and an external advisory board.
The government had been seeking to fill the crucial position for several months. Ben Wegg-Prosser, co-founder of the Global Counsel advisory firm, declined the offer.
Gustafsson’s appointment comes as the UK government seeks to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth. A prominent figure in the UK tech industry, Gustafsson founded Darktrace in Cambridge in 2013. Her experience in the tech sector and her leadership role at Darktrace are expected to bring valuable insights to the role.
Keir Starmer said: “I am delighted to welcome Poppy Gustafsson OBE as our new investment minister – an accomplished entrepreneur who brings invaluable experience to the role. We’re upgrading the Office for Investment to ensure it is fit for purpose and has the capability it needs to make the UK the first choice for investment and the best place in the world to do business, which is central to our mission to drive growth and make people better off.”
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