Three new executive team members appointed, further strengthening and deepening Darktrace’s management capabilities

Two long-standing executives to step down

‍Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence, today announces several changes to its executive management team as it seeks to bring in further leadership capabilities in key areas including human resources and corporate affairs.

Two new executives have joined the Darktrace team. David Walden joins as Chief People Officer and Carolyn Esser joins as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. David is responsible for global talent attraction, engagement and performance management. David has driven successful people strategies at multinational companies, including Capital One, AOL, T. Rowe Price, and Etsy. Carolyn is responsible for Darktrace’s internal and external communications strategies. Carolyn joins Darktrace from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she was Deputy Director, Communications, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. Prior to that, Carolyn was Global Communications Director at Logica, the UK technology and business services company.

Two long-standing executives are leaving after years of making significant contributions to Darktrace. Emily Orton stepped down from her Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) role in early July. Following Emily’s departure, the marketing functions are being reorganized to report to Carolyn Esser and Nicole Eagan, Chief Strategy and AI Officer. Dave Palmer, Chief Product Officer (CPO), will be leaving Darktrace at the end of August to join long-standing Darktrace investor, 1011 Venture Capital, as a General Partner. At his departure, Dave will join Darktrace’s Advisory Council, where he will continue to advise the organization on key industry trends. Dave will be replaced by Max Heinemeyer, currently Darktrace’s VP of Cyber Innovation, who will join the executive management team as CPO.

Commenting on these changes, Poppy Gustafsson OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Darktrace, said:

Both Dave and Emily have played pivotal roles in growing Darktrace into the innovative, world-class cyber security company that it is today. Their contributions to the company have been immense and we are so grateful for their leadership over the many years they have been with us. We wish them every success in their new endeavors, and I am thrilled that Dave will remain in the Darktrace family through his role on our Advisory Council.

I’m delighted to welcome Max, Carolyn, and David to our executive management team as we continue to strengthen and deepen our leadership capabilities in a number of core areas.”

Important Information

This announcement includes inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No.596/2014 (as it forms part of UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). Upon publication of this announcement, this information is now considered in the public domain.

Enquiries

Luk Janssens - Head of Investor Relations, Darktrace
+44 7811 027918
luk.janssens@darktrace.com

Powerscourt (Public Relations Adviser to Darktrace)
Victoria Palmer-Moore/Elly Williamson
+44 (0) 20 3328 9386
darktrace@powerscourt-group.com