The result was to falsely overstate Autonomys revenue by as much as 20% over a period of several years, greatly inflating the amount HP paid for the company. Gustafsson was part of a group that founded Darktrace 2013 as a way to better use technology to identify cyber threats at an early stage. The founders of Darktrace including Poppy Gustafsson have been named the Team of the Year at the Awards held in London at the Dorchester. She is a qualified chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Sheffield, where she was also awarded an honorary degree in Doctor of Science in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of Cyber Security in 2022. And Im a firm believer that people are innocent until proven otherwise, says Gustafsson. The truth is that for the right type of personality, Read More The Five Most Profitable Direct Sales Companies in the WorldContinue. Marketing its products as the digital equivalent of the human bodys ability to fight illness, Darktraces AI-security works as an enterprise immune system, can self-learn and self-heal and has an autonomous response capability to tackle threats without instruction as they are detected. Lynch has denied the charges. Name. While guiding Darktrace on its meteoric rise into becoming a global leader, she had two children, now aged three and six. Poppy Gustafsson - CEO - Darktrace | LinkedIn On Wednesday, the firm's CEO Poppy Gustafsson issued a statement defending the company from what she called "unfounded inferences" made by QCM. It really does feel like were in this new era of cybersecurity, says Gustafsson, the chief executive of Darktrace. 1. You would just never think that people would bother to do that kind of thing, but they do.. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. But Gustafsson is confident in the future. [14], On 31 January 2023, Quintessential Capital Management[d], a New York-based hedge fund and short seller, published a detailed report alleged potential accounting errors at Darktrace, making claims about potential irregularities in contracts with resellers and customers, predominantly dating from before Darktraces public listing in 2021. Poppy Gustafsson sits at the apex of a global cybersecurity organisation worth $1.65bn, with 40 offices, 900 staff and 2,500 clients.. As CEO and one of the founders of Darktrace, she works with . Rather than get bogged down with the legal debacle that ensued, Hussain joined ex-Autonomy execs, including Lynch and Eagan, as founding members of Invoke in summer 2012, a matter of months before HP first alleged financial irregularities. [16] Quintessential pointed towards connections between Darktrace and HP Autonomy, the UK software company with which Darktrace shares many ties. Poppy Gustafsson is the chief executive officer for EMEA of the cyber defense company Darktrace. That was the part that they dreaded the most, that final pitch to him, says one former sales employee. He was convicted for his role in HPs cataclysmic acquisition of British data analytics company Autonomy for more than $10 billion in 2011. She was named CEO of the Year at the 2021 Digital Masters Awards and Tech CEO of the Year at the UK Tech Awards 2021. When we first started, cyber security was all about trying to keep the bad guys off the network, she says, predictably over a pot of English Breakfast tea, in a central London hotel dining room. Without any more guidance from Hussain, business, they say, has been booming. According to Darktraces own estimate, the company is worth at least $2 billion and management is looking to take it public. The Cyber Challenge: Innovating Our Way Out | Poppy Gustafsson She was named City A.M.s Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. Poppy Gustafsson: the Darktrace tycoon in new cybersecurity era He is also Director and Chair of Audit at TSMC in Taiwan, on the Board of Imagination Technologies in the UK and on the US Board of the EastWest Institute, an international not-for-profit think tank. Darktrace was founded in 2013 in Cambridge, in a collaboration with the British intelligence agencies[5] and Invoke Capital, a company owned by Mike Lynch. I thought, I never want to have an organisation where employees come along and they suddenly feel painfully aware that they are a man or woman or that their race is an issue - you just shouldnt be aware of it - you should just come in and do a good job. The U.S. government thinks so. Poppy Gustafsson's Tweets. It could be foreign nation states trying to influence global outcomes such as weve seen around the US elections. I found myself arms crossed feeling like I wasnt part of it. Above them, a monitor tracks sales wins: happy faces for staff performing well, sad for those lagging behind. Darktrace is designed with an open architecture that makes it the perfect complement to your existing infrastructure and products. [18], Darktrace's product uses unsupervised (in particular) machine learning techniques to build an intrinsic "pattern of life" for every network, device, and user within an organisation. Darktraces AI is now automatically responding to hacks and stopping them. In 2015, she was named as Northern Virginia Technology Councils Public Company CFO of the Year and has most recently been included in the Washington Business Journals 2018 list of Women Who Mean Business. Cathy will lead Darktrace through an exciting period of continued growth and technological innovation. The alleged incident took place at a dinner for top salespeople at Manhattans upscale Japanese restaurant Nobu, two former staffers who knew of the event recalled. We spoke to Poppy Gustafsson OBE, CEO, Darktrace ahead of London Tech Week 2022 (13-17th June 2022), to discuss the reasons behind her involvement as an amba. Darktrace, while it wont provide specifics, confirms Hussain was heavily involved in helping it secure funds. While running a business, it is easy to spend your time looking forward to the next step and forgetting how far you have come. BI Prime: Poppy Gustafsson is the 35-year-old CEO of Cambridge-based cybersecurity firm Darktrace, which was recently valued at $1.65 billion. Learn how your comment data is processed. Crime can never pay. Stephen Shanley joined KKR in 2014 and is head of KKRs Technology Growth Equity business in Europe. In one interview, the sales director allegedly asked whether the interviewee had a boyfriend, later implying that hed have to keep her presence a secret from his wife, three ex-staffers claim. She describes her founding group as three legs of a stool with academics from Cambridge University and former British intelligence agents. Poppy is also a qualified chartered accountant and previously served as the companys CFO. She attended the 2017 innovative finance summit. In 2010, Mike merged his intelligence and technology experience to run cyber defensive operations for UK government, including working on the implementation of the national cyber security strategy and protecting the London 2012 Olympic Games. She is a qualified chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Sheffield, where she was also awarded an honorary degree in Doctor of Science in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of Cyber Security in 2022. While Gustafsson is likely to be worth at least 20m from the flotation of the business, which has almost 5,000 customers ranging from the NHS to Coca-Cola, she has also become something of a gender diversity champion in the male-dominated tech world. Talis Capital led the company's Series A in 2015. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. In her previous role, Carolyn spearheaded communications across Europe, the Middle East and East Asia for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the worlds largest private philanthropic organisation, working on global health and development issues. Career. Something went wrong while submitting the form. He currently sits on The Experiences Per Mile (EPM) Advisory Council, which brings together industry leaders to discuss the future of automotive and mobility industry. Sales team members would also have to give Hussain mock pitches, as if they were trying to hawk Darktraces artificial intelligence software to a real customer. Poppy is the CEO of Darktrace, which under her leadership has grown to 2,000 employees with over 40 offices around the world. Mike Lynch and Sushovan Hussain were accused of falsifying financial facts and documents in the run-up to an $11bn sale of Lynch's software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. From this evolving understanding of 'normal', it can then detect potential threats as they emerge in real time. He is actively involved with KKRs investments in Darktrace, OutSystems, KnowBe4, GetYourGuide, Ivalua, Trainline, ClickTale, Optimal+, and Travelopia. Premium Digital includes access to our premier business column, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters covering key business themes with original, in-depth reporting. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. 4 Cybersecurity Strategies for Small and Midsize Businesses She was named CEO of the Year at the 2021 Digital Masters Awards and Tech CEO of the Year at the UK Tech Awards 2021. Poppy Gustafsson sits at the apex of a global cybersecurity organisation worth $1.65bn, with 40 offices, 900 staff and 2,500 clients. A rare tweeter, the last post still lingering at the top of her Twitter feed references how proud the company was of its gender diversity marking International Womens Day. In the early days, Hussain was guiding the management team at Darktrace, including Gustafsson (who started off as financial controller) and chief revenue officer Nick Trim. She established Laverstoke Park Farm, a 2,500-acre organic and biodynamic estate in Hampshire, England. The company was established in 2013 and is headquartered in Cambridge, England, and San Francisco, California, United States. She then qualified as an accountant at Deloitte before working for Amadeus Capital, the venture capital firm run by ARM Holdings founder Hermann Hauser. Carolyn joins Darktrace with over 20 years of experience in corporate affairs across a range of diverse sectors. Interested in @PoppyGustafsson's Tweets? During your trial you will have complete digital access to FT.com with everything in both of our Standard Digital and Premium Digital packages. Founded in 2013, Darktrace is recognised as the world's leading cyber security AI company. Early on when I was at Darktrace I went to an event at the London Stock Exchange and there were 23 speakers. [20] The product also visualises network activity on a user interface, called the 'Threat Visualiser'. In her talk, she discusses why humans are vulnerable to attackers, how hackers are becoming increasingly innovative and ultimately how cyber AI can help us invent ourselves out of the problem. It was an office Hussain was familiar with, having worked closely with the sales team there, including Cheek, sources who were there at the time confirm. Sushovan Hussain, a former Darktrace board member and one-time confidante of the firms co-ceos, is Sushovan Hussain, a former Darktrace board member and one-time confidante of the firms co-ceos, is appealing a 5-year prison sentence for his role in the disastrous HP-Autonomy deal. Gustafsson, whose choice of transport is a canary yellow Vespa and has said her one regret is not putting more time into learning the piano, is laser-focused on ensuring Darktrace has a legacy all its own. university She has prior experience in financial controller positions in the technology and venture capital sectors and was named City A.M.s Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. Today, her team is fighting a war on many fronts and the threats that nations and companies face are complex and ever-changing. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. London Tech Week 2022 - Ambassadors - Poppy Gustafsson OBE - YouTube He had a long and distinguished career in the intelligence community, working overseas developing cutting-edge capabilities to defend national interests against a range of threats. [9], Many of Darktrace's management personnel, including chief executive Poppy Gustafsson, chief technology officer Jack Stockdale, and chief strategy and artificial intelligence officer Nicole Eagan, were recruited from Autonomy. Invoke confirms it has helped Hussain with accommodation costs, maintains he is innocent, and says it willsupport him through his appeal. All rights reserved. The arms race will absolutely continue, I really dont think its very long until this [AI] innovation gets into the hands of attackers, and we will see these very highly targeted and specific attacks that humans wont necessarily be able to spot and defend themselves from. Only this talk would prove to be bittersweet. She oversees operations across the region, and she has been crucial to the swift growth that the 300-person company has experienced. In 1838, his father Takafune was entrusted with the power of his father and moved to . Yet, the proverbial pot of gold awaits Hussain at the end of any sentence the court may impose.. He has conducted intelligence analysis and assessment in operational theatres across the world, becoming a senior intelligence officer. He doesnt get, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Chiniere Energy CEO Jack FuscoContinue. An additional $75 million round closed in 2017 after Hussain had been charged with financial fraud. Founder Spotlight: Poppy Gustafsson, CEO and Co-Founder of - Talis. He holds a first-class degree in Computer Science from the University of Plymouth. Poppy Gustafsson - Biography - MarketScreener.com Poppy served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Darktrace. His 21-year-old daughter Ila died on October 17, 2019. She was named Vodafone's Woman of the Year for Technology and Innovation in 2020, Tech Businesswoman of the Year at the UK Tech Awards 2019 and won the . Im going to Australia soon, where we have just opened up our Sydney office and I really am thinking about packing my own tea bags. The Darktrace threat visualiser, providing a graphical visualisation of the spread of unusual activity from an infected device. Background design inspired by, Yes, I would like to receive marketing emails from Darktrace about their offerings. Poppy is a co-founder of Darktrace, which under her leadership has reached a $1.65 billion valuation in under five years and was named Europes Fastest Growing Super Scale-up by Tech Tour. Under Poppy's leadership, the company has reached a $1 . When asked about Hussains holdings in Darktrace, the company repeatedly denies he has any stock. However, he remained on its advisory council until last month, when he moved to a newly created science and technology council. Mr. Jack Fusco is one of those dynamic and incredible public figures who doesnt share his private information. Launched in Cambridge eight years ago by an unlikely alliance of mathematicians, former spies from GCHQ and the US and artificial intelligence (AI) experts, Darktrace provides protection, enabling businesses to stay one step ahead of increasingly smarter and dangerous hackers and viruses. Moreover, Poppy is a co-founder of the 3-year-old Darktrace, and she has previously served as the CFO of the company. But it hasnt been an easy ride. Darktrace adds there were contradictory reports of what took place, with some allegations impossible to confirm. He has served on the boards of 12 international companies including Sony, Ericsson and AstraZeneca. Founded just five years ago, Darktrace offers artificial intelligence led cyber security. Whiskyfun April 2023 - part 1 - Glenmorangie, Shizuoka Turn on account notifications to keep up with all new content. Management thought [the videos] were hilarious. The Autonomy co-founder is fighting extradition to the US, where he is accused of fraudulently inflating the value of the company before its 8.4bn sale to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Invoke and Darktrace also share the same floor in open-plan London offices. oppy Gustafsson runs a cutting-edge and gender-diverse cybersecurity firm on the. Of course, you get it wrong all the time, but thats sort of ok., The world that her daughters grow into will be vastly different to the one they were born into. She holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland. His daughter was given a three-week internship at Darktrace in the summer of 2018. In this video from Computer Weekly's annual diversity event, in partnership with Spinks, Poppy Gustafsson, CEO of Darktrace, gives her . With her extensive experience and education, she has been at the forefront of the instigating growth of this innovative, technology company. Biography of Poppy Gustafsson - The Official Board You see a lot of attacks where people are going into networks purely with the objective of using their processing power to harvest bitcoin. First published on Fri 21 Apr 2023 06.26 EDT. Darktrace's Poppy Gustafsson Wins CEO of the Year At 2021 Digital Oops! Hussain was also a lead fundraiser for the business, especially in the U.S., where he helped raise $65 million in a round led by New York-based private equity firm KKR in 2016. The problem is that Lynch, whose Invoke Capital was Darktraces first and biggest shareholder, has always had a significant influence on the business. Patrick has a BA (Hons) in Archaeology & Geology from Bristol University and was also awarded an MSc (Econ) in Business Administration from London Business School. In 2020, James was shortlisted for The Lawyers General Counsel of the Year. It proved to be a woeful bet, and HP began alleging accounting fraud in 2012, just 14 months after the acquisition. organisation Poppy Gustafsson OBE serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Darktrace, which under her leadership, has reached a $1.65 billion valuation in less than five years. Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know About Andrew BialeckiContinue, Say the phrases British Spy or MI6, and most people will immediately think of James Bond. CEO Poppy Gustafsson and CTO Jack Stockdale were appointed were appointed OBEs in the Birthday Honours 2019, in recognition of their services to cyber security. These parking meters had internet connections that someone hacked into and then connected the network to an adult content website. [6], In 2017, Darktrace caused an internet and media sensation with publication of a white paper detailing a hack of a casino's fish tank, which was caught by the company's Network Immune System. These claims led to one of two sexual harassment investigations the firm faced in 2017 and 2018the second involving a close associate of Hussains in the U.S. - that threatened to let off cultural hand grenades at a company that proudly claims to have more than 40% female staff and pay women $1.34 for every $1.32 that men earn per hour. What we dont know is what the attacks of the future are going to look like.. If hes extradited, Lynch will at least be close to his old business partner of 15 years, Hussain, whose own appeal campaign in San Francisco is under way. cookies He is an interesting young executive with a solid approach to achieving business success in the tech industry. make Darktrace one of the U.K.s hottest tech companies. Under her leadership, the company has experienced significant growth and global expansion, and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2021.