The UK Innovation Corridor has welcomed the appointment of the Minister for Investment who will head up a bolstered Office for Investment, as part of a wider Whitehall shake up to strengthen the government’s offer and partnership with businesses and investors.
Poppy Gustafsson OBE was the former co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of British cybersecurity company Darktrace plc until her departure in September 2024. She co-founded Darktrace in 2013 and served as Chief Financial Officer for three years, followed by a brief period as Chief Operating Officer, before being named CEO in October 2016. Under her leadership, Darktrace saw significant growth and global expansion, including a listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2021.
Prime Minister 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.”
Poppy Gustafsson OBE said: “It is a huge privilege to be appointed as the Minister of Investment and I am excited to get started. I have first hand experience of building and scaling a business here in the UK and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share with the international investment community what I already know to be true; the UK is a great place to do business.”
The Minister will be tasked with promoting the UK to investors and businesses around the world and attracting more investment into the UK.
She will be responsible for the revamped Government’s Office for Investment which will become a larger and better equipped organisation bringing together the Treasury, Department for Business and Trade and No10 into a joint unit, to streamline how the government approaches business and investment.
There will be a new Office for Investment Board chaired by the Minister for Investment and an external advisory board from industry will also be appointed.
UK Innovation Corridor Chair Jackie Sadek said: “Following last week’s success at EXPO REAL in attracting investment interest in our region and indeed, the whole of the country, through the UK Cities & Partners (UKCAP) initiative, we are delighted to hear of Poppy Gustafsson’s appointment and the drive for a strengthened Office for Investment. EXPO showed the power of collaboration and Team UK, and we look forward to seeing how the Government’s leadership will support the great determination at regional level and drive it forward.”
