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In a major leadership shift, Poppy Gustafsson, CEO and co-founder of the British cybersecurity company Darktrace will step down.
This comes as the company prepares for a £4.3 billion takeover by U.S. private equity firm Thoma Bravo. According to the company’s press release, Gustafsson will be succeeded by Jill Popelka, a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in global operations.
Gustafsson, who has led Darktrace since 2016, has been instrumental in shaping the company into a global artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity company. Under her tenure, Darktrace became a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange in April 2021, which valued the company at £1.7 billion at the time.
Jill Popelka, who joined Darktrace in January 2024 as a non-executive director, before taking on the role of chief operating officer in June has held senior leadership positions at several top global technology companies, including MRI Software, Snap Inc., and SAP SuccessFactors.
Gustafsson’s departure is reportedly part of a planned transition as Thoma Bravo finalizes its acquisition of Darktrace. The handover appears to be amicable, with Gustafsson leaving behind a strong legacy. Her leadership saw the company become a huge employer of labor, with over 2,400 people on its payroll, Darktrace claims.
While details of Gustafsson’s future plans remain unclear, her exit marks a significant change as Darktrace prepares to navigate its next chapter.
This leadership change comes at a time when Darktrace is navigating regulatory approvals for the takeover, which, if successful, will end its association with co-founder Mike Lynch, who has been embroiled in legal controversies. The transition could also allow the company to focus on growth without the distractions of public scrutiny and past controversies.
Thoma Bravo’s acquisition is expected to be completed later this year, pending regulatory approvals.
