Former Darktrace CEO Poppy Gustafsson makes first comments as government’s new investment minister

Poppy Gustafsson, the co-founder and former chief executive of Cambridge-based cybersecurity firm Darktrace, has made her first comments since being appointed as the government’s new investment minister.

The Minister for Investment joined the Prime Minister at the first day of the Council of Nations and Regions meeting on Saturday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I am delighted to welcome Poppy Gustafsson 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.”

The minister will be responsible for the revamped Office for Investment and will be tasked with promoting the UK to global investors and businesses.

Ms Gustafsson 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.”

Ms Gustafsson stepped down as CEO of Darktrace in September ahead of the company’s £4.25bn takeover by Thoma Bravo.