The UK’s first listed software-led defence company has appointed Whitespace co-founder and former Microsoft Ventures UK CEO, Andrew McCartney as its CTO.
He brings nearly three decades of industry experience to Defence Holdings and will be tasked with leading the design, build and deployment of the company’s AI product stack.
Having founded Whitespace, a company delivering generative AI capabilities into defence, public sector and highly regulated industries, he has grown the Belfast-based firm to a point where it is now delivering AI platforms actively supporting frontline Ministry of Defence Operations.
His appointment follows the recently announced long-term strategic partnership between the two businesses, aimed at co-developing sovereign AI applications for high-priority defence and national security use cases.
McCartney served as CEO of Microsoft Ventures UK from 2013-2015, where he launched the company’s first global venture innovation platform outside the US, scaling dozens of high-growth technology businesses.
He has also previously founded firms including SafetyTalks and Jam Pot Technologies, and still holds the role of chief hacking officer at Tadaweb.
His appointment marks the first in a series of planned senior hires designed to deepen the London-headquartered company’s technical, operational and strategic strength as it aims to execute its five-year plan.
“We are at the very beginning of a fundamental shift in how defence capability is conceived, built and deployed,” said McCartney.
“Over the next decade, the leaders will be those who can deliver sovereign, AI-native infrastructure that works in the harshest real-world conditions. Secure, explainable and trusted at the edge.
“At Defence Holdings, we have the means to move faster than traditional players, deliver systems that change the tempo of operations and define the software-first era of defence. We’re not waiting for the future to arrive. We’re building it, and this is just the start.”
James Norwood, chairman of Defence Holdings, added: “Andrew has spent a decade building the capabilities that modern defence actually needs – resilient, deployable, sovereign AI infrastructure.
“His appointment sends a clear message: Defence Holdings isn’t here to observe the future of defence, we’re here to build it.
“This will be the first of several strategic additions we expect to make to our leadership team in the months ahead.”