Defence Holdings plc, the UK’s first listed software-led defence company, has appointed Field Marshal Lord Nick Houghton of Richmond as its non-executive chairman.
Lord Houghton is one of the most distinguished military leaders of modern times, having served as Chief of the Defence Staff between 2013 and 2016, the professional head of the Armed Forces and principal military adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence.
In June 2025, he was promoted to the honorary rank of Field Marshal, the highest in the British Army.
His career in the British Army spanned more than four decades, during which he held command at every level and led UK and allied forces through operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and several global crises ranging from 9/11 to the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
As Chief of the Defence Staff, he oversaw the conclusion of combat operations in Afghanistan, steered the UK’s strategic defence posture during a period of global instability and played a key role in securing the 2% GDP financial settlement for defence in the 2015 SDSR.
Earlier leadership roles included Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of Joint Operations, Deputy Commanding General of Multi-National Force-Iraq, Director of Military Operations and Commander of 39 Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland during the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement.
For his service, Lord Houghton has been awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and the US Legion of Merit.
Since being elevated to the House of Lords in 2017, he has served as a crossbench peer and member of the International Relations and Defence Committee.
The appointment marks a key moment for Defence Holdings, which has outlined a five-year strategy to deliver sovereign digital capabilities across national security, resilience and defence readiness.
According to the company, Lord Houghton’s leadership experience and credibility will strengthen its ability to align with UK national priorities and international defence partners at a time when digital innovation is becoming central to modern defence.
The news comes less than a month after the London-based firm appointed Whitespace co-founder and former Microsoft Ventures UK CEO, Andrew McCartney, as its CTO.
As part of the leadership changes, current chairman James Norwood will step into the role of deputy chairman, focusing on governance, shareholder engagement and long-term growth.
“I am delighted and excited to be joining Defence Holdings PLC. Delighted because they are the first defence company to have been conceived, by design, to help deliver the outcomes of the emerging Defence Industrial Strategy: agile, sovereign and wholly focused on exploiting the digital revolution to the UK’s national advantage,” said Lord Houghton.
“Excited because I know that the people running Defence Holdings have the mindset, culture and expertise to actually deliver the most significant capability aspiration of the recent Strategic Defence Review: lethal advantage to the UK’s Armed Forces.”
Norwood added: “Lord Houghton is one of the most senior and respected figures in UK defence history.
“His leadership experience, strategic acumen, and credibility at the highest levels of government and military command will be transformational for Defence Holdings.
“His appointment underlines our commitment to building not just another defence company, but the next-generation platform for sovereign capability.”