HORIZON TECHNOLOGIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- COO, Horizon Aerospace Technologies
Bash Ahmed has over 40 years' experience working in the military defense industry with extensive knowledge and experience in military communications and electronic warfare (EW) including submarine communications, tactical EW, naval EW, Airborne Surveillance Sensors and Airborne Satellite Phone Monitoring Systems.
Working globally in territories such as Pakistan, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Far-East for government customers, Ahmed has held a number of technical and senior sales and marketing positions. He has also worked in the telecommunications industry with defense companies including Racal, Thales, Harris Communications and L-3Harris.
In 2013 Ahmed joined Horizon Technologies to develop, manage and market the initial groundbreaking FlyingFish™ SIGINT system. He has managed the development of three (3) versions of FlyingFish™ and most recently the new BlackFish™ system being sold worldwide. Based in the UK, he runs the Horizon Technologies operations facility in Reading, UK.
Dave Saunders has over 40 years' experience in the electronic communications industry, a highly experienced communications systems engineer (C.Eng) with particular skills in systems engineering, product architectural design, signal processing algorithm development, analysis and mathematical performance modelling in mobile satellite communications systems including technical lead role in 4 generations of Inmarsat mobile satellite user terminal design.
Saunders joined Horizon Technologies in 2016, is based in the UK and is now responsible for systems engineering, technologies, and performance of Horizon's Amber™ space-based SIGINT CubeSat constellation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- CB FREng / Board Member
Niel Kempson worked for GCHQ for 42 years, most recently as the Director General for Technology-the most senior cyber technologist in UK Government. At the heart of British intelligence, he was responsible for science and technology, from blue-sky research through to operational deployment and management. He was at the forefront of GCHQ's success in harnessing data analysis technologies for the intelligence and cyber security missions. Kempson has also served on an Executive Advisory Board for a global multi-billion dollar IT services company, and as a Non-Executive Director on the oversight board of a national research and development agency. He was a Member of the National Security Council (Officials) for Science and Technology, contributing to the development of national policy and strategy for the threats and opportunities posed by technology-related threats (specifically including cyber). In recognition of his contribution to technology and national security, Kempson was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2018. Kempson retired from Government service at the end of 2018 and is now pursuing his second career in the private sector. He is advising a number of organisations-from startups to multinationals-on cyber, data exploitation and innovation.
Job Titles:
- VP of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Blake heads up the Horizon Technologies finance operation in the UK. Based in the West End of London, he has a ten year affiliation with a Chartered Accountancy practice and joined Horizon Technologies in 2015. He specialises in assisting small to medium size businesses with planning, growth and development. Blake has an extensive background with international engineering companies, mainly in process machinery for the automotive industry. Blake also serves as a Director on the board of several companies and is a trustee of a charity that promotes sports to the local community.
John Beckner has been active in aerospace, both in and out of government, for more than thirty years. A California native, he worked for various Republican members on the House Foreign Affairs, and Armed Services Committees. He subsequently was Director of Aerospace Business Development for Teledyne Industries Inc. in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium through 1993 when Horizon Technologies was formed as an aerospace consultancy.
In 2013, Beckner managed the transition of Horizon Technologies into a tech startup company with its ground-breaking FlyingFish™ and BlackFish™ SIGINT systems now sold worldwide. Horizon Technologies is now a Global Leader in Innovative SIGINT and Space-Based Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Intelligence Solutions. Beckner led Horizon Technologies recently (2021) in completing its Series A funding round with Maven Capital Partners and Virgin Money.
A master mariner and a committed proponent of the maritime users' perspective, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert concluded a long naval operational career as the UK National Hydrographer in December 2012. Lambert advises on a wide range of maritime issues including the growing potential of the blue economy concept, the importance of spatial data infrastructures and hydrography for maritime economies, the evolution of eNavigation and GNSS vulnerability, near or real time situational awareness (especially that derived from space-based assets and applications), maritime connectivity and cyber security, human factors, and training and education in the maritime sector. He has a particular interest in the Polar Regions and is also engaged in a variety of situational awareness, fisheries and aquaculture management, marine autonomous systems and vessel efficiency projects.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- FTSE 250 CEO
Rakesh Sharma is a former FTSE 250 CEO with 20 years experience in running international hi-tech engineering and manufacturing businesses. He was instrumental in the growth of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc, the LSE-listed group that specialises in providing engineering solutions for mission-critical systems in the defence, security, critical detection and control markets, latterly serving for six years as CEO. He also sits on the Board of LSE-listed PayPoint plc and AIM listed Kromek Group plc. Additionally, he supports a range of small businesses and entrepreneurs in a non-executive capacity. Sharma was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2016 and was honoured in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours List with an OBE for services to defence capability. In 2018 he received the Freedom of the City of London, by redemption, and was subsequently elected as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coach Makers.
Roberta Rudd has 20 years' experience working in the Space Industry which gained her an in-depth understanding of the UK and international Space sector.
Rudd has senior experience in the private sector includes leading distinguished projects for companies such as Airbus Defence and Space, Honeywell, Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd and Satellite Applications Catapult. Her proven track record of winning major proposals for customers internationally and delivering multi-million-pound programmes are particular highlights of her achievements to date, including the successful delivery of the HOTBIRD 9 Payload in Kourou (French Guiana), in 2010.
Her competence in the space private business brought her to the UK Government in 2019, working for the Department for International Trade's (DIT), informing policymaking, growing exports in the UK Space sector, and attracting foreign direct investment.
Rudd holds a bachelor's degree BSc (Hons) in Manufacturing System Engineering and French from the University of Hertfordshire and an Executive MBA from the University of Portsmouth. Rudd is AMP PMQ Qualified and a Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI).