Alex van Someren, a British engineer and cybersecurity expert with experience across technology, venture capital and national security, has joined Paladin Capital Group as a Strategic Advisor.
Paladin Capital Group is a multi-stage investor with a focus on the cyber and advanced technology sectors. In his new role, van Someren will work closely with the firm’s Strategic Advisory Group, advising on government, security, intelligence, and commercial markets globally.
Strategic advisory role
Van Someren’s past experience includes time as the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security. In this position, he provided independent scientific advice to the United Kingdom’s Intelligence Community and broader government, and also acted as a consultant to the €1 billion NATO Innovation Fund.
His career has been marked by the founding of several security technology companies such as ANT Software and nCipher. In addition to his work in cybersecurity startups, van Someren served as managing partner at venture capital firm Amadeus Capital Partners, with a focus on early-stage investments in deep technology in the UK and Europe.
Commenting on van Someren’s appointment, Michael Steed, Founder and Managing Partner of Paladin Capital Group, stated:
Alex van Someren brings a wealth of UK and global public and private sector experience to Paladin, and his multi-faceted background makes him the perfect fit to expand our work protecting both governments and corporates from cyber and AI threats. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Paladin as we deepen our commitment to the European and global markets, and we look forward to drawing deep insight from Alex’s experience as we tackle some of the most pressing challenges to critical infrastructure at home and abroad.
Van Someren joins Paladin’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), comprising international experts in the fields of cyber and AI. The group advises the investment team on emerging trends and risks in the cybersecurity landscape. The SAG includes figures such as Chris Inglis, former US National Cyber Director, and Prof Ciaran Martin, former CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, alongside a range of experts from government, academia, and industry.
Industry and academic background
Reflecting on his new role, van Someren said:
Joining Paladin’s impressive group of advisors is a great opportunity to help progress innovation across the globe and protect the democratic world from the most pressing cyber risks. I look forward to applying my background in tech, venture capital, and national security to advance the mission of Paladin’s Strategic Advisory Group and strengthen the cyber defences of critical infrastructure by supporting successful entrepreneurship.
The new Strategic Advisor is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He also serves as an honorary professor of computer science at the University of Manchester. Previous academic appointments include his tenure as the core innovation professor at the Royal College of Art.
Paladin Capital Group, with offices in Washington DC, New York, London, Luxembourg, and Silicon Valley, has invested in more than 80 companies since 2008. The firm focuses on identifying and supporting early-stage technologies in the cyber and advanced technology sectors for both commercial and government applications.
Paladin’s Strategic Advisory Group brings together individuals with backgrounds spanning national security, academia, and the private sector, offering guidance on investment and security strategies. In addition to van Someren, the group includes former Congressman James Langevin, Vice Admiral (ret.) Jan Tighe, Sir David Omand, Richard Schaeffer, Richard Clarke, Dr Mary Aiken, Jeremy Bash, H. Lee Buchanan, Florence Mottay, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Dr Najwa Aaraj, Kevin Phillips, General (Ret.) Mike Minihan, and Rob Knake.
