John leads on Adoption for the NATO Innovation Fund – getting our portfolio companies’ technology into the hands of end-users across the Alliance. To do so, he works closely with ministries of defence and governments across NATO as well as with a broad spectrum of industry partners. The Adoption team’s insights into future defence and national security requirements also help shape the Fund’s investments.

Prior to joining the NATO Innovation Fund, John spent over three decades in the Armed Forces and government. He first joined the Army as a Reservist in 1989 and, after studying Architectural Engineering at the University of Leeds, joined the Regular Army as a Royal Engineers officer. As a junior officer, he completed tours with Commando forces, Gurkhas, bomb disposal and close-support engineers. He deployed to Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. His final two tours in uniform were in command of 8 Engineer Brigade and as Chief of Joint Force Operations leading the UK’s crisis response headquarters. John left the Army in 2020 to join the Civil Service. He spent two years in Defence Intelligence, before a six-month loan to 10 Downing Street. He then returned to MOD as Director Defence Innovation where he led Defence’s innovation portfolio, before leaving the civil service in November 2024 to join the NATO Innovation Fund. Outside work John is a keen indoor rower, cyclist and runner. He is married to Nina, a broadcast meteorologist and teacher, and they have four children.