Former CEO of Airbus joins Helsing to support the deep-tech company on its journey of fast growth, aiming to attain technology leadership in AI and software for defence and security.
London, Berlin, Munich, March 29, 2022 – Helsing, a new defence technology company based in Germany and the UK, today announced that Dr Thomas Enders is joining its board of directors. Dr Enders was previously CEO of Airbus and - among many other things - was instrumental in developing its defence businesses into what is now Airbus Defence and Space. Tom Enders is joining the board as Helsing is entering its next phase of growth, following its recent €102.5m Series A funding round.
Torsten Reil, co-founder of Helsing, said: "Tom combines unmatched industry experience with a deep conviction that liberal democracies are worth defending. At Helsing, we believe this mission is more important than ever, and that software and artificial intelligence will play a key role in amplifying the defensive capabilities of democratic societies. „
Dr Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, added: “We urgently need to make progress in applying cutting edge technologies to defend our collective security. This is no longer a question of innovation and experimentation – we need to apply these technologies at scale and at speed. As we build a global leader in this field, Tom’s strategic mind and geopolitical acumen will be invaluable for our common mission.”
Dr Enders stated: “Helsing stands for a new breed of defence and security companies that are able to draw on the great many talents and technologies of the broader tech world. To harness those capabilities for the defence of our liberal democracies, is vitally important in the conflict-laden world we live in. And Helsing has already demonstrated that their technologies can make a huge difference in best equipping our armed forces for the future.”
Notes to editors:
CV - Tom Enders Dr Thomas Enders served as CEO of Airbus and EADS from 2005 to 2019. From 2000 to 2005 he built up and consolidated the defence business of the Airbus Group. All in all, he served nineteen years on the Management Board of Airbus/ EADS. He is President of DGAP (German Council on Foreign Relations), a member of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa AG, member of the Board of Directors of Linde Plc. and the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse AG. In September 2021 he has also been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lilium NV. Prior to joining the aerospace industry in 1991, he worked at the German Ministry of Defence (Planning Staff) and at various think tanks. He studied at the Universities of Bonn and Los Angeles (UCLA) and served as an airborne officer in the German Armed Forces. Tom is a licensed helicopter- and fixed-wing pilot and he has been an avid skydiver since more than forty years
About Helsing:
Helsing is a new type of defence and artificial intelligence company. We believe that software – and in particular artificial intelligence – will be the key capability to keep liberal democracies from harm. Our ambition is to achieve global technology leadership in real-time information processing, turning unstructured sensor data into information advantage for democratic governments. Our platform aims to provide the clearest picture possible in any operating environment. We’re looking for people with their heart in the right place, who share our conviction that liberal democratic values are worth protecting, for ourselves and for future generations.
