Cybersecurity company Darktrace PLC (LSE:DARK) announced that Poppy Gustafsson has stepped down as chief executive with immediate effect.
She has been replaced by chief operating officer Jill Popelka, who will also join the company's board of directors.
Popelka brings over two decades of experience in leadership roles at major global technology companies, including Accenture, Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP), and SAP SuccessFactors.
She joined Darktrace in January 2024 as a non-executive director and became COO in June.
The switch up comes as Darktrace, which was co-founded by recently deceased British tech icon Mike Lynch, prepares to be taken over by private equity firm Thoma Bravo.
"Darktrace has been a huge part of my life and my identity for over a decade and I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved in that time,” said Gustafsson. “I am profoundly grateful to have had the privilege of leading such an exceptional team."
Thoma Bravo partner Andrew Almeida said “we are fully supportive of Poppy and the board's succession plan”.
“The acquisition of Darktrace by Thoma Bravo continues to progress as anticipated. All antitrust and regulatory approvals have now been received, with the exception of one foreign regulatory approval, which is currently anticipated by 28 September 2024,” Bravo added.