Digital Catapult hires new CEO as it transitions to an ambitious new five-year plan

Digital Catapult today announces the appointment of Jonathan Tudor as Chief Executive Officer, starting on 26 October 2026. Jonathan takes on the role from David Bletso, who has been Interim CEO since April. David will resume his role as Digital Catapult’s Chief Financial Officer. 

Digital Catapult is a research and technology organisation for frontier digital technologies. It is uniquely positioned as a trusted partner across the UK innovation ecosystem and directly supports the UK Government’s Digital and Technologies Sector Plan. 

Digital Catapult’s R&D programmes represent national digital innovation infrastructure that can be utilised by commercial businesses. Digital Catapult drives commercial and economic growth by: 

• designing, convening and leading collaborative R&D programmes where the UK has distinct national research capabilities and which offer substantial commercial opportunities across AI, quantum computing, advanced connectivity and cybersecurity; 
• identifying and supporting new digital businesses to start and scale in the UK; and 
• helping UK high potential businesses accelerate the application of frontier digital technologies. 

Jonathan brings broad experience in the creation, commercialisation and funding of science and technology, most recently as an Investment Partner at the Clean Growth Fund. Before that, Jonathan was the Technology & Innovation Strategy Director at Centrica, a Managing Director at BP Ventures and Ventures Director at QinetiQ. Jonathan holds a Doctorate in Chemistry from Balliol College, Oxford.

Jonathan joins Digital Catapult as it transitions to an ambitious new five-year plan.