The former boss of cybersecurity firm Darktrace has taken her seat in the House of Lords, enabling her to become investment minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.
The appointment of Baroness Poppy Gustafsson to the Labour frontbench was announced ahead of last month’s global investment summit in London.
The move was seen as a bid to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to strengthening ties with business as the administration looks to boost economic growth.
The 42-year-old co-founded Darktrace in 2013.
Under her leadership, the company saw significant growth and global expansion leading to the company being listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, before being sold for more than £4 billion.
Lady Gustafsson wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony in the unelected chamber, where she swore the oath of allegiance to the King.
She was supported by fellow Labour peer and science minister Lord Vallance of Balham and independent crossbencher Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, a co-founder of travel website Lastminute.com and president of the British Chambers of Commerce.
Lady Gustafsson, a chartered accountant, received an OBE for services to cybersecurity in 2019.
She studied maths at the University of Sheffield and is married with two children.
The investment minister sits jointly under the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury.
In her new role, Lady Gustafsson will oversee an expanded Office for Investment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here