Bright Ascension launches strategic plan with new leadership team

Above: (left to right) Peter Mendham, CTO, Laura Calder, CFO, Pat Druken, COO and Sandy Damm, CEO.
Courtesy Bright Ascension

Building on the launch of HELIX Flightkit, the introduction of HELIX Engineering Services and the availability of HELIX Ops through custom-engineered deployments, the company is entering a new chapter of commercial and technical growth. 

To guide this transition, Bright Ascension has also strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Sandy Damm as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and with founder, Peter Mendham, becoming Chief Technology Officer, focusing on the company’s products and core technology. Sandy is backed by the experienced leadership team of Pat Druken (COO) and Laura Calder (CFO), providing both continuity and renewed energy for the journey ahead.

Sandy is an experienced CEO with a successful track record in developing businesses internationally as a result of sales growth through multichannel networks. Bright Ascension believes his leadership experience in business change and transformation will be vitally important to take full advantage of the multiple opportunities for rapid growth that are available to the company in the international space sector.

“Bright Ascension has a strong foundation and a pioneering heritage that we intend to continue and build upon,” said Sandy Damm, newly appointed CEO. “With a powerful technology platform, an expert team and clear ambitions, we’re now ready to accelerate our international presence and bring truly interoperable, cyber-resilient solutions to market.”

The company has secured bridge funding through the support of its existing investors and launched a new fundraising campaign at the end of May this year to further propel its commercial plans. This next phase will see Bright Ascensions deliver a significantly expanded portfolio of HELIX products, strengthen its international sales capabilities and drive innovation in the sector through a focus on interoperability, scalability, efficiency and cybersecurity-first engineering.

Peter Mendham, now CTO, said: “This move allows me to focus on advancing the HELIX platform and ensuring it continues to meet the most complex and mission-critical needs of our customers.

“Sandy brings the commercial drive and leadership that will help take our work to the next level – while preserving the culture and values we’ve built as a team.”