UK moonshot factory ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency) is on the hunt for a new CEO, after Ilan Gur announced his departure after almost three years in post.
The UK drew up plans for a “high risk, high reward” agency in 2021, hoping to emulate the success of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in the US, launching with an initial budget of £800m over five years. ARIA launched in 2023, and in April this year onboarded its second set of programme directors, tasked with finding scientific and technological breakthroughs as impactful as the invention of the internet.
Earlier this month, the British government reaffirmed its commitment to ARIA in its spending review; budgeting more than £1bn for the organisation over the next five years.
Before joining ARIA, Gur served as a programme director at a similar US agency, ARPA-E, devoted to energy projects. He also previously founded two companies in Silicon Valley and launched two entrepreneurship programmes.
Announcing his departure on LinkedIn, Gur wrote: “It’s hard to imagine leaving the most important and fulfilling job of my career, but there is no better time than now to find ARIA’s next CEO, and to empower them with a strong foundation, an amazing team, and a clear runway of funding to make their mark.”
Gur says his role was “designed to be time-bound” to ensure the agency remains dynamic and “constantly renewed with fresh ambition.”
He adds: “It’s obviously bittersweet to start planning my departure. But I’m glad we have the chance to set an early precedent of initiating these transitions from a place of confidence and intention.”
Applications for the role of ARIA CEO are open until August 3. Sifted approached ARIA for comment.
