NATO tech accelerator Diana has hired a new interim managing director, following the quiet departure last month of the previous programme head.
The new lead, James Appathurai, was most recently the deputy assistant security general for innovation, hybrid and cyber at NATO, where he worked on projects around emerging and disruptive technologies including cybersecurity, defence and energy security.
The recent departure of the former Diana managing director Deeph Chana comes amid a flurry of turnover at NATO’s innovation-focused arms. Three out of the five original partners leading NATO’s €1bn VC fund, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), have also left less than two years after the fund launched. The NIF has also seen a lot of turmoil in its short life, including allegations of conflicts of interest and disorganisation, as detailed in a recent Sifted investigation.
NATO’s Diana accelerator (short for the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) officially launched in 2023, and aims to boost innovation around deeptech and defence capabilities across the alliance. With an annual budget of €50m, the programme invests initial grants of €100k (with a possible additional €300k) for the six-month programme. It selected 44 startups — 30 of which were in Europe — for its inaugural batch two years ago.
“As innovation becomes ever more central to ensuring the security of NATO Allies, Diana will focus on more defence, more NATO and more rapid adoption,” Appathurai, who has worked at NATO for nearly 15 years, wrote on LinkedIn on Tuesday.
In a statement, Diana chair Dennis Gyllensporre said Appathurai is the “right person to build upon the excellent foundations already established, and to bring Diana’s innovative companies into the heart of NATO’s rapid adoption efforts.”
Appathurai assumed the role as of July 1, according to Diana.
