Melius Cyber aiming for growth after chair appointment

A cybersecurity firm helping SMEs foil hackers has appointed an experienced technology leader as its new chair.

Newcastle-based Melius Cyber has welcomed Matt Little.

Bosses say his arrival will support further growth at the company, which recently secured £350,000 investment from the North East Venture Fund.

The business, a spin-off from Newcastle IT company Melius Group, helps organisations detect vulnerabilities in IT networks, with its CyberSafe Plus platform – developed specifically for SMEs – automating the process of vulnerability scanning and penetration testing.

Richard Brown, chief executive, said: “We are delighted to add Matt to the board.

“His previous experience in our sector will prove invaluable as we scale and develop our products.

“For a young, growing business in a fast-developing sector, it is a real bonus to add Matt’s skill set.”

Matt was introduced to Melius by Mercia, which manages the North East Venture Fund, and counts senior roles across gaming, cybersecurity, financial services, government and media on his CV.

 

Richard Brown, Melius chief executive, left, with chair Matt Little

A founding member of Edinburgh cybersecurity business ZoneFox, he helped lead its sale to US company Fortinet in 2018, going on to hold a senior role within the company.

Speaking about his Melius role, Matt said: “I am delighted to join Melius’ board, to help it to achieve its mission to develop ground-breaking solutions that enable organisations to achieve cyber certifications and provide constant protection against advanced cyber threats.

“I am excited to be a part of the company’s journey as it moves to the next stage in its success story.

“Mercia provides so much more than investment for growth – access to Mercia’s expertise and to their team is a real game-changer for Melius.”

Ian Wilson, Mercia fund principal, said: “Matt’s experience in the tech sector – which includes scaling and selling a cybersecurity business – means he is well suited for the role of chair.

“This appointment demonstrates the wider support that Mercia provides – not only in providing investment but also in putting the right support and people in place to help companies scale and grow.”

The North East Venture Fund is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.