Darktrace Taps Ex-Quickbase Boss as Its Third CEO in 18 Months

Darktrace is rolling through CEOs like firmware updates. The UK-based cybersecurity company has named Ed Jennings as its new chief executive — its third leader in just 18 months.

Jennings comes from Quickbase, where he led the work management platform. His appointment signals that Darktrace's private equity owners want to accelerate growth and aren't shy about shaking up the C-suite to get there.

Three CEOs in a year and a half is a pace that would make most boards nervous. But PE-backed companies often move fast and break org charts when returns aren't hitting targets.

For Jennings, the mandate is clear: deliver growth, and do it quickly. Whether he gets more runway than his predecessors remains to be seen. The cybersecurity market is booming, but leadership instability rarely inspires confidence among enterprise customers signing long-term contracts.