Case StudyFrom underwater innovation to major defence programmes: Vatn Systems appoints Chief Growth Officer

As Vatn Systems moves from early deployments towards large-scale defence programmes, the business needed a leader who understood how government investment becomes operational capability.

Wenham Carter secured Tom Huntley as Chief Growth Officer, bringing together senior US defence procurement experience, congressional insight and a track record of building commercial defence businesses.

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The business ambitionTaking autonomous underwater systems to scale

Vatn Systems develops low-cost, modular autonomous underwater vehicles for defence and commercial applications. Designed for rapid deployment and manufacture at scale, its systems can operate individually or collaboratively across missions including surveillance, reconnaissance, sensing and payload delivery.

Founded in 2023, the business has progressed from early demonstrations to operational deployments with defence customers and allied partners. Its next priority is to translate that momentum into larger, longer-term programmes.

Achieving this requires a commercial strategy that can navigate US defence procurement, build relationships across government and industry, and establish the organisation needed to pursue major contracts.

The leadership requirementUnderstanding how defence programmes become reality

Selling emerging technology into the US defence market requires more than a compelling product. Funding priorities, congressional appropriations, acquisition processes and operational requirements all influence whether new capabilities are adopted at scale.

Vatn needed someone who understood that system from the inside, with the commercial experience to turn that knowledge into a long-term growth strategy.

The Chief Growth Officer would lead business development, government relations, marketing and corporate strategy, building the team and relationships needed to pursue larger US defence programmes and opportunities with international allies.

Vatn needed someone who could navigate defence procurement, influence government stakeholders and turn emerging technology into major, long-term programmes.

The appointmentThe right person was already in our network

When Vatn CEO Nelson Mills approached Wenham Carter, consultant Izzy recognised the requirements immediately. She knew a leader whose experience closely matched the challenge: Tom Huntley.

A former US Coast Guard officer, Tom had served as Shipbuilding Budget Director before joining the staff of the House Appropriations Committee, gaining first-hand experience of how major government acquisition programmes are funded and assessed.

He subsequently moved into the private sector, leading government relations and the defence business at REGENT. There, he built commercial capability, secured US Marine Corps contracts and led engagement with Congress and the Pentagon.

Izzy identified Tom from the first briefing and initiated contact immediately as part of the retained search.

The opportunity offered Tom something equally significant: the chance to take responsibility for a broader growth function at a business whose mission closely aligned with his own ambitions.

Writing about his decision to join Vatn, Tom explained that the role would allow him to build and lead across business development, government relations, marketing and corporate strategy, expanding the scope of his contribution to US maritime capability.

Business outcomeCommercial leadership for the next stage of defence growth

Tom joined Vatn as Chief Growth Officer in July 2026, bringing experience across government budgeting, defence acquisition, congressional engagement and commercial leadership into a single executive role.

His appointment gives Vatn the leadership to develop a coordinated growth strategy, expand its government and industry relationships, and build the commercial organisation needed to compete for larger, longer-term defence contracts.

As Vatn progresses towards repeatable production and deployment at scale, that combination of government insight and commercial execution will be central to turning its technology into sustained business growth.

Vatn secured a leader who has worked on both sides of defence procurement, bringing the experience to connect government priorities, commercial strategy and the delivery of new maritime capabilities.

Izzy is a true professional. She ran an exceptional search process with a level of care and precision I haven't experienced in my 30 year career. She spent time to fully understand what I was specifically optimizing for in my career, and she stayed engage as a genuine advocate through the hardest parts of the negotiation, direct with me throughout about where there was space to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

We finalized an executive role that fits exactly where I wanted to take my career with a company I'm proud to call my next chapter, and I credit Izzy with getting both the match and the process absolutely right.

Tom Huntley | Chief Growth Officer, Vatn Systems

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