St. John's-based marine technology company Kraken Robotics Inc. has announced a significant bolstering of its leadership team with two strategic appointments aimed at accelerating its global ambitions.
New Governance and Financial Expertise on Board
The company has appointed Kim Butler, CPA, ICD.D, to its Board of Directors. Butler brings over 35 years of executive experience in financial, operational, and governance roles across both public and private Canadian and multinational organizations.
Her extensive background includes serving as a board member and Chair of Audit and Special Committees for leading firms in the technology, utilities, and defence sectors. She is recognized for her deep expertise in corporate governance, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions.
Previously, Butler was Head of Business Operations and Integration at Ericsson following its acquisition of CENX, where she held interim CEO and CFO/COO positions. She also served as SVP Finance and CFO at Bridgewater Systems, where she led the company's initial public offering in 2007 and its subsequent acquisition by Amdocs in 2011. Her career also includes senior finance roles at Asea Brown Boveri and Mitel Corporation.
"I am very honored and excited to join the Board of Directors at Kraken Robotics and look forward to participating in their continued growth as a global leader in advanced 3D underwater imaging and next-generation subsea battery technologies," said Butler.
Greg Reid, President and CEO of Kraken Robotics, highlighted the value of her appointment: "Kim’s extensive experience in financial leadership, corporate governance, and strategic planning makes her an exceptional addition to our Board. Her proven ability to guide organizations through complex growth and transformation will be invaluable."
Strategic Hire for Defence Sector Growth
In a parallel move, Kraken has hired Bernard Mills as its new Executive Vice President, Defence, effective January 12, 2026. Mills is currently a member of Kraken's Board of Directors and has resigned from that position, effective immediately, to assume his new executive role.
Mills is an internationally experienced executive specializing in the defence and aerospace sectors. For the last three years, he served as CEO and Managing Director at Stelia North America, an advanced materials subsidiary of the Airbus Group.
Prior to that, he was President of Ultra Sonar Systems, where he led a team of over 850 staff across the UK, Canada, and Australia in delivering underwater sensing capabilities to global naval customers. His career also includes various roles at maritime systems developer Thales, with postings in both France and Australia.
Positioning for Future Expansion
These appointments signal Kraken Robotics's intent to solidify its governance framework and aggressively pursue opportunities in the defence sector. The addition of Butler's financial and governance acumen to the Board provides a strong foundation for strategic decision-making and potential future financial transactions.
Meanwhile, bringing Mills's deep defence industry relationships and operational experience directly into the executive team is a clear move to capture a larger share of the global naval technology market. His firsthand knowledge of key allied navies and major defence contractors will be a critical asset.
Based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Kraken Robotics (TSX-V: PNG, OTCQB: KRKNF) is focused on the production and sale of advanced underwater sensors, batteries, and robotic systems. The company's leadership believes these strategic hires will be instrumental in driving its next phase of growth as a provider of innovative marine technology solutions on the world stage.
