Our People

Nic joined Draken in 2023 and was formerly the Chief Executive Officer UK Defence at QinetiQ. Prior to that, he held roles as Managing Director at Babcock International Group, VT Group and CAE. Nic graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and later received an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme and a qualified coach with an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching.

Leading the Finance and Accounting teams and responsible for the finance strategy and financial activities, Sarah was a Group Controller at Cobham Plc, a multi-national FTSE 250 group, where she played a key role when the firm was taken over by Advent International. She was also Director at PwC, the professional services firm, where she specialised in the Aerospace and Defence sector, serving high profile FTSE 250 clients. 

As a Royal Air Force officer for 35 years with more than 350 combat missions as a Tornado and Typhoon pilot and weapons instructor, Ian commanded at various levels, including as the Assistant Chief of the Royal Air Force prior to his final role as the 3-Star commander of future warfighting plans and the professional military education lead of all UK military and national security personnel. Ian's previous appointments include acting as a board member of the UK Civil Aviation Authority . 

A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Sophie has People responsibility for the UK, USA and International Draken sites. With over 20 years’ experience, she has a passion for learning and problem solving as evidenced through an MA (LLM) in Employment Law, and an MA in Human Resource Management. She is currently studying with the Henley Business School for an MSc in Neuroscience and Coaching for Behavioural Change.  

Nick leads Draken’s global technology strategy and delivers our key technology investments ensuring the successful execution of product development. A Flight Test Engineer by background, Nick was the Engineering Director UK Defence at QinetiQ, working across a broad segment of their activities, including air, science and technology, maritime, land and weapons. He has worked across both high-technology and Research and Development intensive programmes and spent most of his time delivering major technical programmes; for example, the design and delivery of a test pilot training system at ETPS, aircraft modification programmes, and leading on the safety approach to trials for the first high power laser above the horizon firing in the UK. With exceptional air expertise, which has included supporting the deepening of relationships into DE&S, the MoD and front-line commands, he has led a team of hundreds of employees at QinetiQ.

Jose joined Draken following a distinguished career in the USAF, where he held leadership roles directly advising the Commander of USAF Central Command on all matters pertaining to strategy, operations and sustainment of coalition forces in Southwest Asia. His responsibilities covered 20 countries and more than 21,000 personnel. He played a pivotal role in strategising and executing daily air component war strategy against ISIS in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. He began his career as an F-16 fighter pilot, with close to 4000 hours logged, including 380 combat hours and 130 combat missions.

Simon joins us from QinetiQ where he was the Operations Director for UK Defence. There he led a team of 1100 personnel to deliver customer projects and trials across all 40 sites, with a budget of over £150m. He rapidly established change programmes to deliver operational performance improvement, and was accountable for all UK operational safety. Prior to this role he was the Director Operations Air and Space when he developed, launched and led QinetiQ’s civil aviation organization and created the Aviation Engineering Centre.  He has also worked as the MD and Operations Sustainment Director for Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems, worked as an independent consultant to the UAW, and as the Interim CEO for Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Ltd.  His time in service was spent with the Royal Navy where he was the Chief Operational Engineer for the Fleet Air Arm, and Military Assistant to NATO’s Joint Force Commander. He was also Deputy Squadron Air Engineer of a battlefield helicopter squadron which included deployments worldwide and active service during the first Gulf War.

As a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A, MQ-9 and MC-12W, General Goldfien has flown combat missions in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom. His previous roles include being the 21st Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff to the U.S. Air Force, and Director Joint Staff to the Pentagon.  

Field Marshal (Nick) Houghton served as the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff from July 2013 to July 2016, following a career focused on operational leadership. He commanded 39 Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, was Director of Military Operations, and deployed as Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq. Later, he became Chief of Joint Operations and then Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff before his appointment as CDS. After leaving the Armed Forces, he became Constable of the Tower of London and a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, serving on the International Affairs and Defence Committee. In June 2025, he was appointed Field Marshal by His Majesty The King for his continued service.

Prior Roles: Constellis Group, Centerra Group, A-T Solutions, Allied Defense Group, Hemagen Diagnostics Prior to her promotion to CFO, Deborah Ricci served as the SVP of Finance and Accounting at Constellis. Previously, Debbie had served as the CFO of Centerra Group since November 2015.   Prior to her CFO role at Centerra, Debbie was the CFO of a leading counterterrorism firm from 2010 to 2015, where she led the sale of that company to a large government contractor. Deborah Ricci has more than 23 years of experience as a proven financial executive in public and non-public manufacturing and product development organizations.  She served as the Chief Financial Officer of Allied Defense Group Inc., from April 6, 2007 to June 1, 2010 and also served as Treasurer since April 2007, was responsible for all financial management, including financing, SEC reporting, long-term business planning, treasury management and internal control monitoring. She served as Controller and Company Secretary of Allied Defense Group Inc. from 2006 to April 2007. 

Mr Parisi’s entrepreneurial drive and business acumen led him to found MSI Merchant Services, Inc., which became a leading national card processor before its sale in 2014. After honouring a five-year non-compete, he co-founded SWIPED in 2019. Mario has also invested in Opportunity Zoned Properties, leveraging this national initiative to connect private capital with low-income communities and mitigate tax on capital gains. He owns rental properties in New Jersey and finances commercial ventures through MSND. Notably, Mario converted a seven-figure debt into equity in Draken, securing a 30% stake before selling 24% when Blackstone acquired the company in 2019. He remains a significant shareholder. Mario attended Seton Hall Preparatory High School and St. John’s University.

Mr. Kaden is a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone where he is responsible for sourcing and executing investments for the firm. Prior to joining Blackstone, he served on the National Security Council and National Economic Council staffs at the White House. He received an AB from Harvard College, a JD from Yale Law School, and served as law clerk to Judge Jose A. Cabranes on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Nic joined Draken in 2023 and was formerly the Chief Executive Officer UK Defence at QinetiQ. Prior to that, he held roles as Managing Director at Babcock International Group, VT Group and CAE. Nic graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and later received an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme and a qualified coach with an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching.

Leading the Finance and Accounting teams and responsible for the finance strategy and financial activities, Sarah was a Group Controller at Cobham Plc, a multi-national FTSE 250 group, where she played a key role when the firm was taken over by Advent International. She was also Director at PwC, the professional services firm, where she specialised in the Aerospace and Defence sector, serving high profile FTSE 250 clients.