Kraken Robotics Taps HR Veteran to Steer High-Growth Phase

ST. JOHN'S, NL – January 12, 2026 – As it navigates a period of unprecedented expansion, Kraken Robotics Inc. has announced a strategic addition to its executive team, appointing Terra Penrose as the company’s first Chief People Officer. The move signals a deliberate focus on fortifying its human capital infrastructure to support a steep growth trajectory fueled by surging revenues and strategic acquisitions.

Based out of the company’s Nova Scotia office, Penrose joins a firm that is rapidly solidifying its position as a global leader in subsea intelligence. Kraken’s recent financial performance underscores the momentum driving this hire. The company reported a 31% revenue increase to $91.3 million in 2024, followed by continued double-digit growth through 2025, bolstered by record shipments of its subsea batteries and synthetic aperture sonar systems. The recent acquisition of 3D at Depth Inc., a leader in underwater LiDAR solutions, has further expanded its service offerings and robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) capabilities. With a sales pipeline that has swelled to over $2 billion, the need for a robust, scalable people strategy has become a critical business imperative.

The Strategic Imperative of Human Capital

For a high-growth technology company like Kraken, the appointment of a Chief People Officer is more than a traditional HR function; it is a strategic maneuver to ensure organizational architecture can sustain rapid scaling. In fast-paced tech and robotics sectors, the CPO acts as a key partner to the CEO, responsible for aligning talent strategy with ambitious business objectives. The role is pivotal in designing an organization that can absorb a significant increase in headcount, integrate new teams from acquisitions, and expand into new global markets without sacrificing efficiency or its innovative edge.

Kraken’s global footprint, with operations in Canada, the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, and Brazil, presents complex challenges in creating a cohesive corporate culture and unified employee experience. A seasoned people leader is tasked with building the support systems and scalable processes necessary for a globally distributed workforce. This includes everything from harmonizing HR policies and benefits to implementing technology that streamlines people management and fosters cross-border collaboration. As President and CEO Greg Reid noted in the announcement, the expectation is for Penrose to “make a meaningful impact on how we work, how we lead, and how we thrive as a team.”

A Veteran Leader for a Specialized Field

Terra Penrose brings to Kraken over two decades of experience cultivating high-performing teams across a range of demanding industries, including defense and aerospace, shipbuilding, and oil and gas. Her background provides a unique blend of expertise relevant to Kraken's core markets. Before joining the subsea technology firm, she served as the Chief HR Officer for Stelia Aerospace North America, a subsidiary of aerospace giant Airbus. In that role, she was responsible for the people strategy of an advanced manufacturing company with significant operations in Nova Scotia and Quebec, giving her direct experience in a technologically sophisticated and highly regulated sector.

Holding a Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, Penrose began her career in strategic talent acquisition and has since developed a reputation for delivering the full cycle of HR programs. Her expertise in “shaping high performing teams and scaling structure and support systems to enable people to do their best work,” as highlighted by Reid, directly addresses Kraken’s current needs. Penrose herself acknowledged the company’s trajectory, stating her excitement to be “joining the company at a time of real momentum” and her intent to “help shepherd Kraken through this period of strong growth.” Her leadership is expected to be instrumental in developing the internal talent and organizational resilience required to execute on the company's ambitious goals.

Cultivating a Culture of Innovation

One of the most significant challenges for any rapidly growing company is preserving the innovative, mission-driven culture that fueled its initial success. Kraken’s mission of “transforming subsea intelligence” has attracted a deeply committed and talented team. As the organization expands, the CPO’s role becomes that of a cultural steward, ensuring that the core values and collaborative spirit are not diluted but are instead intentionally woven into the fabric of the growing global workforce.

Penrose’s experience at Stelia Aerospace, a company noted for its focus on its people and commitment to diversity, suggests a leadership style well-suited to this task. Fostering a workplace that champions psychological safety, continuous learning, and inclusion is critical for driving the creativity needed for cutting-edge robotics and sensor development. By formalizing career development paths, implementing robust leadership training, and enhancing employee engagement initiatives, the new CPO can ensure that employees feel invested in and connected to the company’s mission. This focus on the human element is what enables a technology company to not just build advanced systems, but to consistently innovate and outpace competitors.

Navigating a Competitive Talent Seascape

The market for subsea technology is not only technologically complex but also intensely competitive for talent. Kraken competes for highly specialized engineers, data scientists, and robotics specialists against established global players like Oceaneering International, Kongsberg Gruppen, and Subsea 7. These firms are all vying for a limited pool of experts with skills in hydrography, acoustics, artificial intelligence, and marine engineering. In this environment, a company's ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent is a decisive competitive advantage.

Penrose’s appointment is a clear investment in winning this war for talent. Her career began with a focus on strategic sourcing, an expertise that will be vital as Kraken looks to fill critical roles to support its expanding project pipeline. Beyond just recruitment, creating an unparalleled employee value proposition—encompassing challenging work, career growth opportunities, and a supportive culture—is essential for retention. By building a world-class people function, Kraken is not only preparing for internal growth but is also strengthening its position in the marketplace, ensuring it has the human ingenuity required to continue developing its best-in-class 3D imaging sensors, power solutions, and robotic systems for clients worldwide.