EfficiencyIT appoints Anthony Soares to boost defence expertise
EfficiencyIT has appointed Anthony Soares as Defence Lead Consultant to enhance its mission-critical infrastructure capabilities within the UK defence sector.
EfficiencyIT, a UK-based specialist in data centres, information technology, and communications environments, announced the addition of Soares to its senior leadership team. The move comes shortly after the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, which outlines the government's focus on transforming the nation's defence capabilities amid growing demands for secure and resilient systems.
Strategic experience
Soares brings over 25 years' experience in the industry, having spent nearly a decade at Schneider Electric, where he most recently served as UK Defence Segment Lead. His background includes collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), front-line commands, and leading contractors.
During his tenure at Schneider Electric, Soares led the company's defence activities, developed a modernised approach for the UK defence sector, and repositioned the company across the MOD estate as a source of expertise in energy resiliency and sustainability. He also chaired the Military Ambassador Group, enabling veterans to transition into civilian employment, and supported the company's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, leading to recognition with a Silver Status in 2024.
Sitting on a trade association executive committee for Defence Infrastructure, Soares represented small and medium-sized enterprises and contributed to the Strategic Defence Review by providing direct industry insight. His breadth of expertise is expected to support EfficiencyIT's expanding portfolio across governmental and defence projects.
Leadership perspective
"Anthony's appointment marks a significant step forward in our strategic efforts to support the UK's defence and governmental sectors, and more so as requirements for secure, resilient mission-critical systems become more prevalent. His experience and insight enhances the depth and capability of our leadership team, ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers in some of the country's most demanding operational environments," said Nick Ewing, Managing Director, EfficiencyIT.
EfficiencyIT aims to support public sector and defence organisations with secure, scalable, and quickly deployable infrastructure across the UK and Europe. The company emphasised that Soares's appointment reflects ongoing investment in expertise central to the emerging needs of these sectors.
Sector challenges
Soares's previous role at Schneider Electric involved developing defence strategies that aligned with growing digital demands, energy security, and sustainability within military operations. His involvement in championing SME interests and defence-wide reform is considered highly relevant given the current environment, where digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) are top priorities for the UK's conventional forces.
Commenting on his new position, Soares said:
"I'm proud to join EfficiencyIT at a time when the UK defence sector is undergoing major digital transformation. The company's focus on secure, scalable, prefabricated data centre solutions aligns perfectly with the operational requirements of defence customers, and I look forward to supporting them with mission-critical infrastructure that's fit for a future, which is shifting towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK's conventional forces."
His appointment is designed to directly support EfficiencyIT's current and future defence projects by overseeing the design, delivery, and ongoing maintenance of advanced digital infrastructure systems. The role will also focus on addressing evolving standards for data management, security, and operational resilience.
Government direction
The recent Strategic Defence Review aims to serve as a catalyst for economic growth by stimulating jobs, encouraging new partnerships between industry and government, promoting procurement reform, and supporting UK-based businesses. EfficiencyIT stated that Soares's appointment aligns with the review's objectives and the drive towards more flexible and autonomous solutions within defence operations.
EfficiencyIT underscored that strengthening its leadership team reflects its continuous focus on providing robust, secure, and sustainable solutions for vital UK sectors.
