Anthony Kirby | UK Defence Journal

1 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Anthony Kirby was appointed Serco Group Chief Executive in March 2025, having previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Serco UK and Europe from January 2023. He joined Serco in 2017 as Chief People Officer before becoming Group Chief Operating Officer in 2020, with responsibility for transformation, health and safety, and corporate shared services. Before joining Serco, he spent more than 17 years at Compass Group plc in senior workforce, organisational and HR roles across Europe, Japan and more than 40 countries. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds master’s degrees in Strategic Human Resources and Employment Law and Industrial Relations.

Large gray naval vessel with a tall lattice-like superstructure sailing on calm blue ocean.”

Maritime autonomy: the race is on for the Navy of the future

July 22, 2026

Anthony Kirby, Group Chief Executive of Serco, argues that the race to build effective autonomous naval fleets will be decided by how quickly governments, industry and the military can integrate new technology at scale.

The UK Defence Journal is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry. We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact us at the email below. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk