Zelim Appoints Former US Coast Guard Commander Matthew Mitchell to Lead US Office

Zelim, a maritime safety innovator based in Edinburgh, has announced the appointment of Commander Matthew Mitchell, a former Commander of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), to lead its U.S. office. This strategic move is part of Zelim’s plan to expand into new markets with its man-overboard and security threat detection and recovery technologies.

Commander Matthew Mitchell brings with him 20 years of experience with the USCG, most recently serving as head of search and rescue and policy. In his new role as Director of Search and Rescue at Zelim, he will oversee the newly incorporated Zelim LLC and drive the company’s growth in North America and other regions.

Expansion into North America

Zelim LLC is currently in the process of setting up its office on the USA’s East Coast and assembling a team to capitalize on the early success of the ZOE Intelligent Detection system, GUARDIAN rescue craft, and SWIFT Man-overboard Recovery Conveyor. These technologies are targeted towards the cruise, offshore energy, coastguard, and defense sectors.

Investment and Funding

This announcement comes on the heels of Zelim’s successful closure of Series A investment, which brought in $6.6 million from Amati Global Investors, existing investors, and new private investors. Additionally, Zelim secured $2.5 million from Innovate UK’s Innovation Loan program to further develop the ZOE product line.

Doug Lothian, Zelim’s CTO and co-founder, expressed his excitement about the new appointment, stating, “Matt has already played a pivotal role in securing a cooperative R&D agreement with the USCG, leading to the development and market introduction of ZOE. We are eager to continue this collaboration and leverage Matt’s vast experience and network as our new Director of Search and Rescue.”

Commander Matthew Mitchell shared his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, “Having served as the chief of policy for the United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue division, I have seen firsthand the limitations of existing tools and technologies. Zelim’s solutions represent a significant advancement in man-overboard monitoring and response, and I am committed to ensuring this technology is adopted globally.”

With Commander Matthew Mitchell at the helm of Zelim’s U.S. office, the company is poised for further growth and success in the maritime safety industry.