TEAM

FOUNDERS

  • Al Nekrews joined the Royal Navy in 1989. In 2002, he commissioned at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth and was awarded the Queen‘s Sword.

    With 36 years of military service, Al has led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, the broader Middle East, and Europe. He has commanded at every level, from specialist teams on high-risk missions to large formations overseeing UK resilience both domestically and abroad.

    A recognised authority in explosives and asymmetric maritime warfare, Al has spearheaded several UK/US bilateral programmes countering emerging maritime threats from state and non-state actors. In 2011, he led a complex inter-agency maritime security programme, supporting preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. Also In 2011, he became the first Royal Navy operator to qualify as a UK High Threat IED Disposal Operator; subsequently deploying to Afghanistan, where he operated in every Area of Operations in Helmand Province and was awarded the Queen‘s Gallantry Medal (QGM).

    Al joined UK Strategic Command in 2013, overseeing foreign weapons exploitation programmes and delivering strategic technical intelligence assessments with Five Eyes partners. He also led a study to define the threat from unconventional threats in the maritime domain. In 2017, he served as the only UK Branch Chief in the US-led Land Component Command in Baghdad, directing coalition counter-IED operations and technical exploitation priorities during the Mosul counteroffensive against ISIL. He was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his service in Iraq.

    In 2019, while in command of the Royal Navy’s Diving & EOD Group, Al led sensitive underwater post-blast investigations into commercial tanker attacks in UAE waters - further cementing his position as a trusted authority in maritime security. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2020.

    Al has operated in the most specialised areas of UK Defence. He is widely recognised as a subject matter expert in maritime special operations, asymmetric maritime warfare and unmanned technologies – briefing senior UK, US, and NATO leadership on evolving threats and capability responses. Al is a graduate of the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course and holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from King’s College London. He was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2025.

    Al retired from active service in September 2025. Determined to continue to use his experience to contribute to solving national strategic problems – he co-founded Marcurius Inc. in October 2025.

  • Kevin Godlington is a British entrepreneur. He joined the British Army at 16, serving initially with the Royal Engineers before going on to operate with UK Special Forces; and later alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in complex and fragile environments worldwide between 1992 and 2010.

     

    In 2010 Kevin transitioned from military service to entrepreneurship, focusing on post-conflict and frontier markets in Africa. In 2008 he co-founded Planting Naturals, acquiring distressed agricultural assets and restructuring them into what has become the world’s largest organic palm oil cooperative. The enterprise encompasses approximately 6,000 hectares of owned farmland and works in partnership with more than 12,000 smallholder farmers, creating vertically integrated supply chains with access to established downstream customers. The model combines commercial viability with community ownership and long-term land stewardship.

     

    Building on this vision, he founded The Rewilding Company in 2022, now one of Africa’s largest community-led, cooperative-owned biodiversity restoration organisations. The company is planting and restoring more than 25,000 hectares of rainforest and mangrove ecosystems, integrating carbon sequestration, habitat regeneration and rural economic empowerment into a single operating model.

     

    In 2025 Kevin Co-Founded Marcurius Inc, a global Defense Technology company based in the Greater Tampa Area, Florida, USA.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

  • James is an operations leader with over two decades of service in the Royal Navy, specialising in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving while supporting both UK and allied operations throughout the United Kingdom, the broader Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

    He left active military service in May 2026 following a career operating at the forefront of UK Defence and National Security activity. Operating and commanding in high-risk, high-consequence environments, he led specialist teams and delivered mission-critical effects across complex maritime and expeditionary operations.

    His experience includes support to Counter Terrorism operations and contingency activity, contributing to the protection of critical national infrastructure, maritime security, and specialist response capabilities in support of UK and allied interests.

    Throughout his career, James worked closely with UK and international Forces, contributing to sensitive operations and the development of capabilities designed to counter evolving asymmetric threats. His experience spans maritime security, maritime strike, force protection, operational planning, capability development, and the integration of advanced technologies into frontline use.

    Alongside his operational background, James developed extensive experience leading complex programmes, organisational change, and delivery across Defence and National Security environments.

    He has built a reputation for delivering complex outcomes in demanding operational settings where speed, risk, and uncertainty are constant factors, aligning teams, simplifying complexity, and driving disciplined execution.

    At Marcurius, James leads operational delivery, company execution, and growth, working alongside defence stakeholders, industry partners, and end users to develop scalable unmanned and autonomous capabilities aligned to modern operational requirements. His leadership approach is rooted in operational realism and a deep understanding of how technology is employed at the tactical edge, with a focus on delivering capability that performs in contested, real-world environments.