Cellula Robotics Ltd. has officially opened a UK office to expand its regional delivery and support capabilities for long-range Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems.
The move, announced during the Oceanology International event in London, establishes a permanent base for the company to manage European defence, security, survey, and environmental projects. This strategic expansion is designed to facilitate in-country collaboration, providing a hub for project planning, trials coordination, and operational support.
The UK office is led by Chief Commercial Officer Richard Mills, who oversees regional growth and customer engagement. The newly formed team integrates technical expertise with experience in maritime procurement and offshore execution.
Neil Manning, Chief Executive Officer at Cellula Robotics, said, “Establishing a UK office is a practical step that strengthens how we support customers and programmes in Europe. We’re building local capability that reflects the realities of subsea operations, from defence requirements to offshore delivery, and ensuring we can respond quickly with the right technical and operational expertise on the ground.”
Joining the team as AUV Operations and Trials Manager is Saxon Jones, who previously supported RAF maritime patrol operations and led offshore teams in commercial sectors including pipe and cable surveys and decommissioning programmes. Jones provides a direct link between vehicle integration and real-world offshore trials.
The company has also appointed Kira Coley as Head of Marketing & Communications. Coley brings over a decade of experience in ocean science and technology, having held advisory roles for IOC-UNESCO and the UN Ocean Decade. Her background in strategic communications will focus on aligning stakeholders across the industry, government, and research communities.
Strengthening the company’s ties to the defence sector, Oliver Morris joins as Customer Success and Delivery Manager. Morris previously served as the UK Operational Co-ordination Officer in OCCAR and spent eight years in DE&S, where he worked on AUV capability and seabed data analysis for the UK Ministry of Defence. His experience includes mine hunting capability development and the establishment of the Maritime Autonomy Centre of Expertise (MASCoE).
The expansion allows Cellula to better support persistent subsea operations and integrated systems while maintaining a direct presence for its growing European client base.
