Terra Industries, the Nigerian defence technology company developing autonomous security systems for critical infrastructure, has appointed Ben MacWilliams as Vice President of Strategy. The announcement was made on August 19, 2026.
MacWilliams joins from SpaceX, where he served as Director of Starlink Market Access with responsibility for all 54 African markets. In that role he launched the satellite broadband service in more than 20 countries, working directly with presidents, regulators and ministers. Prior to the Africa remit, he led market access for the Middle East and Central Eurasia, securing the first low-Earth orbit broadband operating licences in both regions.
At Terra Industries, MacWilliams will oversee market entry, licensing strategy and government partnerships as the company expands deployment of its sovereign autonomous systems across the Global South.
Nathan Nwachuku, co-founder and CEO of Terra Industries, said: “The next phase for us at Terra is getting our technology to governments that need it. That means licenses, regulators, and relationships across dozens of markets at once. Ben has done this at the highest level, and we’re proud to have him.”
Ben MacWilliams commented: “Nathan, Maxwell, and the Terra team have built a transformational company with deep technical talent, a bold vision, and real traction. Having spent years scaling Starlink’s commercial presence and infrastructure across the African continent, I understand why sovereign defense capability matters. I’m excited to work with the Terra team and accelerate the mission to empower the Global South to safeguard its people, infrastructure, and natural resources.”
The appointment follows a period of rapid expansion for Terra Industries. The company, founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, recently closed a $52 million seed funding round, opened its first international office in London, and announced Pax-2, a new manufacturing facility in Ghana scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Ghana plant is expected to produce up to 50,000 aerial systems annually by 2028.
Terra focuses on air, land and maritime autonomous security systems designed for African operating conditions, with an emphasis on data sovereignty and local manufacturing. The company has secured partnerships, including with Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation (DICON), and positions itself as a builder of Africa’s sovereign defence-industrial base.
MacWilliams’ experience navigating complex regulatory environments and high-level government relationships is expected to accelerate Terra’s expansion beyond Nigeria into additional markets across Africa and the wider Global South. The hire signals the company’s shift from early product and manufacturing build-out toward broader commercial and governmental adoption of its systems.
