LAWRENCE, Kan. — Sept. 9, 2025 — Cobalt Iron, a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced the appointment of Joshua Pressnell as vice president of engineering. Based in Ohio, Pressnell will draw on his diverse background in defense systems, mobile applications, and enterprise software to further strengthen Cobalt Iron’s engineering organization and drive innovation across its Compass® enterprise data protection platform.
“Josh is a proven leader with a deep commitment to team building, communication, and technical excellence,” said Robert Marett, chief technology officer at Cobalt Iron. “He brings a rare combination of hands-on engineering expertise and strategic vision. His ability to connect the dots between technical execution and business outcomes — while inspiring teams to do their best work — makes him an ideal fit to guide our engineering organization into its next phase of growth.”
Reporting to Marett, Pressnell will lead Cobalt Iron’s Software and Systems teams, applying proven engineering leadership to accelerate innovation and product delivery. He aims to build on Cobalt Iron’s strong engineering foundation by enhancing collaboration across departments and refining how technical execution supports strategic business goals. His focus is on evolving engineering practices to align with the company’s vision for 2025 and beyond, ensuring continued delivery of innovative, reliable solutions that meet the dynamic needs of enterprise customers.
Pressnell’s career began in the defense sector, where he lead the creation of mission-critical systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, developing a deep appreciation for cybersecurity and bulletproof software design. He later founded Varietas Software, producing over 30 niche mobile applications — including a pioneering personal book cataloging app and an email prioritization tool used by enterprise clients. Later, as CTO at Penthera Technologies, he led the development of advanced video streaming solutions for major media brands. His leadership roles at RTI, Ascendum Solutions, and various startups further showcase his expertise in cloud computing, cross-functional team management, and delivering scalable, customer-focused solutions.
“There aren’t really any unique problems — just different perspectives on the same ones,” said Pressnell. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked across defense, mobile, and enterprise software, and I’ve seen how the same core challenges — data movement, security, scalability — manifest in different ways. At Cobalt Iron, I’m excited to apply that mindset to help our teams build secure, scalable solutions that truly serve our customers. I’m passionate about aligning engineering with business strategy, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, and improving cross-functional communication to translate technical challenges into actionable insights.”
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