Tech industry veteran Mike Lynch has been declared missing at sea after the yacht he was on capsized in a storm off the coast of Sicily. This tragic incident comes as a shocking development for Lynch, who is known for his role as the founder of U.K. tech firm Autonomy. The yacht, named the Bayesian, was caught in a major storm and a tornado-like water column that caused it to sink. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 people who were rescued, while six others, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, remain missing.
The news of Lynch’s disappearance adds another chapter to the already tumultuous story of his career. Autonomy, his enterprise technology firm, was acquired by HP in 2011 for $11 billion. However, the acquisition quickly turned sour, leading to a legal battle between HP and Lynch. HP accused Lynch and other executives at Autonomy of misleading the company, resulting in a $4 billion loss. Lynch maintained his innocence, claiming that he acted in good faith and was being unfairly blamed for the failed merger.
The legal drama surrounding Autonomy lasted for over a decade, with Lynch facing extradition to the U.S. and enduring a significant amount of negative publicity. In 2022, a civil case in the U.K. ruled against Lynch, further complicating his situation. The U.S. criminal case, in which Lynch faced charges of fraud and conspiracy, finally went to trial earlier this year. In a surprising turn of events, Lynch was acquitted in June, bringing an end to the long-standing legal battle.
Despite the challenges he faced, Lynch continued to make a name for himself in the U.K. as an investor. He founded Invoke Capital, a venture capital firm that became a major investor in cybersecurity firm Darktrace. Lynch’s investments also included companies like Sophia Genetics, Featurespace, and Luminance. It seemed that he was set to continue his entrepreneurial ventures and contribute to the tech industry.
The disappearance of Mike Lynch at sea is a tragic and unexpected event that has left his family, friends, and colleagues in shock. As authorities work to investigate the incident and search for the missing individuals, our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
