Haiqu Appoints Kortny Rolston-Duce to Lead Ecosystem Development and Marketing

Insider Brief

• Haiqu has appointed Kortny Rolston-Duce as head of ecosystem development and marketing to lead brand development and expand access to its quantum software.
• Rolston-Duce joins Haiqu from Quantinuum, where she served as director of ecosystem development and built partnerships across government, academia and industry.
• Her appointment comes as Haiqu expands its AI-enabled software portfolio, including HaiquOS, which translates natural-language problem descriptions into quantum algorithms, and AgenticOS, a multi-agent system for quantum research workflows.

PRESS RELEASE — Quantum AI software developer Haiqu today announced the appointment of Kortny Rolston-Duce as head of ecosystem development and marketing. In her new role, she will build the Haiqu brand and work to put its software in the hands of researchers in academia, government labs and companies interested in using quantum computers.

A recognized leader in the quantum computing industry, Rolston-Duce brings extensive experience building partnerships across government, academia and commercial industries, as well as deep expertise in marketing emerging technologies. She joins Haiqu as the company expands its portfolio of AI-enabled software designed to help scientists and domain experts use today’s quantum computers.

“Our first priority was building software that makes today’s quantum computers useful. Now we’re focused on getting those tools into the hands of the people who can put them to work,” said Richard Givhan, Haiqu CEO. “Kortny understands both the technology and the research community. She has built the relationships that help turn emerging quantum capabilities into meaningful scientific opportunities. That experience makes her an ideal leader for our next stage of growth.”

In May, Haiqu introduced HaiquOS, a platform that lets researchers describe problems in natural language and then translates them into quantum algorithms. In September, it added AgenticOS, a multi-agent AI system that helps research teams formulate problems, develop quantum workflows and review results before final scientific validation.

Before joining Haiqu, Rolston-Duce served as director of ecosystem development at Quantinuum, where she developed collaborations with government agencies, academia and industry to advance quantum computing adoption and applications. Rolston-Duce also worked in business operations, business development and science communications at a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory before joining Honeywell Quantum Solutions in 2020, a year before it merged with Cambridge Quantum to form Quantinuum.

“Researchers interested in quantum approaches often face a steep learning curve before they can even begin experimenting,” Rolston-Duce said. “What attracted me to Haiqu is its focus on removing those barriers today. By combining AI with powerful quantum software, Haiqu lets scientists investigate real-world problems more quickly and easily. The more researchers we can empower, the sooner we’ll discover what quantum computing can truly accomplish.”

Rolston-Duce’s experience and industry relationships will help with Haiqu’s continued growth, along with advancing the company’s quantum ecosystem initiatives.

“Exceptional people like Kortny have choices about where they take their talents, and we’re thrilled she chose Haiqu,” said Denise Ruffner, vice president of business development and commercial operations worldwide. “She combines industry experience, trusted relationships and a proven ability to build and strengthen quantum ecosystems. We’re committed to giving her the resources and support to make a meaningful impact.”