The winners of the C100 Award are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

Companies and job titles listed are based on the time the winner was selected.

All awardees are CISOs or CISO equivalents.

Frank Aiello, Maximus

Margarita Rivera, Carnival Corporation

Hussein Syed, RWJBarnabas Health

Monique Hart, Piedmont Health

2026 Top 100 CISOs in the U.S. and Canada

Provide your information below to register for the CISOs Connect™ 2026 C100 Virtual Ceremony.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Company(Required)

Aaron Katz, TCW Group

Adam Keown, Eastman

Andrew Wilder, Vetcor

Ann Delenela, Entergy

Annessa McKenzie, ConocoPhillips

Bob Bruns, Avanade

Brad Carvellas, The Guthrie Clinic

Brian Fricke, City National Bank of Florida

Brian Miller, Healthfirst

Bryce Carter, City of Arlington

Chris McLaughlin, Johns Manville

Colin Anderson, Dayforce

Darren Death, Export-Import Bank of the United States

Dave Ruedger, Precisely

David Sheidlower, Turner Construction

Devon Bryan, Booking Holdings

Donna Ross, Radian Group Inc

Dr. Domingo Castillo, Miami Dade College

Eddie Borrero, Stellarus

Elliott Franklin, Fortitude-RE

Erik Decker, Intermountain Healthcare

Erik Hart, Cushman & Wakefied

Forrest Smith, Ingram Micro

Francisco Perez, San Diego County Water Authority

Frank Aiello, Maximus

Frank DePaola, Enpro

Fred Kwong, DeVry University

Grant Sewell, AHEAD

Greg Bee, Hagerty Insurance

Greg McCarthy, City of Boston

Harshal Mehta, CWT

Heather Hinton, Sitecore

Jack Burback, Wintrust

Jack Kufahl, Michigan Medicine

Jack Leidecker, Gong

Jana Moore, MoneyGram

Jason Witty, Fidelity Investments

Jeff Kirby, Interstate Batteries

Jeff Trudeau, Chime Financial, Inc.

Jeffrey Aguilar, Hoag Health System

Jeffrey Aschenbach, PatientPoint

Jim Rutt, Dana Foundation

Jodi Ito, University of Hawaii

Joe Russo, ISAAC Instruments

Joey Johnson, Premise Health

John David Ramsey, National Student Clearinghouse

John F. McClure, Sinclair, Inc

John Gift, PepsiCo

John Virden, Miami University

Jonathan Coombes, Conagra Brands

Joseph Tso, Scotiabank US

Joshua Landuyt, Mission Pet Health

Juan Gomez-Sanchez, McLane Company, Inc.

Julie Myerholtz, Brunswick

Katrina Biscay, University of Cincinnati

Kevin McKenzie, Ferguson Enterprises

Kim Sassaman, UHS of Delaware INC.

Lee Parish, Newell Brands

Leon Ravenna, OPENLANE

Lester Godsey, Arizona State University

Lisa Tuttle, SPX Technologies

Margarita Rivera, Carnival Corporation

Marlon Clarke, Cross Country Healthcare

Matt Silva, WSAudiology

Matthew Witten, Camden National Bank

Michael Baker, DXC

Michael Calderin, Barnes Aerospace

Michael Hanson, Solidigm

Michael Palmer, Hearst

Mike Gordon, McDonald’s

Mike Zachman, Zebra Technologies

Mohit Chanana, Chevron Phillips Chemicals LP

Monique Hart, Piedmont Healthcare, Inc

Montae Brockett, DC Department of Healthcare Finance

Nemi George, PDS Health

Ngozi Eze, Levi Strauss & Co.

Nikk Gilbert, RWE AG

Olusegun Opeyemi-Ajayi, NYC Department of Transportation

Paul Guerra, StockX

Raj Badhwar, Jacobs Solutions

Randall Frietzsche, Denver Health

Randy Marchany, Virginia Tech

Ravi Mani, Quest Diagnostics

Ricardo Lafosse, KraftHeinz

Rich Latayan, AAA, Inc.

Sahan Fernando, Rady Children’s Health

Sai Iyer, Ziff Davis

Sam Masiello, The Anschutz Corporation

Scott Von Fischer, Lyondellbasell

Shaun Khalfan, PayPal

Shyama Rose, Affirm

Steve Grossman, National Basketball Association

Steven Ramirez, Renown Health

Sue Lapierre, Prologis

Tamika Bass, GFT

Tammy Klotz, Trinseo LLC

Teri Green, Elevate Energy Network

Vikas Mahajan, American Red Cross

Yaron Levi, Dolby Laboratories

Click here to read the Press Release

The post Congratulations to the 2026 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Winners appeared first on Security Current.

Award Honors Security Chiefs Who Set the Gold Standard for the Industry

NEW YORK, October 2, 2025 — CISOs Connect™, the global alliance of CISOs and top security executives, today launched nominations for its 2026 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Awards, recognizing chief information security officers who set the gold standard in protecting organizations while shaping the future of the cybersecurity profession. While the program continues to recognize CISOs across North America, the 2026 C100 marks a milestone with the inclusion of international judges, reflecting the reality that security leadership challenges and solutions transcend borders.

The C100 remains unique in its fully transparent judging process. Anyone can nominate or self-nominate because recognition is based on clear, defensible criteria. The judging panel is composed entirely of active CISOs, ensuring that honorees are evaluated by peers who live the role every day. Winners will be announced at the CISOs Connect Conference in Miami on December 8, 2025, a gathering that brings together security leaders from across North America and beyond. Announcing the C100 at this event underscores its role as both a capstone to the year’s achievements and a launch point for the year ahead, setting the tone for excellence and collaboration as we enter 2026.

Howard Whyte, Chief Information Security Officer, CRC Group, said: “The power of the C100 is that it is shaped entirely by CISOs for CISOs. This recognition reflects the realities we face every day, and it highlights leaders who are not only protecting their organizations but also investing in the growth of the security profession.”

Esteemed judges for 2026 include:

• Angela Williams, SVP, Global Chief Information Security Officer, UL
• Ashley Devoto, Chief Information Security Officer, Discount Tire
• Brett Conlon, Chief Information Security Officer, American Century Investments
• Howard Whyte, Chief Information Security Officer, CRC Group
• Hussein Syed, SVP & Chief Information Security Officer, RWJBarnabas Health
• James Blair, Chief Information Security Officer, Todd 
• Mandy Andress, Chief Information Security Officer, Elastic
• Mark Eggleston, Chief Information Security Officer, CSC
• Nashira Spencer, Chief Information Security Officer, Stitch Fix
• Ryan Field, Chief Information Security Officer, Bank of Hawaii
• Sherron Burgess, Global Chief Information Security Officer, BCD Travel
• Stephen Bennett, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd
• Tomás Maldonado, Chief Information Security Officer, NFL
• Vannessa Van Beek, Global Chief Information Security Officer, Fortescue

Stephen Bennet, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd, based in Australia and leading security at several global locations, said: “Being part of the C100 judging board is a privilege because it reflects the reality of our profession: collaboration is our greatest defense. The recognition is not only about individual excellence, but also about building a stronger, more connected global community of CISOs and top security executives who can learn from and support one another.”

Mandy Andress, Chief Information Security Officer, Elastic, said: “The C100 is special because it celebrates the depth and breadth of what it means to be a CISO today. Technical expertise matters, but so does the ability to lead, influence, and nurture future talent. This recognition highlights the multifaceted nature of our role and the importance of sharing knowledge across the community.”

Aimee Rhodes, CEO of CISOs Connect, said: “When we launched the C100 four years ago, we wanted to shine a light on CISOs who were leading with integrity, innovation, and generosity of spirit. Today, the role is more visible and more demanding than ever before. By bringing together CISOs and top security executives from across the globe, the C100 continues to elevate not just individuals, but the profession as a whole.”

Paul Paget, CEO of Black Kite, which has supported the awards since year one, said: “The C100 has become more than an award; it is a testament to the collective resilience of CISOs around the world. Expanding the judging board globally underscores what we see every day that cyber threats do not stop at borders, and neither does leadership. Black Kite is proud to have supported the C100 since year one, standing behind its transparent, peer-driven recognition of those who carry one of the most critical responsibilities in business today.”

Support from CISOs Connect members and Black Kite ensures the awards remain cost-free, open to any CISO who meets the criteria, and free from pay-to-play.

David Cass, President of CISOs Connect and CISO of Keyrock, said: “The C100 is powerful because it is entirely peer-driven. Every judge is an active CISO who understands the weight of the role and the complexity of the challenges we face. That ensures recognition is grounded in experience and integrity, shining a light on leaders who are making a true impact in their organizations and across the broader security community.”

Nominate here: https://cisosconnect.awardsplatform.com/

About CISOs Connect: CISOs Connect is an exclusive, membership-only interactive community of trusted cyber peers and subject matter experts. It enables security leaders to share knowledge and expertise through proprietary content, research, and analysis, while providing a forum for collaboration with trusted colleagues to make informed business and technology decisions. CISOs Connect and Security Current, which is known for its Security Shark Tank, are lauded for their CISO-driven content, knowledge sharing, and community. It is purpose-built and led by the top CISOs in North America.

The post CISOs Connect™ Opens Nominations for 2026 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Award, Expands Global Perspectives with Esteemed Board of Judges appeared first on Security Current.

The winners of the C100 Award are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

Companies and job titles listed are based on the time the winner was selected.

All awardees are CISOs or CISO equivalents.

 

Ariel Litvin, First Quality Enterprises

 

Nikk Gilbert, RWE

 

Kevin McKenzie, Ferguson Enterprises

 

Tomás Maldonado, NFL

2025 Top 100 CISOs in the U.S. and Canada

Provide your information below to register for the CISOs Connect™ C100 Virtual Ceremony.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Company(Required)

Adam Fletcher, Blackstone

Allison Henry, University of California, Berkeley

Andrew Wilder, Vetcor

Andy Heins, Lifepoint Health®

Ann Delenela, Entergy

Annessa McKenzie, ConocoPhillips

Anthony Esposito, McKinsey & Company

Anthony Vitello, Crown Holdings, Inc

Ariel Litvin, First Quality Enterprises

Ben de Bont, ServiceNow

Bradley Schaufenbuel, Paychex

Brett Conlon, American Century Investments

Brian Fricke, City National Bank of Florida

Cassio Goldschmidt, ServiceTitan

Chris McLaughlin, Johns Manville

Christopher Frenz, Mount Sinai South Nassau

Christopher Porter, Fannie Mae

Colin Anderson, Dayforce

Dan Meacham, Legendary Entertainment

Daniel Nuñez, New York City Employees’ Retirement System

Darren Death, Export-Import Bank of the United States

David Lackey, World Vision USA

David Ortiz Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

David Sheidlower, Turner Construction Company

Devin Shirley, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Devon Bryan, Booking Holdings

Donna Ross, Radian

Dr. Adrian Mayers, Premera Blue Cross

Dr. Domingo Castillo, Miami Dade College

Eddie Borrero, Stellarus

Elliot Franklin, Fortitude Re

Eric Hussey, Finastra

Eric Brohm, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Erik Decker, Intermountain Health

Erik Hart, Cushman & Wakefield

Forrest Smith, Ingram Micro

Fred Kwong, DeVry University

Gary Harbison, Johnson & Johnson

Gary Hayslip, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Greg McCarthy, City of Boston

Greg Bee, Hagerty Insurance

Harshal Mehta, CWT

Jack Burback, Wintrust Financial Corporation

Jack Kufahl, Michigan Medicine

Jason Witty, Fidelity Investments

Jeff Trudeau, Chime

Jim Rutt, Dana Foundation

JJ Markee, Danaher

Joey Johnson, Premise Health

John Virden, Miami University

John McClure, Sinclair

John Gift, Smurfit Westrock

John David Ramsey, National Student Clearinghouse

Jonathan Coombes, Conagra

Joseph Tso, Scotiabank US

Juan Gomez-Sanchez, Whirlpool

Kevin Gilbert, National Fuel Gas Company

Kim Sassaman, UHS of Delaware, Inc.

Kostas Georgakopoulos, Mondelēz International

Lee Parish, Newell Brands

Leon Ravenna, OPENLANE

Lester Godsey, Arizona State University

Lisa Tuttle, SPX Corporation

Lorna Koppel, Tufts University

Mandy Andress, Elastic

Marcos Marrero, H.I.G. Capital

Mark Leary, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Mark Eggleston, CSC

Matthew Hamilton, Witten Camden National Bank

Matthew Lagana, MBIA

Medha Bhalodkar, Columbia University

Meg Anderson, Principal Financial Group

Meredith Harper, Synchrony Financial

Michael Hanson, Solidigm

Michael Palmer, Hearst

Michael Calderin, YAGEO Group

Michael Baker, DXC Technology

Mike Zachman, Zebra Technologies

Mohit Chanana, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Nabeel Yousif, Momentum Financial Services Group

Nemi George, PDS Health

Ngozi Eze, Levi Strauss & Company

Paul Guerra, StockX

Raj Badhwar, Jacobs Engineering

Randy Marchany, Virginia Tech

Ravi Mani, Quest Diagnostics

Ricardo Lafosse, The Kraft Heinz Company

Richard Yun, Masimo Corporation

Robert Pace, Invitation Homes

Ryan Field, Bank of Hawaii

Sam Masiello, The Anschutz Corporation

Scott Vonfischer, LyondellBasell

Shaun Khalfan, PayPal

Sheryl Hanchar, Comtech Telecommunications Corp

Steven Ramirez, Renown Health

Sue Lapierre, Prologis

Sydney Klein, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Tammy Klotz, Trinseo

Yonesy Núñez, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)

Click here to read the Press Release

The post Congratulations to the 2025 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Winners appeared first on Security Current.

Award Honors Information Security Chiefs Who Set the Gold Standard for the Industry 

CISOs Connect™, an exclusive membership-only organization devoted to the advancement of CISOs, opened nominations today for its 2025 CISOs Top 100 CISO (C100) awards, and announced the board of distinguished CISO judges who will select the winners of this leading industry recognition of exceptional CISOs in North America.

Security leaders have become indispensable to the smooth operation of businesses and organizations in an environment of ever-mounting threats. The C100 is designed to pay tribute to those who have established a benchmark for excellence through their security expertise and business acumen – and equally important, through their dedication to passing on the wealth of their knowledge to the next generation of industry leaders.

The transparency of the awards process is what sets this recognition apart from others in the industry where pay-for-play rules. Criteria for eligibility are clearly defined, and the identity of the judges – all pre-eminent CISOs themselves — is public.

The support of Black Kite, our corporate platinum sponsor, for our community and our CISO members is integral to keeping this process scrupulously merit-based. 

Nominations can be self-submitted or put forward by a third party. There is no submission fee or costs associated with the award ever. The winners will be announced at the CISOs Connect NYC conference on April 7.  

Key benchmarks for consideration include:

• CISO or equivalent at an end-user enterprise or organization for at least five years
• Involvement and leadership roles in professional organizations
• Security-related volunteering and activism
• Mentoring, educating and training future cybersecurity professionals across functions

Nominate here: https://cisosconnect.awardsplatform.com/

“There is no question today that CISOs have become indispensable to organizations large and small as cyberattacks ricochet across the globe,” said Brian Miller, 2025 Esteemed Judge and CISO at Healthfirst. “Award winners set the standard for a role whose criticality and visibility have become unquestionable in today’s vulnerable digital landscape.”

“The C100 was designed to celebrate excellence, not least through its transparent process and peer-driven evaluation by a board of industry-recognized CISO judges,” said Kevin McKenzie, CISO at Ferguson Enterprises. “By singling out top CISOs for recognition, CISOs Connect aims to raise the bar higher and higher each year.”

The following industry leaders are serving on the distinguished CISO Board of Judges:

• Brian Miller, Chief Information Security Officer, Healthfirst
• Frank Aiello, Chief Information Security Officer, Maximus
• Hussein Syed, Chief Information Security Officer, RWJBarnabas Health
• Kevin McKenzie, Chief Information Security Officer, Ferguson Enterprises
• Kurt Brissett, Former Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Transport for NSW
• Margarita Rivera, Global Chief Information Security Officer, Carnival Corporation
• Matt Biber, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Qantas
• Monique Hart, Vice President of Information Security, Piedmont
• Nikk Gilbert, Chief Information Security Officer, RWE
• Olusegun Opeyemi-Ajayi, Chief Information Security Officer, NYC Department of Transportation
• Randall Frietzsche, Chief Information Security Officer, Denver Health
• Sai Iyer, Chief Information Security Officer, Ziff Davis

“It is not enough for a CISO to be a talented technologist. An outstanding CISO must also be a business leader, able to strategize with executives and board members in the interest of driving the organization forward,” said Margarita Rivera, Global CISO at Carnival Corporation. “They must also be able to inspire and give of their time to help nurture future cybersecurity leaders who will inherit their mantle.”

“Since the inception of the C100 Awards four years ago, Black Kite has been a steadfast supporter of its transparency, exemplifying a commitment to integrity,” said Aimee Rhodes, CEO of CISOs Connect. “Their dedication to honoring the critical, often underappreciated role of CISOs has been instrumental to maintaining the award’s merit-based recognition, ensuring that the achievements of those in the cybersecurity trenches are deservedly acknowledged.”

Paul Paget, CEO of Black Kite, said: “Black Kite is proud to support, alongside CISOs Connect, the C100 awards program to enable a tribute based on objective and transparent criteria.” 

About CISOs Connect

CISOs Connect is an exclusive membership-only interactive community of trusted cyber peers and subject matter experts devoted to the professional development of Chief Information Security Officers. The community prides itself on offering a marketplace of ideas. Cyber experts share knowledge and expertise through proprietary content, research and analysis, while members have a forum to exchange information and collaborate with trusted colleagues, elevating the process by which they make informed business and technology decisions.

CISOs Connect™ is led by the top CISOs in North America, and is known for its signature Security Shark Tank® and CISO-driven content, knowledge sharing, and community.

The post CISOs Connect™ Opens Nominations for 2025 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Award and Announces Esteemed CISO Board of Judges appeared first on Security Current.

The winners of the C100 Award are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

Companies and job titles listed are based on the time the winner was selected.

All awardees are CISOs or CISO equivalents.

Click here to view the full Virtual Ceremony

 

Colin Anderson, Dayforce

 

Devon Bryan, Carnival Corp

 

Brian Miller, Healthfirst

 

Meredith Harper, Synchrony

2024 Top 100 CISOs in the U.S. and Canada

Alan Berry, Centene Corporation

Alex Wood, Uplight

Allison Henry, University of California, Berkeley

Allison Miller, Optum

Anahi Santiago, ChristianaCare

Annessa McKenzie, ConocoPhillips

Ariel Litvin, First Quality Enterprises

Bob Bruns, Avanade

Brad Carvellas, Guthrie

Brett Wahlin, Activision Blizzard

Brian Fricke, City National Bank of Florida

Brian Kelly, American Airlines

Chandra McMahon, CVS Health

Chris Burrows, Rocket Central

Chris Lugo, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Christopher Frenz, Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Christopher Porter, Fannie Mae

Colin Anderson, Dayforce

Dan Bowden, Marsh

Darren Death, ASRC Federal

Dave Estlick, Chipotle Mexican Grill

David Ortiz, Church & Dwight

David Ramirez, DRW Holdings

David W. Stender, BankUnited

Donna Ross, Radian

Dr. Adrian Mayers, Premera Blue Cross

Dr. Dennis E. Leber, Honest Medical Group

Eddie Borrero, Blue Shield of California

Elliott Franklin, Fortitude Re

Eric Seagren, Oceaneering

Erik Decker, Intermountain Health

Frank DePaola, Enpro

Gary Harbison, Johnson & Johnson

Gary Hayslip, SoftBank Investors

Grant Sewell, AHEAD

Greg Bee, Hagerty

HK (Hardik) Parekh, Panasonic North America, BlueYonder

Hemant Jain, State of Indiana

Holly Ridgeway, Citizens Financial Group

Jack Burback, Wintrust Financial Corporation

Jairo Orea, Royal Caribbean Group

Jake Martens, Aristocrat

James Baird, Focus Brands LLC

Janet Heins, ChenMed

Jason Callahan, Lam Research

Jason Witty, USAA

Jeff Kirby, Interstate Batteries

Jeffrey Aguilar, LA County Office of the CIO

Jeffrey W. Brown, State of Connecticut

Jennifer West, Takeda

Jodi Ito, University of Hawaii

John Gift, WestRock

John McClure, Sinclair Inc.

John Ramsey, National Student Clearinghouse

Joseph Tso, Scotiabank US

Joshua Brown, H&R Block

Juan Gomez-Sanchez, Whirlpool Corporation

Justin Metallo, Volkswagen Financial Services

Keith Wilson, W. R. Berkley Corporation

Kim Sassaman, Universal Health Services, Inc.

Lee Parrish, Newell Brands

Kevin Morrison, Driven Brands

Linda Marcone, Crate & Barrel

Mandy Andress, Elastic

Mario Memmo, Otis Elevator

Michael Calderin, YAGEO Group

Michael Housch, Dark Matter Technologies

Michael Livni, Valley Bank

Michael McNeil, McKesson

Michael Palmer, Hearst

Michael Tran Duff, Harvard University

Mike Zachman, Zebra Technologies

Mikhail Falkovich, Con Edison

Nemi George, Pacific Dental Services

Ngozi Eze, Levi Strauss & Co.

Nicole Darden Ford, Nordstrom

Patricia Titus, Booking Holdings

Paul Guerra, StockX

Peeyush Patel, XPO

Randall Frietzsche, Denver Health

Randy Potts, Real Time Resolutions, Inc.

Randy Yates, Memorial Hermann

Ravi Mani, Quest Diagnostics

Rick Patterson, CLEAR

Robert Bernard, Sally Beauty

Robert Fernandes, The Investment Center, Inc.

Ryan Bachman, GM Financial

Ryan Field, Bank of Hawaii

Sailaja Kotra-Turner, Brown-Forman

Shaun Khalfan, Discover Financial Services

Stephen Scharf, BlackRock

Steven Ramirez, Renown Health

Sue Lapierre, Prologis

Supro Ghose, EagleBank

Teresa Zielinski, GE

Tim Held, U.S. Bank

Tom Doughty, Generate:Biomedicines

Tomás Maldonado, NFL

Vaughn Hazen, CN

Yonesy Núñez, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)

Click here to read the Press Release

The post Congratulations to the 2024 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) Winners appeared first on Security Current.

CISOs Connect’s™ Esteemed Board of Judges has announced this year’s winners of its preeminent peer-to-peer tribute, the CISOs Connect’s™ Top 100 CISOs (C100) awards.

The C100 recognizes singular professional achievements in a role that has become exceptionally dynamic and demanding.  Equally important, it also judges candidates based on their commitment to mentoring and sponsoring the next generation of security leaders, thereby setting a high bar against which successors will be measured.

See the 2024 C100 winners here: https://tinyurl.com/mjj934kc

“This year’s candidates were an exceptionally accomplished group, presenting us with the formidable yet gratifying undertaking of selecting 100 elite professionals from a pool of many deserving individuals,” said Adam Fletcher, 2024 Esteemed Judge and CSO at Blackstone. “The winners justifiably will serve as role models for the successor generation and repositories of valuable wisdom for more veteran peers.”

What distinguishes these awards from other industry honors is the transparency of the process, with defined eligibility criteria and a declared board of judges to choose the winners. There were over 900 nominations, both self-submitted and submitted by third parties on behalf of CISOs who met the established criteria.

Key benchmarks for consideration included service in the role of CISO or its equivalent at an end-user enterprise or organization for at least five years; involvement and leadership roles in professional organizations; and security-related volunteering, mentoring, and activism.

There is no fee or financial requirement associated with the awards.

The following industry leaders served on the distinguished CISO Board:

• Adam Fletcher, CSO at Blackstone
• Anthony Esposito, CISO at McKinsey & Company
• Brian Miller, CISO at Healthfirst
• Heather Hinton, CISO at Large
• John Virden, Assistant VP for Security, Compliance, and Risk Management & CISO at Miami University
• Marcos Marrero, CISO at H.I.G. Capital
• Meredith R. Harper, SVP, CISO at Synchrony
• Robert Pace, VP Information Security & CISO at Invitation Homes
• Sheldon Cuffie, VP & Enterprise CISO at American Family Insurance
• Sheryl Hanchar, Global CISO at Comtech Telecommunications Corp.

“CISOs Connect™ was founded to promote a select group of security leaders who have put themselves on the front line in the ever-widening war against cyber criminals,” said David Cass, President of CISOs Connect and GSR CISO. “CISOs have become indispensable figures in the protection of national assets. We created the C100 to recognize those who take it a step further through continuous learning and impressive contributions to the industry.”

“The C100 award is renowned in the industry for its transparent process and preeminent board of peer judges,” said Marcos Marrero, 2024 Esteemed Judge and CISO at H.I.G. Capital. “This recognition of a truly standout group of professionals serves not only as a well-deserved thank you but also sets new standards for the rest of the industry to live up to.”

In addition to honoring the Top 100 CISOs in the U.S., the Board of Esteemed Judges also paid tribute to four other peers.

Meredith Harper, SVP, CISO at Synchrony, was recognized with the CISO Trailblazer Award for forging new territories for professional growth. A critical and creative thinker, Meredith personifies the type of innovative business leader the security industry urgently needs.

Brian Miller, CISO at Healthfirst, was presented the CISO Visionary Award, epitomizing exceptional foresight and vision and taking the CISO role to new heights. The recipient is a true role model for innovation and transformation.

Colin Anderson, CISO at Dayforce, was honored with the inaugural CISO Champion Award for lobbying on behalf of security leaders, their professional development, and creating an award program untainted by financial considerations – the CISOs Connect™ C100. His outstanding long-term contribution to information security is rooted in exceptional technology and business acumen that has earned him trust throughout the industry and a reputation for integrity and fairness.

The CISO IMPACT award was presented to an individual whose extraordinary contributions have influenced the industry and the organizations it serves. This year’s winner is Devon Bryan, who has augmented his distinguished professional achievements by co-founding Cyversity, whose mission is to strengthen the cyber workforce with a balance of ethnicity, gender, and culture, enriching security teams and having a major impact on global cybersecurity defenses.

As a fundamental part of its mission to support and recognize the CISOs unceasing efforts to safeguard their enterprises and organizations globally, Black Kite, Inc. has partnered for the fourth year with CISOs Connect™ to fulfill that mission.

This year’s candidates exemplified the spirit of striving that marks the truly outstanding professional,” said Paul Paget, CEO of Black Kite. “We are truly honored to help showcase the achievements of the industry’s best. Hats off to this year’s winners!”

The following organizations also partnered with CISOs Connect to make the C100 possible:
Glilot Capital Partners
Mayfield

About CISOs Connect™ 
CISOs Connect™ is an exclusive membership-only, interactive organization of trusted cyber peers and subject matter experts. Connected by common interests, CISOs Connect™ allows cyber experts to share knowledge and expertise through proprietary content, research and analysis, and collaborate with trusted colleagues to make informed business and technology decisions.

CISOs Connect™ is part of Security Current™, known for its Security Shark Tank^® and lauded for its CISO-driven content, knowledge sharing and community ethos. It is purpose-built and led by the top CISOs in North America.

The post CISOs Connect’s Board of Distinguished CISOs Selects Top 100 Peers, Honoring Professional Prowess and Contributions to Industry appeared first on Security Current.

CISO Board of Judges Honors Their US and Canadian Peers Who Safeguard Our Organizations and Give Back

CISOs Connect™, an exclusive membership-only organization, today opened nominations for its 2024 CISOs Top 100 CISO (C100) awards and announced the board of pre-eminent CISO judges who will select the recipients of this leading industry tribute, recognizing outstanding Chief Information Security Officers in the U.S. and beyond.

The C100 acknowledges the exceptional achievements of security leaders who have made it their mission to head off hackers who are growing more destructive with each passing day. Equally important, they are dedicated to passing on the richness of their accumulated experience to a new generation of cybersecurity practitioners.

What sets this award apart from other forms of industry recognition is the transparency of the process. Criteria for eligibility are clearly defined, and the identity of the judges – all distinguished CISOs themselves — is public.

Nominations can be self-submitted or put forward by a third party. There is no fee. The submission deadline is Monday, March 4.

Key benchmarks for consideration include:

• CISO or equivalent at an end-user enterprise or organization for at least five years
• Involvement and leadership roles in professional organizations
• Security-related volunteering and activism
• Mentoring, educating and training future cybersecurity professionals across functions

Nominate here: http://tinyurl.com/eb2x8cm5

“The immensely valuable role that CISOs play in keeping our world safe and our economies humming has become undeniable as organizations digitize and attacks reverberate across the globe,” said John Virden, 2024 Esteemed Judge and Miami University Assistant VP for Security, Compliance, and Risk Management & CISO. “Recipients of this award are role models for an industry that will only become more indispensable as time goes by.”

“CISOs Connect™ is devoted to the professional advancement of cybersecurity leaders, and this award sets a benchmark for excellence with its transparent process and distinguished board of CISO judges,” said Meredith R. Harper, 2024 Esteemed Judge and Synchrony SVP and CISO. “All security leaders operate under relentless pressures, often at great personal expense. By recognizing the standouts, CISOs Connect™ aims not only to pay tribute to their accomplishments, but also to keep raising the bar.”

The following industry leaders are serving on the distinguished CISO Board:

• American Family Insurance VP & Enterprise CISO Sheldon Cuffie
• Blackstone CSO Adam Fletcher
• Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Global CISO Sheryl Hanchar
• Healthfirst CISO Brian Miller
• H.I.G. Capital CISO Marcos Marrero
• Invitation Homes VP Information Security & CISO Robert Pace
• McKinsey & Company CISO Anthony Esposito
• Miami University Assistant VP for Security, Compliance, and Risk Management & CISO John Virden
• PagerDuty CISO Heather Hinton
• Synchrony SVP, CISO Meredith R. Harper

“It is an honor to serve on the board of CISO judges that will select this year’s winners, who will be judged not only on their professional expertise, but also their willingness to impart their wisdom to future cybersecurity leaders,” said Robert Pace, 2024 Esteemed Judge and Invitation Homes VP Information Security and CISO.  “As CISOs ourselves, we know full well what sets apart the competent practitioners from the outstanding ones. These awards are designed to celebrate the best of the best, who inspire others to follow in their path.”

As a fundamental part of their mission to support and recognize the CISOs unceasing efforts to safeguard their enterprises and organizations globally, CISOs Connect™ partnered with the following organizations to make the C100 possible:

Black Kite
Glilot Capital
Mayfield Investments

“Black Kite is honored to again be partnering with CISOs Connect’s CISOs Top 100 CISOs awards program, as we have annually since its inception.  A recognition program based on objective, peer-driven evaluation is the most meaningful tribute a CISO can receive,” said Black Kite CEO Paul Paget. “CISOs Connect was founded to help its members perfect their craft, and we at Black Kite are enthusiastically proud to support the C100 Awards as part of our mission to empower CISOs in their 24/7 campaign to safeguard enterprises and organizations around the world.”

About CISOs Connect™

CISOs Connect™ is an exclusive membership-only interactive community of trusted cyber peers and subject matter experts. Connected by common interests, this community allows cyber experts to share knowledge and expertise through proprietary content, research, and analysis while exchanging information, ideas and collaborating with trusted colleagues to make informed business and technology decisions.

CISOs Connect™ is part of Security Current™, known for its Security Shark Tank® and is lauded for its CISO driven content, knowledge sharing, and community. It is purpose-built and led by the top CISOs in North America.

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