Kudelski Security Expands Global Advisory Services With Appointments of John Hellickson and Darrell Switzer

CHESEAUX, Switzerland and PHOENIX, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kudelski Security, a trusted advisor and cybersecurity innovator for the world's most security-conscious organizations, today announced that it has expanded its Global Advisory Services with the addition of two experienced cybersecurity executives. John Hellickson will lead the company's Strategy and Governance practice and oversee consulting services focused on helping chief executives (CxOs) develop and manage long-term cybersecurity programs. He was formerly the global chief information security officer (CISO) at First Data, the world's largest third-party processor of credit and debit card transactions. Darrell Switzer will lead Kudelski Security's Incident Response and Cyber Resilience practice.

"John possesses a rare combination of technical and executive management expertise honed in one of the most stringent, regulated and risk-averse environments in the world," said Rich Fennessy, chief executive officer of Kudelski Security. "There are few people as qualified as John and we're thrilled to have him on board. He brings the strategic vision, business acumen and real-world experience today's organizations need to effectively improve their cybersecurity posture, reduce risk and combat threats." 

Hellickson has more than 25 years of IT experience, the last two decades focused on security and risk management. He's served as an executive security consultant and trusted partner, providing companies with risk management strategies aligning technology, people and processes with business objectives. At First Data, he rose from security engineer to CISO, leading a global team to create a business-driven, risk-balanced strategy and cybersecurity program. Hellickson served seven years in the U.S. Air Force, his last assignment protecting systems supporting the country's nuclear war plan. He is a certified information systems security professional (CISSP) and board member of the non-profits Security Advisor Alliance and Veteran's Passport to Hope.

"Security has become a primary factor in maintaining a profitable and reputable business, so it's incumbent on leaders to build programs that can enable this growth and support critical business processes," said Hellickson. "Not only does this ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information assets, it empowers chief security officers to accurately represent their programs to executive leadership. I look forward to being a part of this process and helping clients develop, measure and prioritize their programs within a governance structure that can effectively meet the demands of their business."

Hellickson joins Kudelski Security at a time of rapid global growth, following the expansion of its U.S. presence earlier this summer. Building off its reputation in Europe as trusted advisors and innovators with proven R&D capabilities and high-quality engineering expertise, the company has established a strong foothold in the U.S. market with a growing Fortune 500 client base, unique capabilities and a plan to change how clients work with providers to design, deploy and manage cybersecurity.

Kudelski Security provides world-class advisory services delivered through four core areas: Strategy and Governance; Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Management; Incident Response and Cyber Resilience; and Strategic Cyber Staffing. Its advisors collaborate with clients to build and articulate a clear security vision, providing a measurable plan and blueprint for achieving priorities.

In addition to Hellickson, Kudelski Security has appointed security veteran Darrell Switzer to lead its global Incident Response and Cyber Resilience practice. Switzer has more than 17 years of hands-on incident response experience, including Fortune 500 client initiatives that aligned security strategies to business priorities. Previously, he held senior posts with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Citibank and FishNet Security. A frequent lecturer, Switzer has delivered presentations at such high-profile events as Black Hat, SecureWorld, The US Law Foundation and Cybersecurity for Community Banks Conference. He is currently an active member of Infragard and the Electronic Crimes Task Force.

"Darrell's specialization in incident response and proven experience building proactive cybersecurity programs will be a huge asset to our clients as they look to effectively identify, contain and mitigate threats," said Mark Carney, vice president of Global Advisory Services at Kudelski Security. "Darrell and John are tremendous additions to our advisory services leadership team. They will undoubtedly support our continued rapid growth and efforts in building a team of renowned industry experts and experienced advisors who can help corporate security leaders become better equipped to protect their organizations."

About Kudelski Security
Kudelski Security is the premier advisor and cybersecurity innovator for today's most security-conscious organizations. Our long-term approach to client partnerships enables us to continuously evaluate their security posture to recommend solutions that reduce business risk, maintain compliance and increase overall security effectiveness. With clients that include Fortune 500 enterprises and government organizations in Europe and across the United States, we address the most complex environments through an unparalleled set of solution capabilities including advisory, technology, managed security services and custom innovation. For more information, visit www.kudelskisecurity.com.

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