Optiv Security is hiring Deloitte veteran Kevin Lynch as CEO, effective April 17. Lynch will succeed co-founder and current CEO Dan Burns, who will shift to an executive advisor role. Both Optiv Security and Deloitte are Top 200 MSSPs.
Lynch previously was senior partner at Deloitte, focused on M&A services revenue. His additional focus areas areas included technology infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity and computing segments. Lynch was also Deloitte’s chief global officer, overseeing $1.2 billion of annual investment and optimizing the U.S. partnership’s global interests, the company says.
Meanwhile, Optiv has been evolving its cybersecurity product and services portfolio. The company in July 2019 announced Advanced Fusion Center cybersecurity solutions to help organizations reduce risk and operational costs. And in early 2019, Optiv introduced Enterprise Risk Transformation Service and Quickstart Risk Transformation Service.
Optiv as of early 2019 partnered with more than 350 cybersecurity technology manufacturers and supportsed over 12,000 customers.
Optiv Names New CEO: Executive Perspectives
In a prepared statement about Optiv's CEO transition, John Park, KKR Partner and Optiv Chairman of the Board, said:
“Cybersecurity has never been more critical, and Optiv is at the intersection of some of most challenging situations and important purchase decisions for enterprises. Kevin’s track record of successfully growing services businesses, coupled with his strong work ethic and management philosophy centered on people, makes him the perfect leader to take Optiv to the next level. We thank Dan Burns for his decade plus of leadership and look forward to an exciting new chapter for Optiv.”
Added Lynch:
“Clients are facing unprecedented change and Optiv is well positioned to help organizations reduce cybersecurity complexity and enable digital transformation efforts. I am extremely honored and excited to lead Optiv and help turbocharge its already strong, innovative and client-centric approach to delivering integrated cybersecurity solutions.”
Concluded Burns:
“I’ve always believed that Optiv serves a critically important role in the world as a security solutions integrator – helping clients realize radically simpler and stronger cybersecurity programs that are business aligned. Kevin is a veteran leader and the board and I are confident that he’s the right person to accelerate Optiv’s strategy and growth trajectory. I’m incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished and can’t wait to see what Optiv accomplishes next.”
Cybersecurity Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Lynch will join Optiv during a turbulent point in the cyber industry.
Although cybersecurity remains a high priority item for end customers, the security market is not immune to economic fallout amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The evidence: Herjavec Group, a Top 200 MSSP every year since this Website’s launch, cut 8 percent of its 350-person workforce, founder and Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec told CNBC.
Even well-known, cloud-based cybersecurity software companies are bracing for impact. An example: BlackBerry, parent of Cylance, has modeled scenarios where revenue drops 20 percent, 30 percent and even 50 percent, CEO John Chen told Wall Street analysts during an earnings in late March 2020.
