Benchmark Executive Search Places President for Janes US
February 3, 2023 – Benchmark Executive Search, a boutique provider of cybersecurity talent, has placed Sam Gordy as president of Janes US in Arlington, VA. U.K.-based Janes is a global agency for open-source defense intelligence. Mr. Gordy will report to Blake Bartlett, chief executive officer based in the U.K. “Sam Gordy brings a distinguished track record of results, leadership, deep national security experience and mission expertise to Janes,” said Benchmark president Jeremy King. “We look forward to following his progress.”
Mr. Gordy will be responsible for Janes’ continued growth in the U.S. market and will develop and execute a comprehensive strategy focused on accelerated organic and inorganic growth.
“Benchmark came so highly recommended by senior executives in the U.S. that when we had critical and urgent needs to hire a proven product leader and federal sales leader, they delivered,” said Mr. Bartlett. “I had no hesitation in engaging Jeremy King and Benchmark again for the president U.S. search. “Benchmark’s professionalism, attention to detail, access, and ability to attract outstanding candidates is world-class. Once again, they delivered.”
Strong Experience
Mr. Gordy has over 35 years of experience working with defense, intelligence, and civilian government customers – both in the U.S. and overseas. He has had an extensive career, starting off as an active-duty intelligence officer with the U.S. Navy. He also worked with IBM, as general manager of the U.S. federal and industries and most recently served as chief operating officer and president of the federal market with BigBear.ai. Mr. Gordy has served on the board of directors of the Professional Services Council and currently serves on AFCEA’s intelligence committee.
“I am really excited to be joining at this stage of Janes transformation,” said Mr. Gordy. “Janes is a well-respected data organization and has made some great inroads here in the U.S. I’m looking forward to working with the team to push that vision and mission even further.”
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Founded in 1898, Janes prides itself on “supplying our customers with timely, validated, unbiased and relevant intelligence in a world crowded with increasingly unreliable information.” With a legacy of more than 120 years, Janes has adapted, expanded, and developed its unique tradecraft while transitioning from a traditional military publisher to the leading global agency for open-source defense intelligence. Janes offers its customers more than 70,000 profiles of military equipment (air, land and sea) in production and use around the globe; inventories for more than 190 countries, ORBATs (order of battle) for 19,000 military units, and 22,000 military installations; a structured, consistent database of events related to terrorism, risk and security; defence budgets for 107 countries and procurement programs across military aircraft, combat vehicles, and military ships; and more. Now Janes is expanding its presence in the U.S. government market.
Finding Cybersecurity Talent
Benchmark Executive Search, based in Reston, VA, focuses on helping start-ups, emerging growth and mid-cap companies recruit leaders with government or private public sector experience to work in the defense, intelligence and national security markets in areas like information technology, military communications, homeland security, cyber-warfare, cloud and analytics, among others.
Combatting Talent Shortages in the Booming Cybersecurity Market
Globally, there is a severe talent shortage in the cybersecurity job market. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently reported a shortage of 3 million cybersecurity professionals around the globe. Furthermore, Cybersecurity Magazine, recently revealed that there will be 3.5 million open positions in cybersecurity by 2025 due to the global workforce shortage.
Mr. King, the firm’s founder, has nearly 20 years of senior-level recruiting experience. He specializes at the intersection of VC/PE backed technology innovators, government contractors and federal mission needs matching them to senior cyber/national/corporate security executives and board members. He has developed deep relationships with government and industry insiders, particularly within the intelligence, DoD and national security communities. He has worked with over 350 start-ups, emerging growth companies as well as publicly traded leaders.
“At a time when cyber risks are proliferating at a faster rate than at any time in history, companies continue to struggle to find proven executives who can help them defend and mitigate against these risks,” said Mr. King. “This is especially true in national security when solving the hardest mission-critical problems requires the best of the best minds. Being in the middle of the ecosystem of recruiting top talent to hot tech companies in national security, we see no slowdown in demand for cyber talent. And I personally don’t think supply will ever catch up with demand.”
Related: The Hunt for Cyber Technology Leaders Heats Up as Risks Multiply
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
