JM Search Forms Dedicated Cybersecurity Practice
December 31, 2020 – JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, recently formed a dedicated cybersecurity practice to assist public and private equity-backed companies in identifying and recruiting high-performance leaders. Partners Kevin Kernan and Tom Figueroa are co-leaders of the firm’s center of excellence for cybersecurity leadership.
The search firm brings a 40-year track record placing CEOs and C-suite leaders into industry-leading cybersecurity businesses, as well as placing chief security officers and CISOs into investor-backed and public companies across all sectors. This newly dedicated team is positioned to assist clients in finding the talent necessary to increase enterprise value, generate improved shareholder returns and ensure security best practices in all market conditions.
“JM Search has established a significant track record of partnering with companies that require transformational leadership to help drive operational efficiency, revenue growth and increased enterprise value,” said co-founder and chief executive officer John Marshall. “By formalizing this practice as a cybersecurity leadership center of excellence, we’re solidifying our longstanding commitment to helping clients remain at the forefront of security best practices and innovation amidst rapidly changing threat vectors, continued disruption, and required changes brought on by a global pandemic and the lasting consequences.”
As a former cybersecurity CEO, Mr. Kernan hired the entire leadership team for Secure Software, a venture backed application security business which was acquired in 2007. Mr. Kernan transitioned into executive search in 2010 and has completed over 200 leadership projects, including board directors, CEOs, CSOs, and CISOs for investor backed and public cybersecurity firms globally. Mr. Figueroa joined JM Search in 2003 and has consistently received industry recognition.
Stan Black, a cybersecurity expert and former chief security officer at Nuance and Citrix, advised JM Search on forming the new practice. “Savvy companies across industries are evolving their understanding of not only cybersecurity but all dimensions of the security landscape, including physical and employee protection in an increasingly complex world where right now the focus has to be on doing more for less,” said Mr. Black. “The shift to a fully digital world, new work from home requirements, and an emphasis on endpoint security are all spurring demand for more sophisticated technologies and informed experienced leadership.”
