JM Search Forms Dedicated Cybersecurity Practice

June 25, 2020 – JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has 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 will co-lead 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.

“Since our founding 40 years ago, 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.”

“Exemplifying the strength of our commitment is the depth and breadth of our team’s overall recruiting capabilities,” said Mr. Marshall. “With deep knowledge and complementary experience, Kernan and Figueroa will anchor a team of senior JM Search leaders who are unmatched in their ability to assist companies with all aspects of cyber-focused talent sourcing, including executive leadership within cybersecurity companies and security leadership functions (CEO, CSO and CISO) across all market segments.”

Cybersecurity Expertise

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, including from Hunt Scanlon Media as a top executive recruiter in the cybersecurity sector. As a member of the JM Search management team, he plays a key role in setting strategy for the overall business, has built a thriving fintech practice, and continues to play a key role in attracting and hiring world-class search executives.

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.”

Delivering High Performance Leaders

JM Search is an advisor to CEOs, investors and boards of directors in recruiting, assessing and delivering high performance leaders and transformational leadership teams. The firm’s clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies, venture capital-backed businesses and publicly held companies across North America. Founded in 1980, the JM Search team brings together former operating and financial executives, investors and experienced search professionals with deep industry specialization, functional expertise and proven access to talent spanning multiple industry sectors.

In January, JM Search appointed Bill Borkovitz, Brian Dwyer and David Robinson as partners. “JM Search strives to be a career destination for professionals at every stage of their careers,” said co-founder and CEO John Marshall. “As we begin our 40th anniversary year of client service, we celebrate the achievements of our team and look forward to a year of growth and opportunity for all.”

Mr. Borkovitz recruits C-level executives across a range of industries, including financial services, business services and technology. He has over 20 years of operating experience combined with more than a decade of C-level executive recruiting to the firm. Mr. Borkovitz joined JM Search in 2018 from Kaplan Partners, a boutique retained executive search firm, where he was a managing director focused on recruiting for private equity and growth-oriented financial services and technology companies.

Mr. Dwyer is focused on partnering with private equity groups and their portfolio companies to build senior leadership teams. He joined the firm in 2017 from CMF Associates, where he served as principal, private equity.

Mr. Robinson began his executive search career with JM Search more than 10 years ago as a research analyst. Currently a member of the firm’s dedicated CFO practice, he specializes in recruiting financial offers for private equity backed companies across the U.S.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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