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Find security leaders who can move the business forward.
Cybersecurity leadership takes more than matching keywords on a résumé. We combine security expertise with years of executive recruiting to find leaders who fit your business, your risk and your culture.
The problem
Why security hiring goes wrong
A CISO search usually starts after something has changed: a breach, an audit finding, a new board expectation or a leader who has moved on. The pressure to fill the seat quickly is real, and so is the cost of choosing the wrong person.
Generalist recruiters can find people with the right titles. It is much harder for them to judge whether a candidate can build a program, earn the board’s trust and lead a team through an incident.
Our approach
How we approach it
Tim Howard spent more than 15 years running executive search firms before founding Fortify Experts, and our search practice still works from that foundation. Each search is retained, focused on security leadership and backed by a network of more than 5,000 security leaders.
- We assess candidates as security practitioners, not only as résumés.
- Our SecureMatch analysis helps rank cybersecurity professionals so the shortlist reflects the role you actually need filled.
- CISO searches come with a five year guarantee.
Capabilities
What’s included
CISO search
Chief information security officers for companies of every size.
Security leadership
Deputy CISOs, directors and managers who run security day to day.
Architecture and engineering leaders
Security architects and the people who lead engineering teams.
Risk and compliance leaders
Leaders for governance, risk and compliance functions.
Candidate assessment
Structured evaluation of technical depth and leadership.
Leadership evaluation
A clear view of how each finalist would fit your organization.
How it works
A clear path from first conversation to results.
- 01
Understand
We learn the business, the security program and why the role matters now.
- 02
Define
Together we agree on the outcomes the leader must deliver and the profile that fits.
- 03
Identify
We search our network and the wider market for people who match.
- 04
Assess
Candidates are evaluated for security depth, leadership and fit.
- 05
Select
You meet a focused shortlist and we support the decision and the offer.
- 06
Support
We stay in touch through the transition so the new leader starts well.
Typical use cases
Where this helps most
First CISO
Your company is ready for dedicated security leadership for the first time.
Replacing a departing leader
A CISO is leaving and the program cannot stall.
After an incident
You need a leader who can steady the program and rebuild confidence.
Growing the team
You need directors and managers under an existing CISO.
Security and risk impact
- A leadership gap is filled by someone who understands security, not only management.
- The program keeps moving through the transition.
- The board gains a leader it can rely on during incidents and audits.
Business outcomes
- A shortlist built around the outcomes you defined.
- Less time lost to interviews with candidates who were never a fit.
- A five year guarantee on CISO placements.
From the CISO Forum
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