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Chris Connell has joined Kaspersky Lab as UK & Ireland general manager. He will oversee the company’s efforts to “increase its transparency and trust in an increasingly fragmented society”.
Connell joins Kaspersky Lab after 15 years at Ingram Micro, where he was vendor director at the firm, overseeing peripherals, components, volume networking and displays. He has over 20 years of experience within the industry, with stints at VIP Computers and Azlan.
Connell’s broad sector experience has also seen him work with several blue-chip tech firms, including IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Apple.
In his new post at Kaspersky Lab, Connell will continue to grow the cybersecurity firm’s UK arm and oversee its global transparency work – as well as focusing on a number of key strategic priorities for Kaspersky Lab, including:
– Minimising cyber-risks within healthcare firms, to reduce the risk of future WannaCry-style attacks
– Converting a cybersecurity strategy from a ‘seek-and-destroy’ approach into one that strives for complete immunity
“I am excited to join a fast-paced company that’s playing a crucial role at the front line of cyber-war defence,” commented Connell. “As cyber threats continue to develop in range and severity, both for businesses and consumers, Kaspersky Lab is continuing to set new cybersecurity standards of trust, transparency and cooperation in the fight against cyber-criminals.”
Chris has joined Kaspersky Lab at a pivotal time for the company and its Global Transparency Initiative. Launched in October 2017, the program involves the relocation of key elements of its data processing and software build infrastructure to Switzerland, independent third-party audits of its engineering practices, and the opening of three Transparency Centers, where trusted partners can access external reviews of Kaspersky Lab’s source and update code and documentation.
“We are excited to welcome Chris to the company – he brings invaluable industry experience to his new role at Kaspersky Lab, and we are confident that he will help drive strong regional growth in 2019 and beyond. We look forward to seeing Chris champion Kaspersky Lab’s values and help in our efforts to protect both businesses and consumers alike,” said Ilijana Vavan, managing director, Kaspersky Lab in Europe.
“The world needs a set of global standards and principles that everyone abides by and which are clear, transparent, and accountable. Kaspersky Lab is committing to adhering to these standards and principles, as the cyber-threat landscape continues to evolve rapidly,” added Connell.
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