DefenseStorm Announces Leadership Transition: William Wetherill Appointed as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Following the Retirement of Robert Thibodeaux

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DefenseStorm, a leading provider of the only built for banking integrated platform of cyber risk assessment, governance, security, and fraud solutions to community and regional banks and credit unions, today announced a leadership transition. After 9 years of dedicated service, Robert Thibodeaux, the company's esteemed Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), will retire, and in his place, DefenseStorm proudly welcomes William Wetherill as the new CISO, effective January 1st, 2023.

Robert stated, "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served the DefenseStorm team for 9 years. It has been an honor to work alongside such a talented group of individuals, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together in service to our financial community. For me, this has never been just a job - it has been a mission and a passion that I have truly enjoyed. As I retire from my role as CISO, I am excited and supportive of William and his ability to take DefenseStorm to the next level.”

A highly respected figure in the cybersecurity industry, Bob has been an invaluable asset to DefenseStorm. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment significantly contributed to the company's growth and success. “Bob has been a foundational part of DefenseStorm, and I sincerely cannot thank him enough for his contributions to our customers and company alike,” said Steve Soukup, CEO of DefenseStorm. “He is passionate about his mission, and it shows up in his work every day. He’s also one of the best humans I know. I will miss his counsel, but his contributions to our culture are deeply rooted.”

Stepping into the role of CISO, William Wetherill brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the field of cybersecurity. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by financial institutions and a commitment to innovation, William is well-positioned to lead DefenseStorm's cybersecurity initiatives into the future.

“We are thrilled to promote William to the mission-critical position of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at DefenseStorm. He brings extensive experience as CISO to the position and carries all of the requisite certifications you would expect for the role. What sets him apart is the excellent leadership he has demonstrated while leading our Cyber Threat Surveillance Operations Team (CTS Ops) for the past two years. During this time, he has gained the trust and respect of our clients and employees through his hard work.”

William commented, “It’s such an honor to accept the role of CISO at DefenseStorm. I’m eager to elevate my collaboration with our amazing team and contribute to the development and implementation of innovative cyber risk management strategies and cybersecurity solutions. It is truly a privilege to have been selected for this important role, and I’m excited to leverage my expertise, as well as our teams’, in strategic planning, risk management, incident response, and cybersecurity program maturation to ensure continued resiliency in the face of emerging threats.”

About DefenseStorm:

DefenseStorm provides an integrated platform of cyber risk assessment, governance, security, and fraud solutions that ensure financial institutions achieve and maintain cyber risk readiness. The only system specifically built for banking, it accounts for all the daunting challenges, regulations, and technology requirements financial institutions face. Their intelligent data engine, GRID ACTIVE, ensures real-time access, analysis, and action on all critical threat data. The Cyber Threat Surveillance Operations (CTS Ops) team offers access to managed resources 24x7x365, providing the help and expertise needed by financial institutions. To learn more, visit www.defensestorm.com.