DirectDefense Strengthens Leadership Team with New Executive Appointments

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DirectDefense, a leading information security services company, today announced the appointment of two new executives to the leadership team. Varun Dhingra joins as Senior Vice President of Services Product Management and Melissa Cox was hired as Senior Director of Operations. These new roles will accelerate growth, drive service innovation, and improve operational efficiency, further solidifying DirectDefense’s position in the industry.

Dhingra joined DirectDefense after spending nearly two decades at Cisco, where he advanced through a series of leadership roles in product management and most recently held the position of Senior Director of Product Management for Cisco’s security portfolio. With a proven track record in delivering solution capabilities, Dhingra brings unmatched expertise in driving adoption, accelerating growth, and protecting margins. His extensive experience in product lifecycle management coupled with his knowledge of security operations and security services will be instrumental in creating services aligned with customer needs.

As Senior Director of Operations, Cox is responsible for overseeing operational efficiency in all areas of the organization, including process optimization, quality and integrity of delivery, program management, contract negotiations, and support for sales strategy. She will help shape and develop company strategy as a key member of the executive team. Prior to joining DirectDefense, Cox was an Engineering Program Manager for Cisco’s ThousandEyes. During her 13-year tenure at Cisco, she held several engineering and program management roles where she honed her leadership skills around aligning cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and building resilient, results-oriented teams.

“We are excited to welcome Varun and Melissa to the team,” said Jim Broome, President and CTO of DirectDefense. “Their collective expertise and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to focus on strategic growth and expanding our footprint. These key hires reflect our commitment to delivering innovative services to our customers, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the security services industry.”

About DirectDefense, Inc.

DirectDefense provides enterprise risk assessments, penetration testing, ICS/SCADA security services, and 24/7 managed security services for companies of all sizes. Focused on building security resiliency, the firm offers comprehensive security testing services with specialization in application security, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and compliance assurance testing. Its team of highly talented consultants has worked with the majority of the Fortune 100 companies, in industries such as power and utility, gaming, retail, financial, media, travel, aerospace, healthcare, and technology. More information can be found at www.directdefense.com.

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