Fidelis Cybersecurity Lands Former Forcepoint CEO As New Top Exec

Fidelis Cybersecurity has landed a top executive win, appointing former Forcepoint CEO John McCormack as the security company's new interim president and CEO, CRN has learned.

McCormack announced the changes on his LinkedIn profile. A Fidelis spokesperson confirmed the changes in an email to CRN, though did not provide any additional comment on the appointment.

Fidelis, founded in 2002, looks to deliver the next generation of intrusion prevention systems, bringing together IPS, advanced malware protection, network forensics and DLP into a single offering. By doing that, Fidelis says companies can detect attacks at every stage, instead of those just targeting known vulnerabilities, and coordinate a faster, more automated response.

[Related: ForcepointAcquires Skyfence From Imperva, Unveils New Strategy]

McCormack has a history of leading some of the largest companies in cybersecurity, including serving as CEO, president and SVP of product development for Websense. The executive helped lead the $1.9 billion sale of Websense to Raytheon in 2015 and then led the combined company as CEO, helping lead the merger efforts into a $580 million company and its rebranding to Forcepoint.

After leaving Forcepoint in April 2016, McCormack took a position as operating executive at Marlin Equity Partners, which has owned Fidelis since 2015.

McCormack replaces former CEO Peter George, who has held the role since May 2015. It is not immediately clear what George's next move is. A Fidelis spokesperson said George has left the company full-time, but will still serve in an advisory capacity.

McCormack isn't the only top security executive to join Fidelis in recent months. The company named former Optiv Security Chief Strategy Officer Jason Clark to its board of directors. Last summer, the company also appointed former FireEye executive Scott Collins to accelerate its efforts in the channel.

Jeremy Samide, CEO of Stealthcare, a North Olmsted, Ohio-based Fidelis partner, said he is excited about the appointment, saying McCormack "certainly has the pedigree in leadership, technology, product development and the cybersecurity landscape" for the role.

"John has the background and experience working with similar industry organizations at roughly the same stage as Fidelis’ growth trajectory. This is certainly a validation to the both John’s willingness to join Fidelis as it is Fidelis’ reputation and potential growth in the market. We see the mutual attraction as a benefit for all parties," Samide said.

Samide said Stealthcare has seen "steadily growing" business with Fidelis, saying the company is one of the solution provider's top partners. He said Stealthcare continues to build its relationship with Fidelis, which he said is important for the company's top clients as the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve. Samide said he thinks McCormack's appointment will only further that push, saying it is a validation of the company's strategy and roadmap.

"It’s early, but I think it is a good move for Fidelis as they continue to scale and expand their presence. John has the experience and credentials to take Fidelis to a higher level," Samide said.