Optiv Security's Head Of Americas Sales Departs

Optiv Security has lost its head of sales for North America, as executive Chris Scanlan revealed his departure from the security solution provider earlier this week.

In a LinkedIn post, Scanlan, who had served as senior vice president of Americas sales, said he decided to step down after 13 years to "take some needed time off and recharge the batteries." He said he will focus on running his American Youth Soccer Organization.

"Accuvant/Optiv was a great run that afforded me the opportunity to grow immensely as a sales leader and sales executive, while giving me the distinct pleasure of having worked with wonderful, talented people. I will miss the friendship and camaraderie," Scanlan said in his post.

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"Additionally, I am thankful to the client base and vendor community that has supported me and my business these past years. Whatever lies ahead for me certainly will involve many of you," he said.

Scanlan said he plans to stay on sabbatical until November but will start looking at new opportunities in mid to late October. Scanlan did not reply to direct requests for comment from CRN.

Scanlan came to Optiv from the Accuvant side of the Accuvant-Fishnet Security merger in 2015. He had been at Accuvant since 2005 and held a variety of sales leadership roles in that time. During that time Scanlan was part of a series of major changes at the company, including the blockbuster merger of Accuvant and FishNet Security under private equity firm Blackstone, as well as the company's more recent acquisition by private equity firm KKR & Co. The latter deal closed in February.

"Having endured three changes in control (Blackstone and KKR most recently) and six M&As, it's time for a sabbatical. … I look forward to resuming my career in a few months," Scanlan said in his LinkedIn post.

In an email to CRN, Optiv Security said Dave Castignola, who joined the company in April from RSA to lead worldwide sales, will continue leading its sales organization going forward. In a statement to CRN, Castignola, executive vice president of worldwide sales, thanked Scanlan for his sales leadership at the company.

’Chris has played an integral part in the success of our company,’ Castignola said. ’We appreciate his many years of dedication and leadership, and wish him well in whatever his next chapter holds.

’On a personal level, Chris reached out to me last December and was the catalyst for me joining the Optiv team,’ continued Castignola. ’I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity and very excited about the future.’

Scanlan is the latest in a series executive changes at Optiv since its acquisition by KKR earlier this year.

CRN reported in June that the company has seen a wave of executive departures this year, including at least nine vice presidents. Optiv has also added multiple new executives from top security and channel organizations, including former Symantec executive Anirban Chakravartti as senior vice president, worldwide partner solutions; former D&H executive Michael Lines as vice president, strategy, risk and compliance advisory services; and former Equifax and Dell SecureWorks executive Doug Steelman to lead the company's managed services push as vice president, managed security services.