Proofpoint Expands Executive Leadership Team Amidst Global Growth and Innovation Strategies
In a significant development for the cybersecurity sector, Proofpoint, Inc., a renowned leader in human and agent cybersecurity, has made notable additions to its executive leadership, announcing the appointments of Brian Levey as Chief Legal Officer and Puja Jaspal as Chief People Officer. This strategic move comes at a crucial juncture for the company as it embarks on its next phase of global growth and innovation.
The announcement was made on September 8, 2026, and reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team as it seeks to scale its operations globally, enhance its innovation capabilities, and redefine security measures concerning the interplay between people, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.
Sumit Dhawan, the CEO of Proofpoint, expressed great enthusiasm about the new appointments, highlighting the impressive backgrounds of both Levey and Jaspal. "Brian and Puja are exceptional leaders with deep experience helping global technology companies grow through periods of transformation," Dhawan stated. He emphasized that their leadership would be pivotal in propelling Proofpoint into a new era of growth, where the company plans to expand its business reach, accelerate its innovation efforts, and set standards in cybersecurity. This proactive approach anticipates the evolving realities of work in a landscape increasingly influenced by technology and AI.
Brian Levey: A Seasoned Legal Expert
As the newly appointed Chief Legal Officer, Brian Levey will be responsible for overseeing Proofpoint’s global legal organization. His portfolio includes managing legal affairs, corporate governance, compliance, ethics, and other strategic functions that are critical to the company’s operational framework. Levey’s role will involve close collaboration with the executive leadership team and the Board of Directors to align legal strategies with the company’s growth objectives, mitigate risks, and bolster the trust among customers, employees, partners, and shareholders.
Levey brings over 25 years of extensive experience in advising boards and executive teams. Before joining Proofpoint, he served as Chief Business Affairs & Chief Legal Officer at Upwork, where he not only managed legal and compliance matters but also played a significant role in guiding the company through its successful initial public offering. His previous tenure at eBay Inc. further solidifies his expertise; among his many contributions, he was instrumental in the strategic acquisitions of major companies such as PayPal, Skype, and StubHub. Levey holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and an A.B. in economics from Stanford University.
In reflecting on his new role, Levey stated, "Building trust online has been the through-line of my in-house career, and cybersecurity is where trust gets defended." He conveyed a sense of privilege in joining the leadership team at such a transformative time for Proofpoint and expressed eagerness to contribute to the company’s continued growth and innovation.
Puja Jaspal: A Veteran in People Strategy
Joining Levey is Puja Jaspal, who steps into the role of Chief People Officer. In this capacity, she will lead Proofpoint’s global people organization, which encompasses areas such as talent strategy, employee experience, organizational development, and total rewards. Jaspal arrives at Proofpoint with a wealth of experience, having dedicated over 25 years to leadership roles that foster the growth of high-performing organizations across various sectors, including technology and fintech.
Before her current appointment, Jaspal served as Chief People Officer at Fastly, where she successfully aligned people and culture strategies with business transformation objectives. Prior leadership roles at Cisco, Visa, and Google allowed her to lead initiatives that fortified organizational culture, developed leadership talent, and supported global business growth.
On her decision to join Proofpoint, Jaspal remarked, "Proofpoint’s mission, culture, and commitment to innovation make this an incredibly meaningful and dynamic time to join the company." She underscored her anticipation of creating an environment where exceptional talent could thrive and contribute to delivering exceptional value to customers worldwide. Jaspal holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
About Proofpoint
Proofpoint, Inc. stands as a leader in human and agent cybersecurity, safeguarding the connections among individuals, data, and AI across diverse platforms, including email and cloud services. With a robust customer base comprising more than 80 companies from the Fortune 100 and over 14,000 large enterprises, Proofpoint is recognized as a trusted partner in mitigating threats and preventing data loss. The company’s advanced platform enables organizations of all sizes to secure their operations while fostering resilience in workflows involving both people and AI.
For more information, visit www.proofpoint.com and connect with Proofpoint on LinkedIn.
As Proofpoint integrates these influential figures into its executive leadership team, the cybersecurity firm is poised for a future defined by innovation and exemplary service delivery.