Forcepoint, a leading cybersecurity company, recently announced the promotion of Ryan Windham to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ryan Windham, who previously served as the Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Forcepoint, will succeed Manny Rivelo, the retiring CEO. The transition in leadership is set to take place immediately, with Rivelo staying on in an advisory capacity until August 1, 2024.
The Board of Forcepoint expressed their gratitude towards Manny Rivelo for his leadership and accomplishments during his tenure as CEO. This includes the successful sale of the Government business and the company’s resilience during the challenging pandemic period. Andrew Kowal, Partner at Francisco Partners, highlighted Rivelo’s contributions to the company’s organizational and technological transformation.
Ryan Windham brings with him 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, automation, and AI/ML. His previous role as Chief Customer and Strategy Officer involved leading collaboration across various functions to align the company’s mission and product roadmap with the strategic needs of customers worldwide.
Prior to joining Forcepoint, Windham served as the CEO of AppViewX, where he achieved significant customer retention and revenue growth. He also led Cedexis, which was later acquired by Citrix, focusing on AI/ML for application delivery optimization across different platforms. Windham’s extensive career includes senior management positions at security and infrastructure companies such as Imperva, F5 Networks, and Websense.
Brian Decker, Partner at Francisco Partners, emphasized Windham’s strategic vision and innovative mindset in driving Forcepoint’s focus on data security across various touchpoints and devices. Windham’s leadership is expected to propel the company forward in utilizing AI for competitive advantage in the evolving business landscape.
Reflecting on his return to Forcepoint, Windham expressed his excitement about leading the company and building on the foundation laid by Manny Rivelo. He highlighted their work together in advancing engineering in language models and generative AI for data security innovation. Windham looks forward to collaborating with the team to support customers and partners in their transformation strategies.
With Windham at the helm, Forcepoint is poised to continue its leadership in data security and leverage AI technologies for business growth. His appointment signals a new chapter for the company as it navigates the evolving cybersecurity landscape and aims to meet the changing needs of customers globally.