FULL DISCLOSURE: This is sponsored content for Plurilock.
Cybersecurity is not an every man’s game, and understandably so. Wrong moves in this space can literally mean millions and lives. Needless to say, expertise and experience are necessary to be able to get ahead in this ever-changing industry.
In its effort to underscore this commitment, Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) has recently announced the appointment of industry veteran Joe Sexton to its Industry Advisors Council. Sexton, a titan in the technology and cybersecurity sectors, brings a wealth of experience and a track record of transformative leadership to the table.
Storied career in tech leadership
Sexton is no stranger to driving growth and spearheading successful ventures. His tenure as a board member for CrowdStrike from 2015 to 2022 was marked by extraordinary achievements, including the growth of annual recurring revenues from $25 million to over $1.5 billion. Sexton’s strategic vision and leadership were instrumental in positioning CrowdStrike as a dominant force in the cybersecurity industry.
In terms of operations, as the President of Worldwide Field Operations for AppDynamics, Sexton played a pivotal role in scaling the company’s operations, culminating in its acquisition by Cisco for a staggering $3.7 billion in 2017. Under his leadership, AppDynamics saw its annual bookings more than double to over $150 million, setting the stage for its high-profile acquisition.
But Sexton’s time at AppDynamics was not his first experience with contributing to major buyouts. In fact, it was the third such time that his ability to grow sales contributed to multi-billion buyouts of the companies he worked for.
Prior to AppDynamics, Sexton served as Executive Vice President for Worldwide Sales at McAfee until 2012, where he managed an organization of 2,000 people and was instrumental in driving $2.5 billion in annual sales. His strategic acumen and leadership were key factors in the company’s $7.7 billion acquisition by Intel in 2011.
READ: Google Moves to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Wiz At 65x Revenue Multiple
Sexton also served as Senior Vice President of the Americas at Mercury Interactive. In this role, he established the company’s leadership in the enterprise market and tripled sales to $1 billion, which supported a successful acquisition by Hewlett Packard for $4.5 billion back in 2006.
Beyond his roles at AppDynamics and McAfee, Sexton has also held significant positions at Cisco, EMC, and CA Technologies, further showcasing his versatility and breadth of knowledge in the tech industry. At Cisco, he contributed to the integration of AppDynamics post-acquisition, ensuring a seamless transition and continued growth. His tenure at EMC and CA Technologies involved driving sales strategies and expanding market presence, adding to his extensive experience in the tech sector.
Influential career
Sexton’s influence extends beyond his executive roles. He has also provided guidance as an Executive in Residence for renowned venture capital firms Lightspeed Venture Partners and Greylock Partners, advising portfolio companies on go-to-market strategies and sales execution.
Currently, Sexton serves on the boards of several prominent tech companies, including XFactor.io, Laconic, Aqua Security, and Menlo Security. At XFactor.io, he has been instrumental in building out a world-class go-to-market team to take their NADAR Carbon Credit trading platform global. His role at Laconic involves working on strategic initiatives to accelerate the uptake of their platform in the market and drive long-term contracted annual recurring revenue growth.
Plurilock CEO Ian L. Paterson welcomed Sexton with enthusiasm, highlighting the strategic advantage his appointment brings. “Joe is a technology industry veteran and proven operator with more than 30 years of go-to-market expertise in technology. On behalf of Plurilock, I welcome Joe to the Company and look forward to his strategic contributions to scale our business.”
Sexton himself expressed excitement about the new role. “The ever-growing sophistication, scope, and frequency of cyberattacks demand innovative solutions like Plurilock’s. Their Critical Services play a vital role in securing organizational data and ensuring business continuity for critical infrastructure, impacting both our daily lives and economic well-being. I look forward to joining Plurilock’s Industry Advisory Council and collaborating with their forward-thinking management team,” he commented.
Sexton’s appointment comes at a time when Plurilock is poised for significant growth and innovation. The company just secured a $900,000 contract to provide edge and network security solutions to a key Canadian government agency, enhancing high-security networks with new capabilities.
READ: Cybersecurity Firms See Robust Job Growth Amid Rising Digital Threats
In another significant deal, Plurilock signed a US$6.16 million, five-year contract to provide Microsoft Unified services and support, including AI Azure services, to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Additionally, Plurilock was awarded an US$814,000 three-year contract to deliver cloud security solutions to a major global laboratory data and advisory firm.
Sexton’s appointment follows another move to bolster Plurilock’s advisory council with the addition of a longtime senior advisor to Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) and a former White House cyber and national security lawyer, Bryan Cunningham.
Plurilock Security last traded at $1.45 on the TSX Venture.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Plurilock Security is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. Canacom Group is currently long the equity of Plurilock Security. The author has been compensated to cover Plurilock Security on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. We may buy or sell securities in the company at any time. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.
