The Founders of Modern Cybersecurity Advisory
"From managing half-billion-dollar ARR portfolios at Verizon to authoring the industry's definitive breach reports and advising the President of the United States — we don't just advise on the landscape; we mapped it."
Chris Novak
Chris Novak is a internationally recognized cybersecurity executive, board advisor, and crisis management leader with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations understand, govern, and respond to complex cyber risk. He is known for translating highly technical cybersecurity challenges into clear, business-relevant guidance for boards of directors, C-suite executives, policymakers, and enterprise leadership teams.
Chris most recently served as Vice President of Verizon Global Cybersecurity Solutions, where he led world-class teams responsible for helping public- and private-sector organizations around the world respond to and eradicate active cyberattacks.
A recognized thought leader in cybersecurity and privacy, Chris was named a Top Cybersecurity Leader by *Security Magazine* and has advised at the highest levels of government and industry. Chris is one of the long-standing voices behind the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, having contributed to the report since its first publication in 2008.
For boards of directors, Chris brings a rare combination of front-line cyber crisis experience, executive advisory judgment, policy-level perspective, and practical governance insight.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a CISO Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MBA from Columbia University. He also maintains a variety of cybersecurity credentials and a Top Secret clearance.
Kris Philipsen
Kris Philipsen is a veteran cybersecurity executive, thought-leader, and board advisor with over 25 years of experience advising C-suite leaders and Boards of major global organizations on strategic risk reduction, governance, and cyber resilience. He is internationally recognized for translating complex cyber risk into clear, business-aligned outcomes -- making him a trusted advisor at the highest levels of organizational, industry, and government leadership.
Most recently as Sr. Managing Director for Global Cybersecurity Solutions at Verizon, Kris led global teams helping organizations balance cyber risk with business priorities. He was the executive sponsor for the industry-staple Verizon Payment Security Report.
A recognized voice in shaping cyber policy, Kris serves on the ISC2 Advisory Council and has contributed to the U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy. As a pioneer in the field, Kris has a storied history in cybersecurity research, including the development of novel advanced cybersecurity testing methods and regulator-lauded cybersecurity frameworks.
Kris uniquely combines hands-on cybersecurity research depth with C-suite strategic fluency, giving Boards a rare translator who connects ground-level cyber risk to business outcomes, regulatory standing, and long-term resilience.
Kris holds a degree in Economics and Germanic Languages from Groenendaal College and majored in Computer Science at UC San Diego. He is fluent in English, French and Dutch, and well-versed in German and Portuguese.