Cleveland has become a strong cybersecurity center. Its major hospitals, financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies rely on leaders who can manage complex risks while keeping operations stable. These ten security leaders stand out for their work across healthcare, finance, manufacturing and insurance. Each one plays a key role in protecting the region’s most important organizations.
Vugar Zeynalov, Cleveland Clinic
Vugar Zeynalov formerly leads cybersecurity at Cleveland Clinic, one of the most respected health systems in the world. He oversees security for an enterprise with more than 79,000 employees and operations in several states and countries. His leadership focuses on building strong teams, simplifying complex risks and supporting a culture where security improves patient care. His background includes advanced degrees in engineering and a CISSP certification.
Tim Bengson, Sherwin-Williams
Tim Bengson is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Sherwin-Williams. He brings experience from Kellogg Company and MasterCard, along with his work as a Fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology. At Sherwin-Williams, he manages programs in cybersecurity, privacy, compliance and enterprise risk. His work supports a global business with a large manufacturing and retail footprint.
Ed Pollock, STERIS Corporation
Ed Pollock serves as CISO for STERIS, a global leader in infection prevention and surgical products. With more than 27 years in IT and 17 years in cybersecurity, he directs the company’s worldwide security strategy. His background includes service in the U.S. Air Force, leadership roles on advisory boards and advanced security certifications. He is also an active voice in industry discussions.
Kelly Uhrich, KeyBank (Deputy CISO)
Kelly Uhrich is Deputy CISO at KeyBank. She is known for her focus on talent development and her ability to help team members grow into new areas. Her leadership blends strategic planning with hands-on attention to emerging risks. She plays a major role in strengthening security for one of the largest banks headquartered in Cleveland.
Bryan McDowell, University Hospitals
Bryan McDowell is Vice President and Chief Security Officer at University Hospitals. Since 2014, he has led cybersecurity, physical security, IT operations and business systems. His experience includes years at Stanford Health Care, giving him a strong understanding of academic medical environments. He holds multiple degrees in information science and security.
Greg Journey, MetroHealth
Greg Journey oversees both cybersecurity and physical security at The MetroHealth System. His work supports a public hospital network that serves more than 300,000 patients each year. Journey often speaks about the risks facing healthcare organizations, including third-party vulnerabilities and the growing complexity of digital systems. His leadership is essential as MetroHealth continues to expand its services.
Paul Beckwith, Progressive Insurance
Paul Beckwith serves as Chief Security Officer at Progressive Insurance, one of the largest auto insurers in the United States. He manages the protection of customer information and corporate systems in a fast-moving environment where fraud and cyber threats are constant. His work supports a company that handles millions of transactions and relies heavily on digital platforms.
Mangoné Fall, Cleveland Clinic
Mangoné Fall holds a senior leadership role within Cleveland Clinic’s cybersecurity organization. He is responsible for protecting patient and caregiver data and oversees the Cybersecurity Operations Center. His work covers risk management, governance and 24-hour monitoring. Fall also leads BEYOND HC LLC, a Certified HITRUST Assessor Organization, which adds to his influence in the healthcare security space.
Nick Schappacher, KeyBank (Deputy CISO)
Nick Schappacher is Senior Vice President and Deputy CISO at KeyBank. His experience in access control, IT audit and enterprise risk gives him a strong technical and business foundation. He manages key parts of the bank’s security operations and supports the protection of one of Northeast Ohio’s largest financial institutions.
Arihanth Mullangi, University Hospitals (Deputy CISO)
Arihanth Mullangi is Deputy CISO at University Hospitals. His background includes consulting roles at Accenture and advanced training through Carnegie Mellon’s CISO Executive Program. He works on security assessments, compliance, threat management and incident response. His expertise supports the hospital system’s efforts to stay ahead of emerging risks.
These ten leaders show the depth of cybersecurity talent in Cleveland. They protect vital services in healthcare, banking, manufacturing and insurance. Their work also extends into regional collaborations through groups like the Northeast Ohio CyberConsortium and the Ohio CISO Community.
As cyber threats become more advanced, these leaders continue to shape how the region prepares for attacks, responds to incidents and builds long-term resilience.