North Carolina’s software and IT sector continues to grow as a hub for SaaS, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and cybersecurity innovation, particularly across the Research Triangle and Charlotte corridors. The cybersecurity leaders in this group are responsible for securing global platforms, enabling product innovation, and embedding security into fast-scaling technology environments.
Nick Leghorn — CISO, Brightly
Nick Leghorn leads cybersecurity at Brightly, bringing a diverse background that spans application security, governance, and security engineering across high-growth technology companies. His career includes leadership roles at Bluecore, The New York Times, and Indeed, where he built and matured security programmes in complex, cloud-driven environments.
Known for blending deep technical expertise with an unconventional personal background, he brings a creative and multidisciplinary approach to leadership. His experience across both product security and enterprise risk positions him well in SaaS environments where security must move at the same pace as development.
Brent Neal — CISO, RapidScale
Brent Neal serves as CISO at RapidScale, where he focuses on building resilient security and compliance programmes for cloud and managed IT services. With more than 20 years of experience, he has led global security initiatives across industries, aligning cybersecurity with business strategy and regulatory requirements.
His expertise spans frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR, reflecting the breadth of compliance demands in modern IT environments. He is particularly focused on embedding security into organisational culture, helping companies treat cybersecurity as both a risk function and a competitive advantage.
Chad Spears — CISO, InfusionPoints, LLC
Chad Spears leads cybersecurity at InfusionPoints, where his work centers on security operations, cloud architecture, and organisational resilience. His progression within the company reflects a strong operational foundation, having led security operations and infrastructure initiatives before stepping into broader leadership responsibilities.
His experience spans implementing security frameworks and supporting secure cloud adoption, helping organisations scale while maintaining strong security posture. That operational depth makes him a key contributor within North Carolina’s growing cybersecurity services ecosystem.
Aaron Landoll — CISO, DEFCON AI
Aaron Landoll serves as CISO at DEFCON AI, where he brings a background that combines military, government, and private-sector cybersecurity experience. His career includes roles at BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and the U.S. Army, where he led network operations and security efforts in high-stakes environments.
That experience translates into a strong focus on enterprise architecture, operational security, and mission-critical systems. In a company operating at the intersection of AI and defense, his leadership reflects the increasing convergence of cybersecurity, national security, and advanced technologies.
Michael Garvin — CISO, JAGGAER
Michael Garvin leads cybersecurity at JAGGAER, a global SaaS provider in the source-to-pay market. As part of the executive leadership team, he oversees security operations, product security, compliance, and risk management across multiple international regions.
His role spans both internal security and customer-facing security assurance, including supporting sales processes and regulatory requirements such as ISO, SOC, and PCI. With more than 25 years of experience, he brings a comprehensive view of cybersecurity that integrates business operations, governance, and product strategy.
Thomas Hill — CISO, nCino, Inc.
Thomas Hill serves as CISO at nCino, a cloud banking platform, where he leads global cybersecurity, compliance, and cloud operations. His responsibilities include securing large-scale AWS and Azure environments, managing global security operations, and building frameworks for financial services platforms operating across multiple regions.
His experience spans enterprise risk management, application security, and regulatory compliance, with a strong emphasis on cloud-first architectures and zero-trust principles. At nCino, his leadership plays a critical role in securing next-generation banking infrastructure.
Powering Secure Innovation Across North Carolina’s Tech Sector
From SaaS platforms and cloud infrastructure to AI and fintech, North Carolina’s software and IT sector depends on cybersecurity leaders who can secure innovation at scale. These executives are helping define how modern technology companies balance speed, growth, and security in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Discover more cybersecurity leaders making a mark in various industries through our CISOs to Watch features.