Best 17 Cybersecurity Recruiters
Meet the best cybersecurity recruiters who excel at connecting top talent with the most innovative tech companies, ensuring your team thrives in a competitive market. ↓
Cybersecurity is one of the most critical and competitive hiring areas in tech today — and behind the scenes, top recruiters are shaping the industry. From pioneering boutique search firms to global executive placement leaders, these individuals connect startups, Fortune 500s, and government agencies with elite cyber talent. Whether they’re placing CISOs, advising boards, building diverse teams, or creating innovative talent platforms, their impact is profound.
Below is a carefully curated list of 17 of the world’s best cybersecurity recruiters — chosen for their influence, experience, and track record across sectors including infosec, cloud security, defense, and tech innovation.
- Joyce Brocaglia
- Matt Comyns
- Ken Henley
- Deidre Diamond
- Tom Figueroa
- Stephen Spagnuolo
- Ricki Burke
- Kathy Lavinder
- Laurent Halimi
- Karla Reffold
- Joseph Cooper
- Veronica Mollica
- Jeremy King
- Matt Aiello
- Aileen Alexander
- Kal Bittianda
- Jim Bethmann
Each entry includes a brief explanation of why they are among the best, followed by their social media profiles.
Joyce Brocaglia
Nationality: American
Joyce Brocaglia is a pioneering cybersecurity executive recruiter.
She founded Alta Associates in 1986, the first search firm specializing in cybersecurity and IT risk. Under her leadership, Alta became one of the most prominent boutique firms in the field. She’s trusted by industry-leading CISOs and was named among the Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity.
- LinkedIn: Joyce Brocaglia
- X (Twitter): @EWForum
Matt Comyns
Nationality: American
We’ve been having this really hockey stick, rapid growth in cybersecurity over the past six to eight years… large financial services companies… doubled, tripled, quadrupled in size.
Matt Comyns is an executive headhunter for CISOs globally.
He is a pioneer of cybersecurity recruiting, having built the first cyber practices at Russell Reynolds and Caldwell Partners before co-founding Artico. He has led 300+ executive searches for CISOs and security executives, earning trust as a top advisor to Fortune 500 boards and fast-growing tech firms.
- LinkedIn: Matt Comyns
Ken Henley
Nationality: American
Ken Henley is a technically skilled cyber headhunter.
A former information systems security officer (10+ years), Ken has 25+ years of direct cybersecurity experience. He founded Redbud in 2014 to connect companies with “cybersecurity rockstars,” leveraging his deep technical insight to vet candidates. Known for a hands-on, consultative approach, Ken has quickly become a top specialist recruiter in the U.S. cyber market.
- LinkedIn: Ken Henley
Deidre Diamond
Nationality: American
Deidre Diamond is a leader in cyber talent acquisition.
She leads the largest cybersecurity staffing network in the U.S., specializing in recruiting top infosec talent. A tech industry veteran, she is known for her influence on hiring strategies and advocacy for diversity (founder of SecureDiversity and Day of Shecurity).
- LinkedIn: Deidre Diamond
- X (Twitter): @DeidreDiamond
Tom Figueroa
Nationality: American
Tom Figueroa is the leader of JM Search’s Cybersecurity Practice.
Tom has 20+ years of experience recruiting senior executives and has led JM Search’s cybersecurity practice, helping build leadership teams for security vendors and enterprises. Since 1996, he’s completed hundreds of C-level and board searches, with a focus on CEOs, CTOs, and CISOs in the cybersecurity and software arena. Tom is highly regarded for understanding both the technical and business needs when recruiting cyber leaders.
- LinkedIn: Tom Figueroa
Stephen Spagnuolo
Nationality: American
Stephen Spagnuolo is the head of Cybersecurity Search & Advisory at ZRG Partners.
Stephen leads ZRG’s cybersecurity practice, bringing extensive experience from Wall Street and U.S. national security circles. He previously founded SASearch, an executive boutique for security leaders. At ZRG, Stephen provides talent solutions for startups to global firms, leveraging his deep network in both the financial services and federal security domains. He’s respected for his strategic approach to aligning cyber talent with business needs.
- LinkedIn: Stephen Spagnuolo
Ricki Burke
Nationality: Australian
Ricki Burke is a community-focused infosec recruiter.
Based in Melbourne, he is a trusted cybersecurity recruiter who builds world-class cyber teams. He is deeply involved in the security community – organizing Black Hat, BSides, and other events – which has grown his global network of top talent. His outreach and mentorship (e.g. resume reviews at conferences) make him a go-to recruiter in APAC.
- LinkedIn: Ricki Burke
- X (Twitter): @CyberSecRicki
Kathy Lavinder
Nationality: American
Kathy Lavinder is a security and investigations search specialist.
She founded Security & Investigative Placement Consultants in 2000 and has since become one of the top cybersecurity and investigations recruiters, recognized in Hunt Scanlon’s “Cyber 20” rankings. She focuses on placing high-caliber talent in infosec, anti-fraud/AML, forensics, and senior private security roles. Her reputation for integrity and a vast network of investigators and security leaders make her a trusted advisor in the field.
- LinkedIn: Kathy Lavinder
- X (Twitter): @klavinder
Laurent Halimi
Nationality: French
Laurent Halimi is a cyber recruitment innovator in Europe.
He co-founded EliteCyber in 2015, growing it into a prominent cybersecurity recruitment agency renowned globally for its excellence. Based in France/UK, EliteCyber has placed specialists across Europe. Laurent is now CEO of CyberR, a platform leveraging AI for cyber talent matching, reflecting his forward-thinking approach to solving the 4M worldwide cyber talent gap.
- LinkedIn: Laurent Halimi
Karla Reffold
Nationality: British
Karla Reffold is a UK-based cyber recruitment expert.
She built BeecherMadden into an award-winning international cybersecurity recruitment firm (Security Recruitment Company of the Year). Named one of the UK’s “50 Most Influential Women in Cybersecurity,” she’s recognized for industry insight and advocacy. Now a COO in the cyber industry, she remains a prominent voice on hiring and career development in security.
- LinkedIn: Karla Reffold
- X (Twitter): @karla_reffold
Joseph Cooper
Nationality: American
Joseph Cooper is an emerging global cyber recruiter and podcaster.
He is a seasoned cybersecurity recruiter who co-founded Aspiron Search to serve VC-backed startups and high-growth tech companies. He is known for his CyberBytes podcast and active LinkedIn presence sharing hiring insights. With a strong network in both the US and Europe (Aspiron has London & NYC bases), Joseph has built credibility in placing elite cyber talent in early-stage companies.
- LinkedIn: Joseph Cooper
- X (Twitter): @CyberCoopss
Veronica Mollica
Nationality: American
Veronica Mollica is a veteran infosec executive recruiter.
She has been recruiting in cybersecurity for over 15 years, founding Indigo Partners in 2003. Renowned for her personalized approach, she built a national reputation in senior InfoSec placement and even made CT Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” list for her track record. In 2022, she merged her firm into CyberSN’s executive team, further solidifying her reach in connecting companies with elite security leaders.
- LinkedIn: Veronica Mollica
Jeremy King
Nationality: American
Jeremy King is a cleared security & federal cyber recruiter.
He specializes in placements at the intersection of cybersecurity, defense, and intelligence. Over nearly 20 years, he’s built trusted relationships in the DoD/IC community and with VC/PE-backed cyber startups. Holding a Top Secret clearance himself, Jeremy has placed 300+ leaders in ventures and now assists Fortune 1000 firms with security executive searches. He’s respected for his network and ability to find mission-focused talent.
- LinkedIn: Jeremy King
Matt Aiello
Nationality: American
Matt Aiello is the global co-head of Heidrick & Struggles’ Cybersecurity Practice.
Based in Washington D.C., Matt co-leads Heidrick’s cybersecurity and information officers practice, bringing over a decade of executive search experience focused on CIOs and CISOs. He has led numerous CISO and senior technology executive searches worldwide, making him a go-to recruiter for Fortune 500 companies seeking top security leadership. Matt is frequently cited in industry discussions on the evolving CISO role.
- LinkedIn: Matt Aiello
- X (Twitter): @aiellomatt
Aileen Alexander
Nationality: American
Aileen Alexander is a cybersecurity & defense recruitment leader.
She co-leads Korn Ferry’s cybersecurity Center of Expertise globally. A former U.S. Army officer, she brings a unique perspective in placing cyber leaders, often in aerospace, defense, and financial sectors. She advises boards on building diverse, effective security teams and has been instrumental in recruiting CISOs and senior cyber executives for both private and public sector organizations.
- LinkedIn: Aileen Alexander
Kal Bittianda
Nationality: American
Kal Bittianda is the head of Egon Zehnder’s Cybersecurity Practice.
Kal leads the global cybersecurity search efforts at Egon Zehnder, focusing on placing security and technology leaders in large enterprises. His expertise spans tech, software & services, and digital transformation, giving him insight into the skills needed for modern cyber leadership. Kal is known for advising CEOs and boards on how to leverage technology (and manage risks like cybersecurity) through top talent.
- LinkedIn: Kal Bittianda
Jim Bethmann
Nationality: American
Jim Bethmann is a veteran tech & security executive recruiter.
He co-leads Caldwell’s Technology, Media, Telecommunications (TMT) and Information Security practices. With 30+ years in executive search (including senior roles at Heidrick, Korn Ferry, Highland Partners, etc.), he has a global track record of C-suite placements in software, cloud, defense, and cybersecurity markets. Jim’s broad experience and credibility make him a top headhunter for CISOs and CIOs internationally.
- LinkedIn: Jim Bethmann
Wrap Up
These top recruiters have made a substantial impact on the cybersecurity industry by expertly sourcing high-level professionals, driving technological innovation, and fostering growth in emerging cybersecurity markets. However, working directly with these experts can be difficult due to their high demand and premium fees.
A practical solution is to partner with EchoGlobal, where our in-depth industry knowledge and extensive global network help connect you with the right cybersecurity talent to fuel your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk