Dr. Pierson to be Joined by Hazel Cerra, BlackCloak’s Director of Digital Security Convergence and a U.S. Secret Service Veteran, in Enlightening Discussion About the Role of Digital Executive Protection in Bridging Essential Gaps in Corporate Security

Orlando, FL – May 14, 2026 – BlackCloak, the pioneer in Digital Executive Protection (DEP) for corporate executives, boards of directors, and Family Offices, announces that its Founder and CEO Dr. Chris Pierson will present How Digital Footprints Can Lead to Attacks on Executives & Their Families at the upcoming Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, held June 1-3, 2026, in National Harbor, MD.

Dr. Pierson will be joined by Hazel Cerra, BlackCloak Director of Digital Security Convergence. Together, they will address the convergence of physical and digital threats to leaders, the risks facing corporations stemming from executives’ expansive digital footprints, and how a full-category DEP program bridges critical gaps in enterprise security.

A recent Gartner report, Navigate Executive Protection Solutions for Digital Threat Defense,¹ notes, “Adversaries are increasingly targeting executives in the cyber and physical realm, driving greater urgency for organizations to develop more robust cybersecurity strategies to protect their greatest asset — people.”

“In our work with Fortune 500 companies, we see first-hand what numerous reports indicate: highly motivated threat actors know the personal lives of corporate executives represent a gap in enterprise security and are actively exploiting them and their family members at an unprecedented scale,” said Dr. Pierson. “Business email compromise, financial fraud, and AI-powered threats were recently identified in the FBI Internet Crime and Complaint Center’s annual report as the greatest contributors to the rising costs of cybercrime. A full-category Digital Executive Protection program can prevent such incidents from becoming risk and compliance nightmares and ensure that executives and their families are safeguarded. Hazel and I are excited to bring this topic to light to educate CISOs and CSOs on the need for DEP and actionable steps to take immediate preventive action.”

“Protecting business leaders and their loved ones should be a mission-critical risk management priority for every enterprise, regardless of size, location, or industry,” said Cerra. “The financial and reputational toll of cybercrime on organizations is rising as their executives are increasingly targeted as a way to bypass corporate perimeter defenses. DEP is about protecting people, brands, and the bottom line. Enterprise CISOs and CSOs can benefit greatly from understanding the required elements of a comprehensive DEP program that doesn’t put an additional burden on internal resources. I am glad to contribute my perspective and experience to this important discussion.”

About Dr. Chris Pierson

Dr. Chris Pierson is the Founder and CEO of BlackCloak, the pioneer in Digital Executive Protection for corporate executives, board members, and high-net-worth individuals and their families. Chris has been on the front lines of cybersecurity and privacy in both the public and private sectors for over 25 years. Previously at the Department of Homeland Security, he served for over a decade as a special government employee on the Cybersecurity and Privacy Committees. He also served as the Chief Privacy Officer for Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) U.S. Operations, as the Chief Information Security Officer for two prominent FinTech companies, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Ponemon Institute.

About Hazel Cerra, MBA

In her role at BlackCloak, Hazel Cerra builds strategic partnerships with executive protection firms and with those who protect high-profile individuals and their families. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience with the U.S. Secret Service, where she led protection operations, intelligence investigations, and complex financial and cyber-enabled fraud investigations. She also held senior supervisory roles in the Philadelphia CyberFraud Investigative Squad and retired as the Resident Agent in Charge in the Atlantic City Resident Office.  She is recognized for translating proven methodologies for protecting the U.S. President into modern cybersecurity strategies to safeguard executives, board members, and their families as digital and physical threats converge. She is a Certified Information Security Manager through ISACA.

BlackCloak is exhibiting in booth #742 at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit. For more information about its Digital Executive Protection solution, visit https://blackcloak.io/executives/.  

About BlackCloak

BlackCloak secures the personal digital lives of corporate executives, board members, high-net-worth individuals, and their families from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Digital Executive Protection Platform is a full-category solution backed by expert concierge support and incident response from a US-based SOC team. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io. 

About the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit 

Gartner analysts will present the latest insights for security and risk management leaders at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summits, taking place March 9-10 in Mumbai, March 16-17 in Sydney, June 1-3 in National Harbor, MD, July 22-24 in Tokyo, August 4-5 in Sao Paulo and September 22-24 in London. Follow news and updates from the conferences on X and LinkedIn using #GartnerSEC.

Media Contact
Beth Trier
Trier & Co. for BlackCloak
[email protected]

¹Gartner – Navigate Executive Protection Solutions for Digital Threat Defense by By: Elizabeth Kim, Mitchell Schneider, November 3, 2025. GARTNER is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

Veteran Channel Chief Recognized for Driving a Partner-First Strategy that Underscores the Value of Digital Executive Protection as a Board-Level Security Priority

Orlando, FL —  May 4, 2026 — BlackCloak, a pioneer in Digital Executive Protection (DEP) for corporate executives, boards of directors, and Family Offices, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Jana Whitcomb, Vice President of Partnerships, for inclusion in the prestigious Women of the Channel for 2026. 

This annual CRN list celebrates women from vendors, distributors, solution providers and other channel-focused organizations who make a positive difference in the IT ecosystem. The CRN 2026 Women of the Channel honorees are innovative and strategic leaders committed to advancing channel excellence and supporting the success of their partners and customers. 

Whitcomb transformed BlackCloak’s channel into its Signature Alliance program, a partner-led ecosystem spanning the enterprise channel, strategic alliances, and Private Client Services. She leads the company’s most strategic partner relationships, embedding Digital Executive Protection into enterprise cybersecurity and advisory engagements and elevating personal digital risk to a board-level priority. By building a cross-industry partner network across cybersecurity, wealth management, legal, and insurance sectors, she has enabled partners to unlock new revenue streams while addressing executive risk beyond the traditional enterprise perimeter.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these women who are driving meaningful change across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN at The Channel Company. “Each honoree has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bold, innovative strategies that fuel transformation, growth, and success for their organizations and the broader channel. We’re proud to recognize their impact and look forward to seeing how they continue to shape the future of our industry.”

“Jana has fundamentally changed how BlackCloak scales through the channel. She didn’t just expand our partner ecosystem, she made it operational, repeatable, and revenue-driven,” said Chris Pierson, Founder and CEO of BlackCloak. “By aligning enterprise alliances with Private Client Services and building a true partner-led growth model, she has helped BlackCloak and our partners lead in securing the personal digital lives of those most targeted by cyber threats.”

The 2026 Women of the Channel will be featured online beginning May 4 at crn.com/wotc.

About BlackCloak

BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution that includes mobile and desktop apps and concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their families, reputations, and finances are protected. Rest assured that companies’ brands, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io and follow us on LinkedIn.

About The Channel Company 

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn and X.

© 2026 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Channel Company Contact:
Jessica Beaudet
The Channel Company
[email protected]

25-Year Crisis Response Management Veteran Brings Depth of Fraud, Data Exposure, and Identity Theft Prevention to Digital Executive Protection Pioneer

Orlando, FL – March 30, 2026 – BlackCloak, a pioneer in Digital Executive Protection (DEP) for corporate executives, boards of directors, and Family Offices, announced today that Michael Bruemmer, a seasoned data breach and fraud prevention expert, has joined the company’s Advisory Board. 

Currently, Bruemmer is Vice President of Global Data Breach and Consumer Protection at Experian, where he has worked for nearly 15 years. He has more than 25 years of experience in crisis response management with Experian, as well as companies like Dell, PepsiCo, and Kraft General Foods. Bruemmer has devoted his career to educating businesses of all sizes and sectors on breach preparedness and response planning, including the importance of notifying affected consumers and implementing identity theft protection services to limit the impact of the breach on victims. Throughout his professional life, he has handled more than 70,000 data breaches, including some of the largest and most complex incidents in U.S. history.

Bruemmer joins BlackCloak’s Advisory Board at a time of significant growth and expansion. Over the past year, demand for the company’s full spectrum DEP platform as a missing control layer of enterprise cybersecurity has soared, with year-over-year Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) nearly doubling in 2025. He joins existing BlackCloak Advisory Board members Roland Cloutier, Malcolm Harkins, and Patricia Titus.

“Michael has spent his career on the front lines, guiding organizations through their most vulnerable moments. I have long respected his ability to navigate the complex human and technical fallout of some of the most devastating data breaches we’ve seen,” said Dr. Chris Pierson, BlackCloak’s Founder and CEO. “He is joining our advisory board at a critical time, when we are strengthening our ability to anticipate market shifts and adapt. As the adoption of our DEP platform accelerates, Michael’s insights will be a tremendous asset in our mission to protect executives, their families, and the enterprises they lead.”

“Most executives don’t pay attention to security details outside of their work lives, which is a major exposure for enterprises. With the increasing sophistication of AI and social engineering threats, and broad accessibility to tools and tactics for less skilled hackers, this lack of oversight is a significant threat vector,” said Bruemmer. “I believe in the work that BlackCloak does to continuously protect its members – and by extension, their companies – and I couldn’t be more excited to join this premier team of privacy and security experts.”

In his role at Experian, Bruemmer helps businesses prepare for a data breach, manage consumer crisis response programs, and mitigate consumer risk following incidents. He possesses a wealth of knowledge related to crisis response management from discovery to post-incident clean up, and is a respected speaker at industry organizations and events across the country.

Bruemmer has provided insight to many trade and business media outlets including Dark Reading, IT Business, CIO, Info Security Magazine, Security Week, Health IT Security, The Wall Street Journal, and American Banker, among others. He has been a guest columnist for SecurityInfoWatch and has appeared on broadcast channels such as Fox Business. He currently serves on the Ponemon Responsible Information Management (RIM) Board and NetDiligence Advisory Board.

For more information about BlackCloak’s Digital Executive Protection services, visit blackcloak.io.

About BlackCloak

BlackCloak protects corporate executives, board members, high-profile individuals, and their families from privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a comprehensive solution that includes mobile and desktop apps, as well as concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io and follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact
Beth Trier
Trier & Co. for BlackCloak
[email protected]

Beyond simple data removal, BlackCloak’s latest advancements at RSAC 2026 integrate  impersonation defense, advanced search suppression, and real-time travel intelligence with its US-based SOC to secure executives’ homes and devices.

SAN FRANCISCO — March 23, 2026 — While the industry has focused primarily on online exposure reduction, BlackCloak continues to lead advancements in Digital Executive Protection (DEP) by securing the targets threat actors actually exploit: the executive’s home and personal devices. Privacy engines that only remove publicly available data solve the important first step of a threat actor’s reconnaissance. BlackCloak goes beyond privacy to integrate its platform with a concierge model and US-based SOC using tools that monitor clients’ homes and devices 24/7, moving beyond a singular focus on online footprint management to provide active defense against the malware and physical risks that target executives. 

Threat actors have long understood what many security teams are only now acknowledging: the most effective path into an organization runs through its leaders’ personal lives. BlackCloak’s latest capabilities address that reality head-on — before travel becomes an incident, before an impersonation succeeds, and before a threat actor can map a name to a home address.

“The attack surface for executives has never been broader, and the most dangerous exposures happen outside the corporate perimeter,” said Dr. Chris Pierson, Founder and CEO of BlackCloak. “These three capabilities represent a significant step forward in what Digital Executive Protection means in practice: communication authenticity in an era of AI-generated deception, a new layer of digital invisibility, and analyst-grade travel intelligence unified in a single platform.”

Addressing the Security Coverage Gap

Trying to hide personally identifiable information (PII) is an important and necessary part of the executive protection equation. Once a threat actor has successfully mapped an executive’s identity, they pivot to the home network and personal devices that corporate controls cannot reach. BlackCloak is the only Digital Executive Protection solution that covers the full spectrum of protection from privacy to personal devices and home, including: 

• Home Network Hardening: Performs weekly penetration tests on home networks to detect weak security, open ports, and compromised devices. 
• Comprehensive Device Protection: Monitors devices for malware and/or other security threats, providing a centralized dashboard for the executive’s entire digital household. 
• Deception Honeypots: BlackCloak’s network of deception devices/honeypots alerts to unwanted attackers that may use methods other than malware to attack a person or device.
• The US-Based SOC: Unlike consumer apps, every alert is backed by BlackCloak’s US-based SOC using tools that monitor clients’ homes and devices 24/7 to identify and contain breaches, malware, and other cybersecurity risks. 

DEP Personal Device & Intelligence Enhancements

Impersonation Protection within the BlackCloak Mobile App Combats AI-Powered Deepfake Threats

Safeguarding against deepfakes and social engineering, this mobile app feature allows members to validate the authenticity of communications they receive in real-time from other BlackCloak members with whom they are connected. New for 2026, every Impersonation Protection exchange now incorporates the potential for device-level biometric validation — Face ID, fingerprint, or equivalent — alongside the geolocation from which the request originated, giving recipients a higher level of confidence that the communication is genuine.

The Impersonation Protection feature uses a secure process within the BlackCloak app so members can validate the authenticity of any call, email, text, video chat, or other interaction from any other BlackCloak member with whom they share a connection. This secure handshake ensures that every interaction between members can be authenticated, neutralizing impersonation threats before finances or reputations can be compromised.

Impersonation Protection is currently available to BlackCloak members. To learn more about adding it to your protection plan, request a private briefing at RSAC 2026 at https://blackcloak.io/rsac-2026/.

Member Travel Advisory: Intelligence That Acts Before You Land

Member Travel Advisory delivers AI-synthesized and continuously updated risk analysis across four dimensions: cybersecurity, physical, geopolitical, and social conditions, with an integrated risk rating and governance scoring for every country. 

Unlike travel risk platforms or cyber threat intelligence platforms that deliver static advisories requiring an experienced analyst, this level of contextualized analysis is available as self-service in the BlackCloak mobile app. Members see curated incident feeds by threat category, third-party governance indicators, direct embassy contact information, and plain-language translations of US State Department advisory levels, all at the depth of analyst-grade intelligence.

Member Travel Advisory will be available to BlackCloak members this spring. To request a private briefing at RSAC 2026, visit https://blackcloak.io/rsac-2026/.

DEP Privacy & PII Removal Enhancements

Search Suppression: Eliminate Discovery, Not Just Data

BlackCloak’s Data Broker Removal (DBR) service has long targeted personal information at the source by removing members’ personally identifiable information (PII) directly from data brokers on their behalf. While data deletion is critical, Search Suppression actively monitors major search engines for an executive’s name combined with sensitive details. BlackCloak has automated the ability to hide certain PII from search results originating from these data broker sites, ensuring that the site suppressed will not appear in search results even if a broker is slow to respond. 

DBR removes the record. Search Suppression creates additional hurdles for threat actors to conduct discovery. Together, they ensure that data being removed is harder to find in the interim, delivering a powerful defense against threat actors attempting to map an executive’s identity to a physical location.

Unified Protection Across the Executive Attack Surface

These three advancements address distinct threat surfaces—privacy, identity, discovery, and physical risk. Together, they advance a single mission: ensuring the personal digital lives of executives are never the path of least resistance into an organization. 

BlackCloak is available for private briefings at RSAC 2026 in San Francisco, March 23–26. To request a meeting, visit https://blackcloak.io/rsac-2026/.

About BlackCloak

BlackCloak protects corporate executives, board members, high-profile individuals, and their families from privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a comprehensive solution that includes mobile and desktop apps and concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io and follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact
Beth Trier
Trier & Co. for BlackCloak
[email protected]