The world's largest cybersecurity nonprofit, which is headquartered in Clearwater, will soon have a new CEO.
Clar Rosso will step up to the top spot on Oct. 1, replacing current CEO David Shearer, who has been in the position since 2015. In March, the organization announced Shearer would step down by the end of the year. He will remain at ISC(2) as an adviser through the end of 2020.
Rosso is currently serving as the executive VP of engagement and learning innovation at the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
“Cybersecurity professionals play a critical role in our global society and I look forward to joining the dedicated team at (ISC)2 to strengthen our value to members and associates through our certification programs, enriching learning experiences and much more,” Rosso said in a statement. “There is so much opportunity to continue growing the profession, striving to realize the association’s vision of a safe and secure cyber world and ensuring that cybersecurity is a rewarding and welcoming career to a diversity of people globally.”
Rosso previously served as the COO of the California Society of CPAs and the organization's education foundation. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis and a master's degree from San Francisco State University. In her new role, she will head up strategy and budget planning for 2021.
“The (ISC)2 board of directors set out to find a talented, driven leader to achieve the board’s vision of a growing, member-focused association that encourages an increasingly diverse workforce,” Kevin Charest, chairperson of the (ISC)² board of directors, said in a statement. "Clar has the experience and passion to help (ISC)2 build on the rich foundation of success her predecessors established and we are confident our members will benefit from her leadership."
The change comes during a bit of a renaissance for the cybersecurity industry as a whole. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, many employees are still working from home which creates an all-time high risk of security breaches. Due to the high demand, many Tampa Bay cybersecurity companies are expanding and hiring en masse. And ReliaQuest, one of the region's industry standouts, announced Tuesday it raised $300 million.
