When reports began emerging that nation-state hackers were using AI-generated identities to gain access to organisations, Russ Kirby realised the threat was no longer theoretical.

As Chief Information Security Officer at Ping Identity, Kirby recognised that attackers were increasingly using fake identities and manipulated personal information to pose as legitimate employees or job candidates. Rather than waiting for the threat to materialise, he launched a company-wide initiative to verify the identities of more than 2,000 employees across the organisation.

The move required significant investment and executive backing, but Kirby successfully secured board-level support by framing the programme as a business resilience and trust initiative rather than simply another security project.

The results were striking. The programme identified and blocked 12 individuals linked to nation-state activity who were attempting to gain access to the company. Several were reportedly unknown to authorities at the time they were detected.

Judges said the initiative demonstrated the kind of forward-thinking leadership increasingly required from today's security leaders. Rather than reacting to a breach, Kirby identified an emerging threat early and took decisive action before it could become a problem.

"A standout nomination showing exceptional, measurable security leadership with real-world impact well beyond the organisation itself."

What's more, the workforce verification programme also became an opportunity to showcase Ping Identity's own technology in a real-world environment, helping strengthen confidence among customers while improving the company's internal security posture.

Judges also highlighted Kirby's broader contribution to strengthening security across the combined Ping Identity and ForgeRock organisation following the merger of the two companies. His work included improving governance, risk management, incident response and engineering practices while helping bring together two large organisations under a unified security strategy.

The judging panel was particularly impressed by the measurable outcomes delivered under Kirby's leadership. The company significantly improved its incident response capabilities over a three-year period and strengthened its overall security maturity.. Lastly Kirby was endorsed by colleagues, executives and industry peers, earning him this prestigious award. 

Kelley Damore Chief Content Officer CyberRisk Alliance

Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.