Keith Bird named Executive Vice President to lead KnowBe4 global growth
Keith Bird has been appointed as Executive Vice President at KnowBe4, taking responsibility for the company's international business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Japan, and Latin America.
Bird joins KnowBe4 with over four decades of experience in the technology sector, including twenty years dedicated to cybersecurity. His previous roles span several major global firms, where he has held senior leadership and executive positions at Proofpoint, F5, Symantec, Checkpoint, SonicWALL, Extreme Networks, and EDS.
In addition to his corporate experience, Bird founded and subsequently sold two technology companies, bringing entrepreneurial insight to his new role. Prior to joining KnowBe4, Bird served as Operating Partner at Banyan, overseeing European operations and managing the investment portfolio for software company acquisitions, as well as acting as a director on various boards within the portfolio.
Global responsibility
As Executive Vice President, Bird will lead KnowBe4's global revenue initiatives, focusing on growth and customer outcomes throughout international markets.
"Keith's global experience in market growth and senior leadership roles uniquely positions him for this critical role," said Bryan Palma, CEO, KnowBe4. "He has a track record of leading fast-growing companies through periods of expansion and we are ecstatic to welcome him to KnowBe4."
Bird's remit includes shaping the company's approach to addressing human risk in cybersecurity, a field in which KnowBe4 positions itself as a comprehensive platform provider. His leadership is expected to support ongoing expansion in a rapidly evolving cyber-threat landscape.
Focus on customers
Bird highlighted both the company's status and culture as key motivators for his move. "KnowBe4's leadership in the human risk management category combined with the team inspired me to join the company to help drive continued growth. I look forward to supporting our customers to achieve fantastic outcomes."
Executives at KnowBe4 have emphasised his role in building on existing international momentum and fostering deeper engagement with customers across diverse markets. Bird's expertise in scaling technology businesses is regarded within the sector as an asset for companies undergoing sustained growth and product expansion.
Sector context
KnowBe4's platform, which is used by organisations worldwide, is focused on helping businesses manage cybersecurity risks associated with human behaviour. The appointment of Bird comes as part of the company's broader strategy to strengthen its operations globally and offer tailored solutions suited to regional needs in cybersecurity education, compliance and risk awareness.
Bird's professional history and record with technology firms, combined with his experience as a founder and in private equity-backed operational roles, will inform his leadership as KnowBe4 continues to prioritise business development in established and emerging markets.
