iCOUNTER Appoints Cybersecurity Veteran Ali Waezzadah as Chief Information Security Officer

iCOUNTER Appoints Cybersecurity Veteran Ali Waezzadah as Chief Information Security Officer

https://www.citybiz.co/article/864257/icounter-appoints-cybersecurity-veteran-ali-waezzadah-as-chief-information-security-officer/

Publish Date: 2026-06-23 10:00:00

Source Domain: www.citybiz.co

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As organizations face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats targeting vendors, suppliers and other third-party relationships, many security leaders are shifting their focus from reactive defense strategies to more proactive approaches centered on risk intelligence and operational readiness.
Against that backdrop, iCOUNTER has appointed veteran cybersecurity executive Ali Waezzadah as chief information security officer, adding a seasoned operator with more than two decades of experience leading security programs across critical infrastructure, media, government and enterprise organizations.
The appointment comes as iCOUNTER expands its Enterprise Ecosystem Risk Intelligence and Counter Threat Operations platform, which is designed to help organizations identify and address threats before attacks occur. The company said Waezzadah will play a key role in advancing that strategy as demand grows for more proactive cybersecurity operations and supply chain risk management capabilities.
Waezzadah most recently served as chief information security officer at Frontier Communications, where he helped guide the company’s security transformation during a period of significant operational change that culminated in its acquisition by Verizon. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at organizations including Kroll, CBS and Paramount, building and scaling cybersecurity programs across a range of industries and operating environments.
“Ali has spent his career helping organizations understand, anticipate, and manage risk in rapidly changing environments,” said John Watters, chairman and CEO of iCOUNTER. “He brings the rare combination of operational experience, strategic leadership, and deep technical expertise that organizations need as cyber threats continue to evolve.”
At iCOUNTER, Waezzadah will oversee the company’s security strategy and governance initiatives while supporting ongoing product innovation and business growth. His responsibilities will also include working with customers, partners and industry stakeholders on threat-informed defense strategies and risk management practices.
The hire reflects broader changes taking place across the cybersecurity industry as organizations contend with expanding attack surfaces, growing third-party dependencies and increasingly complex threat actors. Security teams are placing greater emphasis on intelligence-driven operations that can identify potential adversaries and emerging risks earlier in the attack lifecycle.
“The security industry is entering a period where decision speed, risk intelligence, and operational execution matter more than ever,” Waezzadah said. “iCOUNTER is building something fundamentally different: a company focused on helping organizations understand adversaries before attacks occur.”
In addition to his corporate leadership experience, Waezzadah serves as an advisor to emerging cybersecurity technology companies, helping founders and development teams build tools and services aimed at addressing modern cyber risks.
Watters said Waezzadah’s experience as both a security practitioner and executive advisor will help strengthen the company’s efforts as it continues to expand its platform and market presence.
“Ali understands both sides of the cybersecurity equation: what defenders need and how security organizations must evolve to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated adversaries,” Watters said.
iCOUNTER is focused on helping enterprises manage risk across their extended digital ecosystems through its Counter Threat Operating System (CTOS). The platform combines third-party risk intelligence, continuous monitoring, third-party detection and response, and counter threat operations capabilities to help organizations identify potential threats, assess risk and coordinate remediation efforts across vendors, suppliers, partners and connected systems.