Kroll Cyber Risk Practice Announces New Hires to Fuel Global Expansion

Practice hired 78 experts in 2020, surpassing 350 practitioners worldwide to address increased demand for end-to-end cyber risk management

New York – Kroll, a division of Duff & Phelps, the global leader in risk mitigation, investigations, compliance, cyber resilience, security and incident response solutions, today announced the hiring of three seasoned cyber experts in North America and two incident response investigators in Asia Pacific to fuel the expansion of its cyber risk management capabilities globally. Over the last year, despite the pandemic, Kroll addressed the demand for end-to-end cyber security solutions and grew its global cyber team exponentially with a total of 78 new hires with vast experience across multiple industries. 

Kroll’s recent hires in North America include: John (Jack) Bennett, a managing director in the San Francisco office; Steve Bergman, a managing director in the Washington D.C. office; and John deCraen, an associate managing director in the Dallas office. 

• Bennett joins Kroll after leading the FBI Los Angeles Field Division, the third largest FBI field division, having led a variety of complex investigations throughout his exceptional career. His career accolades span investigative and intelligence support to all Southeast Asia and Oceania Region Legal Attaché offices, deployment of the FBI’s crisis management protocols and capabilities for northern California, policy development for the FBI’s Insider Threat and Damage Assessment programs and responsibility for the Cyber Branch in the San Francisco Division, where he was embedded with EUROPOL’s European Cyber Crime Center. Read more about Bennett’s background.

• Bergman is a recognized technology leader and change agent known for innovative business approaches, responsive cyber strategies and fostering impactful partnerships.  He joins Kroll from RSA, where he led the firm’s Global Services Advisory as they engaged with RSA's largest and most strategic customers in business risk mitigation and cyber security strategies. He is the recipient of the CIO 100 Award for Innovation and Growth for his contribution in leading high-impact teams solving complex enterprise challenges and was previously solicited by the White House to lead the Ready.gov initiative for its high-profile citizen preparedness campaign immediately following the attacks of 9/11. Read more about Bergman’s background.

• deCraen joins Kroll after working with Alvarez & Marsal, where he was the original member of the Forensic Technology Services practice and founding member of Global Cyber Risk Services practice. deCraen brings extensive digital forensics and incident response experience with an emphasis on complex eDiscovery engagements, having worked with several AmLaw100 and Global Fortune 500 firms in cybercrime investigations, bankruptcies, and insider fraud. His significant achievements include representing a U.S. State Secretary of State in an exhaustive cyber security controls examination of that state’s electoral systems. Read more about deCraen’s background.

Jason Smolanoff, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Cyber Risk, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jack, Steve and John at a pivotal time when our clients are facing threats in higher volume and sophistication, demanding experienced leadership to navigate complex regulatory, reputational and financial issues. Their unrivaled expertise elevates the level of guidance we can provide to clients and strengthen our rapidly growing team”.

In addition to these senior hires in North America, Kroll has added several new members in its Cyber Risk practice in other regions.

• Karthik Ramanathan joins as senior vice president to lead and advance Kroll’s digital forensics and incident response team in Australia. 
• Jay Gomez joins as a senior vice president to help grow the firm’s cyber advisory services in Southeast Asia. 
• Mario Ciccarelli and Simone Marinari strengthen Kroll’s incident response and litigation support services in Italy.
• Cristhian Parrot expand the firm’s system assessments and testing solutions in France.

About Kroll, a division of Duff & Phelps
Kroll is the leading global provider of risk solutions. For more than 45 years, Kroll has helped clients make confident risk management decisions about people, assets, operations and security through a wide range of investigations, cyber security, due diligence and compliance, physical and operational security, and data and information management services. For more information, visit www.kroll.com.

Duff & Phelps is the world’s premier provider of governance, risk and transparency solutions. We work with clients across diverse sectors in the areas of valuation, corporate finance, disputes and investigations, cyber security, claims administration and regulatory compliance. With Kroll, the leading global provider of risk solutions, and Prime Clerk, the leader in complex business services and claims administration, our firm has nearly 4,000 professionals in 25 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.duffandphelps.com.