Israeli Cybersecurity Expert Assaf Keren Named Meta's New Chief Information Security Officer

Israeli tech veteran Assaf Keren has been appointed as Meta's Chief Information Security Officer, becoming the company's highest-ranking Israeli executive. The announcement came on Wednesday, with Keren set to replace Guy Rosen, who retired last month after 13 years at Meta. Keren, originally from Ramat Gan, brings around 25 years of cybersecurity experience, starting from his military service. Early in his career, he managed cybersecurity for Israel's government project Tehila and founded cybersecurity startups CyberVision and SenseCy, with CyberVision later acquired by Verint.

Between 2015 and 2024, Keren held senior roles at PayPal, including Vice President of Cybersecurity for organizations and Chief Information Security Officer. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer at software company Qualtrics. Additionally, he sits on the boards of various companies and public bodies and is a member of the Wall Street Journal's technology council. Keren will assume his new role at Meta in the coming months after a transition period with Rosen's team.

In a LinkedIn post, Keren emphasized the critical nature of trust in cybersecurity, stating, "Trust is not a feature but a fundamental principle." He highlighted the challenges of developing AI technology responsibly at scale, noting that few places in the world face more complex or impactful challenges than Meta. His appointment underscores Meta's focus on advancing frontier technology while building a robust trust infrastructure to support billions of users worldwide.