Endor Labs appoints cybersecurity veteran Karl Mattson as CISO

Endor Labs has appointed cybersecurity industry veteran Karl Mattson as its first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Mattson's extensive experience spans 25 years, including leadership roles in both cybersecurity and broader technology strategy in various industries.

Mattson was previously the CISO at Noname Security, a firm specialising in application programming interface (API) and application security that was recently acquired by Akamai. His career also includes pivotal roles in the financial services sector, where he served as CISO for both City National Bank and PennyMac Financial Services. Additionally, he has contributed to industry advocacy efforts, participating as a member of the FS-ISAC Mortgage Risk Council, President of the LA Cyber Lab, and Financial Services Sector Chief for InfraGard—a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Mattson holds Masters degrees from Boston University and Auburn University. He is also a graduate of the FBI CISO Academy and has been on the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Minnesota for over a decade.

Endor Labs, which focuses on securing the software supply chain by identifying and addressing hidden dangers within open-source software dependencies and the software development lifecycle, emphasised the importance of Mattson's new role. "The role of CISO is always critical, but it takes on even greater importance at a security-focused venture like ours," remarked Varun Badhwar, co-founder and CEO of Endor Labs. "Besides keeping our own systems safe, Karl in many ways represents the voice of our largest customers and will help us better serve them."

Upon his appointment, Mattson commented, "I've always been drawn to companies that are truly able to look ahead even as they deal with the problems of the present. Endor Labs does that by creating secure software capabilities that actually make developers more productive—a huge boon to the entire community. The company also has a visionary management team with a sterling track record, a talented and diverse staff, financial stability and a unique approach to solving a critical challenge. I'm very excited to join Endor Labs, and I look forward to a long future with this great company."

Endor Labs aims to leverage Mattson's expertise to strengthen their security measures and enhance their service offerings. His extensive background in both the financial services sector and cybersecurity advocacy positions him as a valuable addition to the company's leadership team.