Title: 1) President; 2) Counselor to the Chief Executive Officer; 3) Limited Partner; 4) Limited Partner; 5) Limited Partner
Company: 1) The Petrie Group Inc.; 2) NTT DATA Inc.; 3) LEAD Cyber Interest Group; 4) RNP Capital Advisors; 4) Grossman Venture
Location: New Braunfels, Texas, United States
John F. Petrie III, President at The Petrie Group Inc., has been recognized by Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Information Technology and Cybersecurity.
Mr. Petrie’s distinguished career spans more than four decades and is marked by a rare depth of expertise in strategic security, cybersecurity, information security, business executive leadership and executive management. He currently serves as the president of The Petrie Group Inc., a strategic technology and cybersecurity consulting firm he founded in 2014. Since July 2025, following a period of semi-retirement, he has managed a small staff and supported approximately six client contracts while dedicating significant time to mentoring and light teaching.
In addition to leading his firm, Mr. Petrie continues to support NTT DATA Inc. as a counselor to the chief executive officer of NTT Security Holdings under contract, where he develops strategic plans, provides high-level guidance to leadership and serves on the executive committee with a focus on cybersecurity matters. Notably, the firm specializes in practical and scalable information technology solutions that help organizations accelerate their digital journeys.
Mr. Petrie’s tenure at NTT DATA Inc. began in December 2015 and extended through 2025, during which he held several senior roles, including global chief information security officer for NTT Security and chief executive officer of NTT Security Americas. He ultimately advanced to senior vice president within the Japanese holding company, overseeing cybersecurity initiatives and budgetary responsibilities for a global enterprise valued at approximately $110 billion.
Mr. Petrie has also served as a limited partner with LEAD Cyber Interest Group, RNP Capital Advisors and Grossman Ventures since 2025, reflecting his active role as an investor in emerging cyber companies. Additionally, he holds advisory board memberships with Morphisec since 2017, NightDragon since 2023 and ISTARI Global Ltd. since 2023, and has been a chief information security officer advisory board member at Team8 since 2022. Mr. Petrie served on various boards previously, including on the board of advisors for the Cyber Threat Alliance from 2019 to 2023.
Before his work with NTT DATA Inc., Mr. Petrie spent two years as an executive consultant at IBM from 2014 to 2016, advising boards of directors across multiple industry sectors. Earlier in his career, he dedicated a decade to Harland Clarke Holdings Corp. (now Vericast), where he progressed through several positions from executive director and chief information security officer between 2004 and 2008 to vice president and chief information security officer from 2010 to 2012, culminating as a senior vice president and chief information security strategist until 2014. Mr. Petrie’s work there centered on developing robust security strategies for financial services clients.
Before joining Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., Mr. Petrie held key roles at various technology companies, including Sprint Paranet (now T-Mobile USA Inc.) as a services delivery manager, Netigy Corporation (now Acuative) as a consulting services manager and senior principal consultant, Trendec as a general manager and director of security, CACI International Inc. as a senior systems engineer, and Lucent Technologies (now Nokia) as a systems security analyst, dating back to 1996.
Mr. Petrie’s entry into the field was shaped by his earlier military service as an intelligence chief in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 until his retirement in 1996. His assignments included special operations work and extensive exposure to computers, mainframes, space and satellite technology, as well as communications, experiences that provided a rigorous technical foundation for his later transition into civilian corporate roles focused on strategic security and cybersecurity.
Highly educated, Mr. Petrie’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in international studies from State University of New York since 1995 and a Master of Business Administration from City University of Seattle since 2004. These degrees have supported his ability to lead complex organizations across international boundaries while navigating both technical challenges and cultural differences.
Mr. Petrie’s professional affiliations are extensive. Since 2000, his principal volunteer focus has been with the Information Security Systems Association (ISSA). He has served as the president of its Texas chapter, held various other board positions and is a past president while sitting on the local board. Mr. Petrie was also recently appointed as a Distinguished Fellow of ISSA International, effective September 2026.
An accomplished author, Mr. Petrie’s works include “From Private to CEO (And Some Stuff In Between)” published by Cumulus Publishing in 2019. It serves as a guide addressing leadership development for professionals seeking advancement. Earlier, Mr. Petrie also received co-authorship credits on “Basic Unix System Administration” and “Introduction to ASIM/OLS,” both published by Lucent Technologies in 1997.
Mr. Petrie has received numerous honors, including Recognition Awards from IBM, NTT DATA Inc. and Harland Clarke Holdings Corporation. He was also named a Runner-Up for Cybersecurity Executive of the Year in 2007 and, among others, was named among the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Analytics by Thinkers360 in 2025. For his military contributions, Mr. Petrie has been decorated with multiple military service awards from the U.S. Marine Corps.
A central theme throughout Mr. Petrie’s career has been his commitment to building cohesive teams based on culture and individual capabilities, a skill that has offset challenges within organizations while driving success across diverse environments. He is especially proud of his efforts mentoring younger professionals entering the field and is a strong advocate for women in technology. As the father of three daughters, Mr. Petrie recognizes the underrepresentation of women in cybersecurity leadership roles and actively works to open doors for women advancing into executive positions through mentorship and board service.
Mr. Petrie credits his wife and three daughters as instrumental in all aspects of his success, as well as the international experience gained through living abroad, notably in Japan, which led directly to opportunities at NTT DATA Inc. Moreover, he notes his ability to unite diverse personalities into high-performing teams by recognizing each individual’s unique strengths.
Looking ahead, Mr. Petrie’s primary initiative centers on quantum computing’s evolving landscape, particularly its intersection with artificial intelligence, where he aims to address new security challenges posed by advances in transmission speed, communications infrastructure and photonics within quantum networks. He remains committed to mentoring future leaders in cybersecurity while continuing board service activities and expanding investment interests within venture capital funds focused on cyber innovation. For those aspiring to enter or advance within information technology or cybersecurity fields, Mr. Petrie encourages openness to opportunity coupled with proactive mentorship, believing that supporting new talent is essential for industry progress.
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