M. Stanley Whittingham
2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry | Knight Bachelor, King Charles III | Founding Father of the Lithium-Ion Battery | Distinguished Professor, Binghamton University
Thom Langford
CTO EMEA at Rapid7 | Former CISO, Publicis Groupe & Velonetic | Founder, (TL)2 Security & Host Unknown | Award-Winning Security Blogger
Thom Langford has spent over two decades navigating cybersecurity risk at the highest levels — from building global security programs as CISO at Publicis Groupe and Velonetic to his current role as CTO EMEA at Rapid7. Founder of (TL)2 Security and the Host Unknown cybersecurity collective, he makes complex topics engaging and actionable. His keynotes equip executives with strategies for risk governance, resilience, and modern threat defense.
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Thom Langford biography
Cybersecurity speaker Thom Langford is one of the most distinctive voices in information security today — a seasoned executive who combines deep technical expertise with an engaging, storytelling-driven approach that makes complex security topics accessible and memorable. He currently serves as CTO EMEA at Rapid7, a leading cybersecurity company, where he helps organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa unify cloud risk management with threat detection.
Langford built his reputation through senior CISO roles at major multinational organizations, including Publicis Groupe and Velonetic, where he oversaw information security risk, compliance, and business continuity at global scale. He also served as Director of European Cybersecurity at DXC Technology. With over two decades of hands-on experience building security programs from the ground up, he brings a forward-thinking and opinionated perspective on risk that is both pragmatic and refreshingly candid.
Bridging Cybersecurity and Business Strategy
Beyond his corporate career, Langford founded (TL)2 Security, a strategic information security consultancy focused on Virtual CISO services, business alignment, and public speaking advocacy. He is also the creator of Host Unknown, a widely followed collective that produces cybersecurity education and entertainment content, blending humor with substantive industry insight. An award-winning security blogger — recognized with Best Personal Security Blog at the European Security Bloggers Awards — speaker Thom Langford regularly contributes to industry publications and appears at major global events including RSA, TEISS, and Infosecurity Europe.
As a speaker, Thom Langford delivers keynotes that cut through the jargon and speak directly to what executives and security leaders need to hear. Whether unpacking the real-world implications of AI-driven threats, rethinking risk governance for the boardroom, or challenging comfortable assumptions about organizational security posture, he leaves audiences with actionable insight delivered through wit and hard-won experience. Senior leaders consistently value his ability to make cybersecurity strategy feel relevant, urgent, and achievable.
Thom Langford Speaking Videos
Thom Langford - Flushing Away Preconceptions of Risk
Thom Langford - “TAKEN”: with a vengeance
Thom Langford Keynote Topics
Cybersecurity failures rarely start with missing tools — they start with dangerous assumptions. In this engaging keynote, Langford unpacks the most common strategic blind spots that undermine security programs, from over-trusting identity systems and assuming cloud apps are secure by default to neglecting continuous validation and underestimating insider threats. Drawing on real-world attack patterns and incident response experience, this session gives security leaders a practical lens to identify and address the hidden weaknesses in their defenses before attackers do.
Risk is often seen as a dirty word in business — something to be eliminated rather than understood and leveraged. In this thought-provoking session, Langford challenges conventional approaches to risk assessment and management, exploring why most organizations measure risk poorly and what practical steps leaders can take to build a risk-aware culture that supports business goals rather than blocking them. Using his signature storytelling style and real-world examples, he demystifies risk for executive and technical audiences alike.
Security leaders have finally earned their seat at the executive table — but many are still presenting the same traffic-light dashboards and audit frameworks they used a decade ago. Langford draws on his own experience as a CISO at major multinational organizations to explore how security leaders can frame cybersecurity as a business enabler rather than a cost center. This session covers how to translate security exposure into financial terms, build board-level confidence through tabletop exercises, and position the CISO as a strategic partner in organizational growth.
Modern attackers are no longer satisfied with initial compromise — ransomware, destructive tooling, and backup sabotage now target an organization's ability to recover. In this practical keynote, Langford explores how boards, regulators, and customers now judge organizations by how fast they detect, contain, and restore operations rather than whether they were breached. He offers a resilience-first framework that covers identity security, third-party risk management, crisis testing, and the cultural shift required to make cyber resilience a core business function.
FAQs on Booking Thom Langford
Why Thom Langford?
Booking Thom Langford for your event means bringing one of the most engaging and experienced voices in cybersecurity to your stage. With a career spanning CISO roles at Publicis Groupe and Velonetic, Director of European Cybersecurity at DXC Technology, and his current position as CTO EMEA at Rapid7, Langford brings over two decades of hands-on security leadership at global organizations. He is known throughout the industry for his distinctive ability to translate complex cybersecurity topics into compelling, accessible narratives that resonate with executive and technical audiences alike. As founder of Host Unknown, an award-winning security blogger, and a regular speaker at major global events including RSA and TEISS, he combines deep expertise with wit and authenticity. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Thom Langford.
What is Thom Langford's role at Rapid7?
Thom Langford serves as Chief Technology Officer for the EMEA region at Rapid7, a leading cybersecurity company specializing in extended risk and threat detection. In this role, he leverages his extensive background as a former CISO and his expertise in information security, compliance, and risk management to guide Rapid7's customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa through their security challenges. He helps organizations unify cloud risk management with threat detection to reduce their attack surfaces and eliminate threats with speed and precision.
What is Host Unknown?
Host Unknown is a cybersecurity education and entertainment collective founded by Thom Langford. The group brings together information security professionals to produce films, podcasts, and other media content that makes security education engaging and accessible. Known for its signature blend of humor and substantive industry insight, Host Unknown has become a well-known fixture in the infosec community and demonstrates Langford's commitment to making cybersecurity knowledge widely available beyond traditional conference audiences.
What topics does cybersecurity speaker Thom Langford cover?
Thom Langford delivers keynotes on the cybersecurity challenges that matter most to today's business leaders. His core topics include risk governance and board-level cyber strategy, organizational resilience and crisis preparedness, AI-driven threats and evolving attack methodologies, the cybersecurity skills gap and talent development, identity security and cloud risk management, and the evolving role of the CISO in the boardroom. His presentations are known for their storytelling approach, practical frameworks, and engaging delivery. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau for availability and booking.
How to book Thom Langford as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Thom Langford as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Thom Langford's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Thom Langford or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Thom Langford speaking fee?
Thom Langford speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Thom Langford to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Thom Langford.
How can I contact Thom Langford?
We only work with Thom Langford on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Thom Langford and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Thom Langford speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Thom Langford for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Thom Langford for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Thom Langford is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Thom Langford for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
