Summary:
- Douglas Merrill has been appointed as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Equinix, reporting to Harmeen Mehta.
- Merrill will oversee cybersecurity risk management, global information security operations, and the development of security platforms.
- With over 30 years of experience in technology and security, Merrill aims to enhance Equinix’s security posture and drive innovation.
Rewritten Article:
Douglas Merrill Joins Equinix as Chief Information Security Officer
Equinix, a global leader in data center and interconnection services, has announced the appointment of Douglas Merrill as its new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), effective immediately. In his new role, Merrill will report directly to Harmeen Mehta, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Equinix.
As the head of Equinix’s global security organization, Merrill will be responsible for overseeing cybersecurity risk management, global information security operations, and the development of fundamental security platforms, services, procedures, and controls. With a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years, Merrill brings a deep understanding of technology and security, having helped numerous businesses modernize and transform their technology infrastructure to drive growth.
"Security is a top priority for us at Equinix, and protecting our company and customers is a key responsibility for our Digital & Innovation Organization," stated Harmeen Mehta. "We are committed to integrating top-notch security into the design of our platforms and products to lower risk, enhance product quality, and boost consumer confidence. We are delighted to welcome Douglas on board to help us navigate this critical time."
Prior to his appointment as CISO, Merrill served as the interim CISO at Equinix, where he led the reorganization of the global security team and implemented a strategic framework to ensure security is integrated across platforms, products, and services. He also focused on improving cross-functional collaboration among the operations, product, and engineering teams.
"Merrill expressed his excitement about joining Equinix at such a pivotal moment, stating, "Equinix plays a vital role in the world’s digital infrastructure, and I am honored to be a part of it. I look forward to continuing to build a security-first culture that drives innovation and strengthens the trust our customers place in us."
Merrill’s impressive background includes working closely with clients as a partner at McKinsey, where he delivered tech-enabled transformations focusing on IT infrastructure, architecture, data, operations, and overall technology strategy. He also served as Google’s Chief Information Officer, contributing to the company’s technological strategy, and has founded other technology firms, spearheading innovative cloud security, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation initiatives.
A graduate of Princeton University with a master’s and doctorate in cognitive science, Merrill holds patents for machine learning applications and is a published author. His appointment as CISO at Equinix signals a new chapter in the company’s commitment to security excellence and innovation in the digital infrastructure space.