Darren Desmond

Judge
DISC Type : Dc

Director of Information Security / CISO at The AA

Basingstoke, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Darren Desmond is a strategic Chief Information Security Officer at The AA, with over 17 years of experience in cybersecurity and risk management. A former member of the British Armys Royal Military Police and Intelligence Corps, he studied Forensic Computing at Cranfield University and is often described by peers as a thoughtful and approachable leader.

He has a strong interest in mentoring and developing talent within the cybersecurity field, with a particular focus on improving diversity. He frequently speaks at industry events and on podcasts, sharing insights from his extensive career that spans military intelligence, telecommunications, and financial services, making him a recognized thought leader.

Unique fact: His military career included service in the Royal Military Polices Special Investigation Branch and the Intelligence Corps, providing a unique foundation for his corporate security career.

Personality Overview

Demanding

Objective Thinker

Features Driven

They respond well to strong and respectful communication.  They take a lot of pride in personal achievements. They prefer to be the ones controlling the conversation or defining the terms.

Topics They Care About

Military Intelligence
His career began in the British Army's Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch and Intelligence Corps, which informs his approach to corporate cybersecurity.
Cyber Resilience
He emphasizes building resilience not just for recovery, but for proactive risk mitigation, a topic he discussed as a panelist for Evo Cyber Security.
Security as a Business Partner
In interviews, he stresses that security must be delivered *with* the business, not done *to* it, highlighting the need for strong stakeholder relationships.

Media Appearances

The AA's CISO shares cyber‑security insights with The Technology Boardroom. Featured in Advania UK Blog

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#112 – CISO at the AA, Darren Desmond: Covert Ops to Cyber Security. Featured in BEDigital UK Podcast

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From Military Intel to CISO: Navigating Security Leadership in the AA. Featured in YouTube

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Work History

5-2019 - 2-2023
Director of Information Security / CISO at The AA
10-2018
Chief Information Security Officer at The AA
10-2018 - 5-2019
Head Of Information Security at The AA
7-2016 - 10-2018
Associate Director at EY
12-2014 - 6-2016
Operations Director, Cyber Threat Intelligence at Cyjax

Education

2010 - 2010
Forensic Computing from Cranfield University
1980 - 1985
Education details unavailable from Casterton Community College

More Information

Social Presence :

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Exp : 27 Location : Basingstoke, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Leadership Designation : Director of Information Security / CISO at The AA
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Insights For Selling To Darren

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Help them weigh the risks by sharing objective proof points without becoming too analytical
  • Objectively showcase the impact that your product creates
  • Get to the point quickly instead of spending time doing small talk

DONT's

  • Do not spend too much time focusing on product tech or features
  • Don’t focus on process and rules, give the impression of being a ‘gets it done’ person
  • Avoid being a storyteller and don’t try to oversell

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Darren is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Darren

  • If they are not convinced, they will have no hesitation in telling you the same.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Darren move?

  • They can reach decisions fairly quickly if they are convinced.
  • Can Darren take some risk or not?

  • They don’t mind risks but can be quite binary about them.

You And Darren

Personality Compatibility


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