Mindgard, the leading provider of AI security solutions, has named James Brear as Chief Executive Officer, alongside adding offensive security expert Rich Smith to its team and establishing U.S. headquarters in Boston, strengthening its position in the generative AI cybersecurity market projected to reach $35.5 billion by 2031.
Brear’s appointment positions Mindgard to capitalize on surging demand for AI safeguards as organizations deploy agentic systems faster than protections can scale. With expertise scaling Swimlane into the top security automation provider and leading acquisitions at Veriflow (VMware) and Procera (Francisco Partners), Brear will drive global expansion and lifecycle coverage—from development to production. “We’ve assembled the strongest AI security team in the world, with deep roots in cybersecurity AI research and behavioral analysis,” said James Brear, CEO of Mindgard. “The world needs a new foundation for AI security and Mindgard is delivering it. Our solution has been battle-tested in Fortune 500 companies by elite security teams and is expanding to cover the entire AI lifecycle, from development to production. I’m honored to lead the team at this inflection point.”
The Boston HQ will bolster North American operations, hiring across functions to meet enterprise needs in finance, healthcare, and tech.
AI’s dynamic, opaque nature invites novel exploits like prompt injection and agent manipulation, outpacing traditional defenses. Mindgard’s platform discovers shadow AI, automates red teaming, and delivers runtime protection, ensuring compliant, secure operations. Rich Smith’s addition, with his adversarial research at Duo Labs, Etsy, and Crash Override, complements Aaron Portnoy’s expertise, fortifying Mindgard’s approach. “AI systems reflect the people who train them, the data that feeds them, and the behaviors they enable,” said Smith. “Securing AI means thinking like attackers who understand systems, people, and language. I’m excited to contribute to a solution that’s already reshaping how enterprises approach AI risk.”
As AI embeds in supply chains, security leaders prioritize adaptive controls, with 80% of enterprises planning GenAI adoption per 451 Research’s 2025 study. “AI is everywhere yet organizations can’t find it, can’t measure it, and can’t secure it,” said Dr. Peter Garraghan, Chief Science Officer. “AI agents leveraging technologies such as RAG databases and MCP are being built, bought, and deployed into enterprises faster than they can roll out protection or controls. We need a new security foundation before the AI tsunami hits, and I’m excited to work with James to secure the world’s AI.”
Backed by .406 Ventures, IQ Capital, Atlantic Bridge, and Lakestar, Mindgard is poised to lead in this $35.5B market by 2031.
Mindgard, the leading provider of Artificial Intelligence security solutions, helps enterprises secure their AI models, agents, and systems across the entire lifecycle. Mindgard’s solution uncovers shadow AI, conducts automated AI red teaming by emulating adversaries, and delivers runtime protection against attacks like prompt injection and agentic manipulation. Trusted by leading organizations in finance, healthcare, and technology, Mindgard is backed by investors including .406 Ventures, IQ Capital, Atlantic Bridge, and Lakestar.
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