eSentire, the Authority in AI-powered Managed Detection and Response (MDR), has appointed cybersecurity veteran James C. Foster as Chief Executive Officer. Foster succeeds Kerry Bailey, who is retiring after guiding the company through sustained growth. With over 25 years of leadership in AI, cybersecurity, and scaling market-leading organizations, Foster will drive eSentire’s mission to deliver proactive, outcomes-driven protection against sophisticated cyber threats using its AI-powered Atlas XDR Cloud Platform.
The cybersecurity landscape continues to intensify with faster-evolving threats and AI-enhanced attacks. eSentire’s appointment of Foster aligns with the need for experienced leadership to advance AI-driven MDR services, combining autonomous capabilities with elite human expertise to hunt, investigate, and neutralize threats before they disrupt business operations.
James C. Foster is a recognized entrepreneur who founded ZeroFox and led it to become the industry’s leading external cybersecurity platform. Under his guidance, ZeroFox achieved consistent revenue growth, executed strategic acquisitions, and expanded globally to protect thousands of organizations. Earlier, Foster founded Ciphent, which rapidly grew to serve major enterprises before merging into Accuvant (now Optiv), contributing to its path toward $500 million in annual revenue. His background also includes operating partner roles at NightDragon and foundational contributions at Guardent, Foundstone, and IronCircle, alongside national security experience at the Department of Defense.
Foster assumes leadership at a pivotal time for eSentire, which has built a 25-year legacy of protecting critical data and applications for organizations across 35 industries. The company’s Atlas Security Operations Platform integrates multi-agent AI with 24/7 threat hunting and elite security analysts to deliver resilient, scalable protection. Foster’s deep expertise in AI and cybersecurity will support continued innovation, ensuring eSentire remains at the forefront of proactive, intelligence-led security operations.
Outgoing CEO Kerry Bailey expressed strong confidence in Foster’s ability to build on eSentire’s momentum, highlighting the company’s exceptional team, technology, and mission. Board Chairman John Becker and Warburg Pincus Managing Director Lauren Zletz emphasized Foster’s proven record in scaling innovative platforms and navigating complex threat environments, positioning eSentire for accelerated growth and enhanced customer value.
Foster’s appointment reinforces eSentire’s commitment to redefining Managed Detection and Response through advanced AI, human expertise, and measurable security outcomes in an era of rapidly evolving cyber risks.
About eSentire
eSentire is the Authority in AI-powered Managed Detection and Response Services, protecting the critical data and applications of 2,000+ organizations in 80+ countries from known and unknown cyber threats. Founded in 2001, the company’s mission is to hunt, investigate, and stop cyber threats before they become business-disrupting events. Powered by the Atlas Security Operations Platform and a 24/7 Security Operations Center, staffed by elite threat hunters and cyber analysts, eSentire delivers the most resilient, outcomes-driven security protection in the industry.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.