Ottawa: David Vigneault, the former head of Canada’s spy agency, has been appointed as the managing director of global intelligence at U.S. security firm Strider Technologies, the company announced on Wednesday. Vigneault stepped down from his role as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in July after seven years at the helm.
Facing scrutiny over CSIS’s handling of foreign interference issues, Vigneault decided to retire from public service. “Though my time in government is over, the threats persist, and there is more work to be done. So I look forward to continuing the fight in another way,” Vigneault said in a statement.
At Strider, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Vigneault will oversee the company’s global intelligence unit, focusing on engaging with both private and public sector organizations and driving research and development efforts. Strider Technologies specializes in providing software and services designed to protect firms from state-sponsored threats.
During his tenure as CSIS chief, Vigneault led efforts to monitor and counter alleged foreign interference in Canadian affairs by China and other nations. China has consistently denied these allegations. An official investigation revealed in May that there was evidence of foreign interference in Canada’s last two federal elections, though it concluded that the results were not affected.
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Vigneault also represented Canada in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Strider CEO Greg Levesque praised Vigneault’s appointment, stating, “His experience leading at the highest levels of the global intelligence community will be invaluable to both Strider and our customers around the world as we pursue our mission.”
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Strider Technologies has previously enlisted former defense and military officials from the U.S., Britain, and Canada as advisers, including H.R. McMaster, former national security aide to President Donald Trump.