ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Lainhart has joined Grant Thornton LLP’s Cyber Risk Advisory practice, within Advisory Services, as a senior strategist. Based in the firm’s Alexandria office, he is responsible for leading the development of Grant Thornton Public Sector’s cybersecurity offering.
Lainhart has extensive experience in cybersecurity. Before retiring in 2016, he was IBM Global Business Services’ U.S. Public Sector Cybersecurity & Privacy leader. During his 14-year tenure at IBM, Lainhart led IBM’s cybersecurity and privacy area, building it from a team of 15 to 250 professionals. Among the major clients supported by his team were the Department of Defense, National Security Agency and Social Security Administration, and Lainhart led engagements at Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Lainhart’s background also includes 30 years in federal service predating his corporate career. He served as group director for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and as a member of the federal government’s senior executive service in the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation before his November 1993 appointment as the first Inspector General for the House of Representatives. He was reappointed for the 104th through 106th Congresses.
“Cybersecurity is consistently ranked as the top management challenge across government agencies,” said Carlos Otal, national managing partner of Grant Thornton Public Sector. “The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving with new threats and vulnerabilities emerging almost as quickly as security professionals can keep pace. It’s essential for agencies to invest in cyber defense and preparedness, and John’s qualifications will be a tremendous asset as we sharpen our cybersecurity capabilities for clients at all levels of government.”
“At Grant Thornton, we’re focused on helping our clients create, protect and transform value across their businesses,” said Vishal Chawla, national managing principal for the firm’s Cyber Risk Advisory Services practice. “John will help us do exactly that; his vast experience in the federal and commercial spaces will bolster our cybersecurity offerings and broaden our overall advisory mix.”
Lainhart is a former international president of ISACA and remains active with the organization as an adviser to its board of directors, and previously served on the Assurance Services Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Lainhart was instrumental in the development of AICPA’s Trust Services, a set of professional assurance services based on a common framework designed to address the risks and opportunities associated with information technology, and the SSAE 16 auditing standard. He is former co-chair of the COBIT 5 Task Force and is currently developing ISACA’s business plan for COBIT as a service.
Lainhart received a master’s degree in management and supervision from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Davis and Elkins College. He is a retired captain in the U.S. Navy and serves on the board of directors of George Washington University’s Center for Cyber and Homeland Security and the CyberMaryland Advisory Board.
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