HITRUST announces strategic organisational changes in the form of new leadership appointments

HITRUST®, a data protection standards development and certification organisation, announces strategic organisational changes in the form of new leadership appointments as well as new and expanded responsibilities for existing executive management.

The changes are aligned with HITRUST’s global expansion and innovative new services aimed at helping organisations implement best-in-class risk management and compliance programs as simply and efficiently as possible. All changes are effective immediately.

Regulatory compliance guidance

Additions to the HITRUST leadership team: Nikole Davenport joins HITRUST as the Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President of Privacy Programs to fill a critical role responsible for building and strengthening HITRUST privacy initiatives, including the launch of a new HITRUST CSF Privacy Certification program. Davenport has more than 20 years’ experience providing clients and companies with risk-based, regulatory compliance guidance as both an attorney and a consultant. She joins HITRUST most recently from Deloitte.

Bennekers spent 15 years with Ernst & Young LLP in various positions of increased responsibility

Vincent Bennekers joins HITRUST as Vice President of Quality, overseeing the integrity of the HITRUST CSF Assurance Program which provides centralised reporting and oversight for all HITRUST CSF assessments and reports. He will be responsible for championing continued improvements to the integrity, transparency, and ultimately the reliability of HITRUST reporting. Prior to joining, Bennekers spent 15 years with Ernst & Young LLP in various positions of increased responsibility.

Exceeding customer needs

Changes to existing leadership: Jeremy Huval will move from his previous role as HITRUST’s Chief Compliance Officer to the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer. He will be responsible for developing and implementing HITRUST’s innovation strategy; ensuring HITRUST’s innovation provides value to customers, assessors, and relying parties; and overseeing the rollout of innovative products and capabilities in support of HITRUST’s Standards Development Organisation and HITRUST CSF Assurance Program.

Steve Baram has been promoted from his current role as HITRUST’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Communications to Executive Vice President of Customer Engagement and Operations. In his expanded role, Baram is responsible for the Company’s financial performance, corporate operations, and ensuring that HITRUST programs continue to evolve to consistently meet or exceed customer needs.

HITRUST founder and CEO, Daniel Nutkis, stated: “These organisational updates are key components for continued growth of the Company and are foundational to our commitment to the HITRUST community. With the right pieces in place, we will bring a renewed focus to expansion, strategy, and most importantly, the customers we help each day with their risk management and compliance programs.”