Coalfire Taps Google Cloud Veteran Brad Little as CEO to Spearhead AI Push

CHICAGO, IL – January 06, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling a major push into artificial intelligence and cloud modernization, cybersecurity firm Coalfire today announced the appointment of Brad Little as its new chief executive officer. Little, a seasoned executive from Google Cloud and Capgemini, steps in to guide the Apax Partners-backed company as it aims to scale its leadership in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

The leadership transition sees former CEO Tom McAndrew, who led the company for two decades, move into a board and senior advisor role, ensuring continuity while ushering in a new era of strategic focus. Little’s appointment comes at what the company calls "a critical juncture in the cybersecurity and AI market," a clear indication of its intent to capitalize on emerging technological shifts.

A Strategic Pivot Towards AI and Cloud Modernization

Brad Little’s extensive background appears tailor-made for Coalfire’s ambitious new chapter. He joins the firm from Google Cloud, where he served as the global head of professional services. During his tenure, he was instrumental in transforming the division’s services business by deeply integrating AI and agentic capabilities into its core data and security offerings, helping top customers leverage the Google Cloud Platform for business transformation. This experience is directly aligned with Coalfire's goal of accelerating its "AI-led transformation."

The timing of this pivot is crucial. The global AI in Cybersecurity market, valued at over $25 billion in 2024, is projected to quadruple in size to over $100 billion by the end of the decade. This explosive growth is fueled by the escalating frequency of sophisticated cyberattacks and the mass migration of enterprise infrastructure to the cloud. Companies are no longer just defending perimeters; they are battling AI-powered threats and require equally advanced, AI-driven defenses.

In his new role, Little is tasked with harnessing this trend. "The market opportunity for cybersecurity and AI services has never been more exciting, and highly-regulated companies need trusted partners to help them navigate new technologies and revenue opportunities securely and seamlessly," Little stated. "Coalfire is uniquely positioned at the intersection of cybersecurity, cloud modernization and AI-led transformation. I am energized by the opportunity to continue building on the great foundation developed by Tom McAndrew and team to take Coalfire to the next level."

Navigating a Competitive Cybersecurity Landscape

Little takes the helm of a company with a strong foundation but faces a fiercely competitive market. Coalfire has carved out a formidable reputation as the foremost provider of FedRAMP compliance assessments and a leader in penetration testing services in the United States. Under its previous leadership, the company saw remarkable growth, reporting over 30% year-over-year growth in 2021 and expanding its secure cloud managed services business by over 300%.

However, the AI-enhanced cybersecurity space is crowded with both established giants and agile innovators. Companies like Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and Zscaler are rapidly integrating generative AI into their platforms, while cloud security specialists like Wiz have achieved massive valuations by focusing on AI-powered cloud protection. Little's challenge will be to leverage Coalfire's deep expertise in compliance and advisory services while aggressively competing on the technology front.

His past experience suggests he is well-equipped for this challenge. Prior to his role at Google, Little spent over two decades at global consulting giant Capgemini, culminating in his position as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Application Services. In that role, he was responsible for a global workforce of over 58,000 employees and managed a portfolio generating approximately $5 billion in revenue. This track record in scaling massive professional services organizations will be critical as Coalfire seeks to expand its market share and service delivery capabilities.

A Legacy of Growth and a Vision for the Future

The leadership change marks the end of a significant era for Coalfire. Tom McAndrew’s 20-year tenure as CEO saw the company evolve from a niche player into a global cybersecurity powerhouse with over 1,000 employees. His leadership guided the company through strategic acquisitions, including Denim Group and Veris Group, and established its dominance in cloud security and DevSecOps transformation.

"It has been an honor to lead Coalfire over the past 20 years," McAndrew commented. "Brad Little brings a strong record of accomplishment from some of the world's most innovative technology businesses, and I look forward to supporting Coalfire as the company continues its growth trajectory." His continued involvement as a board and senior advisor signals a commitment to a smooth transition that preserves institutional knowledge while embracing a new strategic direction.

This direction is strongly supported by Coalfire’s owner, Apax Partners. The global private equity firm, which acquired Coalfire in early 2020, has a long history of investing in and transforming technology and services companies. Apax's strategy often involves identifying sector leaders and providing the capital and strategic guidance to accelerate growth and innovation. The appointment of a leader with Little’s credentials aligns perfectly with this playbook.

Rohan Haldea, a partner at Apax, reinforced this view. "We are delighted to welcome Brad Little as Coalfire's new CEO. His track record at Google Cloud and Capgemini speaks for itself, and we are confident that Coalfire will continue to thrive under his leadership," Haldea said, also extending thanks to McAndrew for his long-standing dedication.

With a new leader possessing deep expertise in scaling AI and cloud services, Coalfire is positioning itself not just to participate in the next wave of cybersecurity, but to lead it. The firm's ability to blend its established authority in compliance and risk assessment with the innovative, AI-driven strategies championed by its new CEO will be pivotal in defining its future success in a rapidly evolving digital world.