Manifest Taps Veteran CRO to Scale AI Security Amid Regulatory Push

WASHINGTON, DC – February 18, 2026 – In a move signaling a major growth offensive, AI and software supply chain security leader Manifest has appointed cybersecurity veteran Greg Armor as its new Chief Revenue Officer. The strategic hire is poised to scale the company's global go-to-market operations as organizations worldwide grapple with escalating cyber threats and a wave of new regulatory pressures demanding unprecedented transparency.

Armor, who brings 25 years of industry experience, will spearhead Manifest's global sales, partnerships, and customer expansion. The appointment comes as the company, fresh off a $15 million Series A funding round in 2025 and having tripled its annual recurring revenue, aims to solidify its leadership in a market that has shifted from a niche technical concern to a board-level imperative.

A Market on High Alert

The urgency for robust supply chain security has never been greater. Recent industry data reveals a staggering 1,300% increase in software supply chain attacks over the past three years, with 62% of enterprises reporting they have already been targeted. This volatile landscape is compounded by the rapid, often opaque, integration of artificial intelligence and third-party code into critical systems across defense, healthcare, automotive, and financial services.

Governments are responding with a regulatory tsunami. In the United States, Executive Order 14028 and forthcoming Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) changes mandate the use of Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) for federal contractors. The Department of Defense has its own directives, while the FDA's cybersecurity guidance, set for a June 2025 deadline, requires similar transparency for medical devices. Furthermore, a Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rule will soon prohibit connected vehicles with software components from China or Russia, extending scrutiny to open-source code and AI models.

"Software and AI supply chain risk has moved from a technical issue to a board-level priority," said Daniel Bardenstein, CEO of Manifest, in a statement. This sentiment reflects a market-wide realization that simply trusting software is no longer a viable strategy. Companies now need to verify the integrity of every component, from source code to the AI models they build and buy.

The New Playbook for Revenue and Trust

Greg Armor's appointment is central to Manifest's strategy to meet this surging demand. His mission is to translate complex security needs into scalable revenue and tangible customer outcomes. With a proven track record of transforming go-to-market strategies, most recently as CRO at Sycurio, Armor is tasked with maturing Manifest's commercial engine.

His focus, as outlined by the company, is to move customers beyond simple, point-in-time vulnerability scans. Instead, the goal is to drive "continuous operational adoption," embedding security and transparency into the entire software development and procurement lifecycle. This approach aligns with Armor's own stated philosophy.

"Customers don't just need visibility, they need operational outcomes that translate into reduced risk and measurable business value," Armor stated. "My focus is on aligning teams and execution around helping customers operationalize their strategies at scale, strengthening long-term partnerships and enabling organizations to trust the software and AI they buy and build."

This operational focus is what Manifest's leadership believes is necessary for the next stage of growth. Marc Frankel, a Manifest Board Member, noted Armor's disciplined approach. "Greg understands what it takes to build and scale a revenue engine... He knows how to align sales, product, and customer outcomes without adding noise. As Manifest continues to grow, we need that kind of discipline and clarity."

Beyond Code: Securing the AI Frontier

While SBOMs for traditional software have become a cornerstone of the security conversation, Manifest is pushing the boundary further by pioneering security for artificial intelligence. As enterprises rush to adopt generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), they are often flying blind, with little insight into the models' training data, origins, or potential for embedded vulnerabilities and bias.

Manifest is addressing this critical gap with its work on AI Bills of Materials (AIBOMs), a concept designed to provide the same level of transparency for AI systems as SBOMs do for software. This is particularly vital for national security and regulated industries. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) now includes provisions demanding AI transparency for the Department of Defense, while CISA's new AI SBOM Tiger Team is actively defining governance standards.

With clients like the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Homeland Security, Manifest is already safeguarding over $100 billion in defense software procurement. The company's platform provides end-to-end visibility that helps these organizations detect and manage hidden risks in both their software and AI supply chains, ensuring they can adopt cutting-edge technology with confidence.

Building an Ecosystem of Security

Manifest's strategy extends beyond its own platform, focusing on building a broad ecosystem to provide comprehensive security coverage. A recent strategic partnership with NetRise, a firmware security company, exemplifies this approach. The integration allows Manifest customers to gain visibility into the software embedded within hardware devices, a notorious blind spot for many organizations. This is especially crucial for healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive sectors reliant on IoT and other connected devices.

Further cementing its industry leadership, Manifest is a supporting partner of the Automotive Security Research Group (ASRG), where it contributes to developing public services for verifiable SBOMs and AIBOMs to secure next-generation vehicles. The company's credibility is also bolstered by its advisory board, which includes Allan Friedman, the former CISA strategist widely regarded as the "godfather of SBOMs."

By bringing in a seasoned revenue leader like Greg Armor, Manifest is not just preparing for growth; it is positioning itself as an essential partner for any organization navigating the complex and high-stakes world of modern software and AI development. The move underscores a clear commitment to helping its customers move from a reactive security posture to one of proactive, continuous trust and verification.