Hannah Birch named CEO of London-based Kocho

Hannah Birch has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Kocho, succeeding Des Lekerman who will continue with the company as a strategic advisor.

Kocho is known for its expertise in cybersecurity, identity management, and digital transformation. The company is headquartered in London, with additional offices in Cardiff and Cape Town.

Richard Pugh, a member of Kocho's Board and an Investor Director at BGF, expressed enthusiasm regarding the appointment: "We're delighted to welcome Hannah Birch as Kocho's new CEO. Under Des Lekerman's impressive leadership, Kocho has become a UK leader in Identity and Cyber Security and a significant Microsoft partner. Des has driven consistent growth and successfully led four acquisitions, cementing Kocho's position as an industry leader. As we enter our next phase of growth, Hannah's expertise will propel Kocho to new heights. We look forward to continuing Kocho's success story under her leadership."

Kocho was founded in 2002 and has since established itself as a trusted partner for organisations dealing with cybersecurity complexities. The transition in leadership is seen as a significant moment for the company as it aims to explore new avenues and secure its position in the market.

On his departure from the CEO role, Des Lekerman remarked, "Hannah's leadership expertise, industry insight, and entrepreneurial vision make her the ideal choice to lead Kocho into its next chapter. Her extensive experience in managing and integrating acquisitions, coupled with her strong background in digital transformation and managed services offer the perfect ingredients to drive the company through the next phase of growth."

Hannah Birch brings with her a vast amount of experience and leadership skills from the technology sector. Before joining Kocho, she held senior positions at several organisations. Her career spans roles such as Group Managing Director at Node4, where she oversaw the integration of four acquisitions and spurred innovation. At Ensono, she achieved revenue growth and managed cross-border integrations. As Managing Director at Accenture, she led global client technology transformations, and at Fujitsu and Computacenter, she created business units following new industry technology trends.

Birch shared her outlook for Kocho's future, stating: "It's a privilege to succeed Des and build on the strong foundation he's established. Kocho is at the forefront of cybersecurity and digital transformation, and I'm excited to work with such a talented team. Together, we'll continue delivering innovative solutions that address our clients' challenges in areas like threat protection, identity management, and secure cloud infrastructures."

The appointment of Hannah Birch as CEO underlines Kocho's resolve to foster growth and reinforce its standing as a prominent entity in the technology domain.