Proofpoint names Levey & Jaspal to leadership team

Proofpoint has appointed Brian Levey as Chief Legal Officer and Puja Jaspal as Chief People Officer, adding two executives to the cybersecurity company's leadership team.

Levey will oversee the global legal organisation, including legal affairs, corporate governance, compliance, ethics and related strategic functions. Jaspal will lead the global people organisation, with responsibility for talent strategy, employee experience, organisational development and total rewards.

The appointments come as Proofpoint expands its operations and adds senior leaders with experience at listed technology groups and large multinational companies. Both executives will work closely with the wider leadership team as the business develops internationally.

Chief Executive Officer Sumit Dhawan said the hires reflect a broader period of change for the business.

"Brian and Puja are exceptional leaders with deep experience helping global technology companies grow through periods of transformation," said Sumit Dhawan, Chief Executive Officer of Proofpoint.

"Their leadership will help propel Proofpoint into its next era of growth-scaling our business, accelerating innovation, and setting the standard for how organizations protect people, data, and AI as the future of work is rewritten."

Levey role

Levey joins from Upwork, where he served as Chief Business Affairs & Chief Legal Officer. There, he oversaw legal, compliance, public policy and information security, and was involved in the company's initial public offering.

Before Upwork, he spent more than 13 years at eBay, where he worked on strategic transactions including the acquisitions of PayPal, Skype, StubHub, Shopping.com and GSI Commerce.

At Proofpoint, he will advise the executive leadership team and board while managing legal and governance matters across the business. His remit also includes risk management and trust-related issues involving customers, employees, partners and shareholders.

Levey said the move continues a theme that has run through his in-house legal career.

"Building trust online has been the through-line of my in-house career, and cybersecurity is where trust gets defended," said Brian Levey, Chief Legal Officer of Proofpoint.

"Joining this leadership team at such a defining moment for the company is a real privilege, and I'm excited to help Proofpoint grow, innovate, and keep earning the confidence customers place in us every day."

People brief

Jaspal most recently served as Chief People Officer at Fastly, where she worked on business transformation and people strategy. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles at Cisco, Visa and Google.

At Proofpoint, she will oversee workforce strategy and organisational development as the company grows across multiple markets. The role also covers employee experience and compensation.

The appointment puts an executive with experience across technology, financial technology and consumer products in charge of the group's people function. Jaspal has spent more than 25 years building organisations and leadership teams.

Jaspal said the company's mission and culture shaped her decision to join.

"Proofpoint's mission, culture, and commitment to innovation make this an incredibly meaningful and dynamic time to join the company," said Puja Jaspal, Chief People Officer of Proofpoint.

"I'm looking forward to helping build an environment where exceptional talent can thrive, grow, and do their best work as we continue to scale and deliver for customers around the world."

Growth context

Proofpoint sells cybersecurity products focused on protecting communications, data and workplace tools used by employees and software agents. It says it works with more than 80 of the Fortune 100, more than 14,000 large enterprises and millions of smaller organisations.

The hires reinforce core corporate functions alongside product and market expansion. They also reflect the operational demands facing technology businesses as they grow across jurisdictions, manage regulation and compete for skilled staff.

Levey's background in board advisory work, compliance and major transactions brings experience often sought by private and public technology groups facing regulatory scrutiny and complex governance requirements. Jaspal's record at Fastly, Cisco, Visa and Google points to a focus on organisational design and workforce planning at scale.

Both executives also bring academic credentials from major US institutions. Levey holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and an A.B. in economics from Stanford University. Jaspal has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Her remit includes helping create an environment where staff can grow as the company serves customers around the world.