Demonstrated Impact
What the leader has delivered for the organization and the business.
Recognition · United States & Canada
Who are the leaders defining what the CISO role becomes next?
The 2027 C100 Awards will recognize 100 CISOs who are distinguishing themselves not simply through what they have accomplished, but through how they are leading at a moment of profound change.

The 2027 C100
Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, global tensions and rapid business transformation are reshaping the enterprise and fundamentally changing expectations for cybersecurity leadership. The change is structural, not cyclical.
As businesses adapt, CISOs are increasingly expected to interpret emerging patterns, understand the business implications of new technologies and help their organizations make decisions that support resilience, innovation and long-term strategy.
Who are the leaders defining what the role becomes next?
“The CISO who succeeds in this next era cannot simply be an exceptional security practitioner. The leaders who are standing out understand the business, anticipate what is coming and know how to enable transformation without losing sight of risk. AI and quantum are accelerating that shift, but they are part of something much larger. The C100 is about recognizing the CISOs who are helping define what leadership looks like as the role itself evolves.”
Aimee Rhodes, CEO, CISOs Connect™
CISO peers selecting CISO peers
Honorees are selected by an independent Board of Judges made up of accomplished CISOs who understand firsthand the complexity, accountability and rapidly changing expectations of the role.
Mohit ChananaGlobal CISO, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Ryan FieldCISO, Bank of Hawaii
John GiftSVP & Global CISO, PepsiCo
Vaughn HazenCISO, Canadian National Railway
Kelly HayduCISO
Yaron LeviCISO, Dolby Laboratories
Margarita RiveraGlobal CISO, Carnival Corporation
Michael ZachmanVP & CSO, Zebra TechnologiesThe judges will look beyond titles and traditional measures of success to consider how nominees are leading their organizations, influencing the business, navigating disruption and helping redefine the role of the CISO.
In their words

“We are at an inflection point for the CISO role. AI and other emerging technologies are accelerating both opportunity and risk, while boards and executive teams are looking to CISOs for judgment on issues that extend well beyond traditional security. The leaders recognized by the C100 should represent where the profession is going, not simply where it has been.”
David Cass, President, CISOs Connect™ and Chief Risk Officer, Grayscale Investments

“The CISO can no longer operate as a security leader who sits apart from the business. We have to understand where the organization is going, enable it to move forward securely and bring a perspective to the table that connects technology, risk and business strategy. The C100 is an opportunity for CISOs to recognize the peers who are demonstrating that kind of leadership.”
Margarita Rivera, Global CISO, Carnival Corporation

“The pace of change is requiring CISOs to look beyond the risks directly in front of us and think much more broadly about what could affect the business next. The leaders who will distinguish themselves are those who can bring that forward-looking perspective into the decisions their organizations are making today.”
Ryan Field, CISO, Bank of Hawaii
Recognizing leadership and impact
The C100 Awards recognize sitting CISOs whose leadership extends beyond title or tenure.
What the leader has delivered for the organization and the business.
How they lead their teams, their peers and their organization through change.
How they enable transformation without losing sight of risk.
The perspective they bring to boards, executive teams and the business.
Their ability to navigate the changing expectations of the CISO role.
There is no fee to nominate, no fee to participate and no financial obligation associated with being selected.
Candidates may be nominated by peers, colleagues or members of the cybersecurity community, and CISOs may also nominate themselves.
Honorees announced
The 2027 C100 honorees will be announced as the cybersecurity community looks ahead to 2027 and the forces that will continue to reshape the CISO role.
Supported by Black Kite
Black Kite will support the C100 Awards for the sixth consecutive year, continuing a partnership that began with the program’s launch.
“As the CISO role continues to evolve, the leaders who will have the greatest impact are those who can anticipate what is coming and help their organizations navigate it. We are proud to support the C100 and help recognize the CISOs who are shaping what leadership in this profession looks like next.”
Paul Paget, CEO, Black Kite
The archive
Every C100 honoree since 2022. Search by name or company, or filter by year.
Now in Asia Pacific
The C100 model, peer-judged and merit-based, comes to Asia Pacific. Nominations open Nov. 4, 2026.
Questions
Questions about eligibility, nomination, or judging reach the recognition team directly.
We believe exceptional communities are built through exceptional members. Our goal isn’t to create barriers to joining — it’s to ensure every member shares a commitment to collaboration, professionalism, and helping fellow cybersecurity leaders succeed. The application is intentionally brief: a CISOs Connect™ member of the curation team follows up.