CISO appointment
Purvi Kay named Chief Information Security Officer at National Energy System Operator (NESO)
Purvi Kay is the Chief Information Security Officer of National Energy System Operator (NESO). Purvi joins from BAE Systems, where they served as Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme.
Records: National Energy System Operator (NESO) · Purvi Kay · Career profile on CISO Spotlights ↗
| Person | Purvi Kay |
|---|---|
| New role | Chief Information Security Officer |
| Company | National Energy System Operator (NESO) |
| Previous role | Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme, BAE Systems |
| Announced | September 18, 2026 |
| Source | UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape |
Context from the record
- National Energy System Operator (NESO) is filed under Industrial & Energy, Europe, on our record.
- Other security leaders of National Energy System Operator (NESO) on our record: Simon Lambe (Chief Information Security Officer; departure announced on September 18, 2026).
- Before this move, Purvi was Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme at BAE Systems.
Other Industrial & Energy appointments in the third quarter of 2026
- Thomas Dager, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Ruben D. Chacon, Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer, ADM
- Jason Cradit, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, EverLine
What this move signals
The National Energy System Operator appointed Purvi Kay as Chief Information Security Officer. She joins from BAE Systems, where she led cyber and information security for the Future Combat Air System programme, and has said cyber resilience must be designed into the energy system from the outset as the grid digitises.
According to UKAuthority, Purvi Kay has joined the National Energy System Operator (NESO) as chief information security officer. The announcement says she joined after a career in national security and defence. It does not name her previous employers. In a blog, she says the sector was new to her but the challenge was familiar.
Kay argues that cyber resilience must be built into the energy system from the outset. According to Kay, NESO is embedding cyber risk consideration into new technology, services and ways of working from the earliest stages. She points to relationships already built between NESO, government, Ofgem and national security partners.
The article says her appointment comes months after a cyber-attack reportedly forced a British electricity generator offline for four days.
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