Where did Purvi Kay work before National Energy System Operator (NESO)?

Before the appointment, Purvi Kay was Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme at BAE Systems, according to the announcement (UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape).

Executive record

Purvi Kay

Career profile: Purvi Kay on CISO Spotlights ↗

Purvi Kay is Chief Information Security Officer at National Energy System Operator (NESO). The appointment was announced on September 18, 2026, per UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape.

Before the appointment: Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme at BAE Systems, per the same source.

1 tracked move on the Wire · Updated October 23, 2026

Career timeline

Every move the record holds for Purvi Kay, newest first, with the earlier roles the announcements name.

September 18, 2026· Appointment
Named Chief Information Security Officer at National Energy System Operator (NESO)
Source: UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape ↗ · Move record
Before September 2026· Earlier role
Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme at BAE Systems
Named in the announcement of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) appointment · Source: UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape ↗

The appointment

Announced September 18, 2026 · Source: UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape ↗ · Move record

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.

The company: National Energy System Operator (NESO)

Sector: Industrial & Energy
Region: Europe
Company record: Who runs security at National Energy System Operator (NESO): 2 confirmed moves on the record

Appointed in the same period

Other security chiefs in Industrial & Energy whose appointment was announced within 90 days of Purvi Kay's, nearest first. The Industrial & Energy bench

week of September 14, 2026
Ruben D. Chacon, Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer at ADM
week of September 28, 2026
Thomas Dager, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
November 4, 2026
Dale Drew, Chief Information Security Officer at Vantage
July 9, 2026
Jason Cradit, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at EverLine

Record facts

Time in the seat: 1 month since the appointment was announced (September 18, 2026), as of November 2026
Moves on the record: 1 confirmed move, each with its source
On the record since: September 24, 2026
Industrial & Energy in 2026: 9 security-leadership appointments announced in the sector on the record

How these are counted. Time in the seat: Counted in whole months from the announcement of the appointment, the date the record holds; announcements rarely give a start date.

Questions about Purvi Kay

Who is the CISO of National Energy System Operator (NESO)?: Purvi Kay is Chief Information Security Officer at National Energy System Operator (NESO). The appointment was announced on September 18, 2026, per UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape.
When did Purvi Kay become CISO of National Energy System Operator (NESO)?: The appointment was announced on September 18, 2026, per UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape. The record holds the announcement, not a start date.
Where did Purvi Kay work before National Energy System Operator (NESO)?: Before the appointment, Purvi Kay was Cyber and information security lead, Future Combat Air System programme at BAE Systems, according to the announcement (UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape).

Sources

1.UKAuthority, NESO appoints CISO as cyber and data plans take shape ↗: the appointment at National Energy System Operator (NESO), September 18, 2026
2.CISO Spotlights career profile ↗: a fuller career profile on a sister site

This record begins with CISO Tribune's tracking in 2026.

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