Phil Venables is a Partner at Ballistic Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in the cybersecurity and cyber-adjacent technology sectors. His role centers on identifying and supporting growth-stage companies within Ballistic’s portfolio, leveraging his extensive expertise in cybersecurity, enterprise risk, and technology to guide emerging ventures.
Prior to joining Ballistic Ventures in April 2025 as a Venture Partner, Venables held the position of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Google Cloud from 2020 through early 2025. In this capacity, he led Google Cloud’s risk, security, compliance, and privacy teams, overseeing critical efforts to secure large-scale cloud infrastructure. His tenure at Google Cloud spanned over four years, preceded by senior roles including CISO at Goldman Sachs and leadership positions at major financial and technology organizations.
Phil Venables brings over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, risk management, and technology resilience. He is recognized as a globally respected expert who has advised Fortune 100 companies and government entities on building robust and resilient security programs. His background combines deep technical knowledge with strategic leadership skills, enabling him to shape comprehensive cyber risk frameworks and compliance strategies at the highest organizational levels.
His academic credentials include:
- MSc in Computation from the University of Oxford
- BSc in Computer Science from the University of York
- Additional postgraduate studies focusing on Formal Methods and Cryptography
Venables is a Chartered Scientist, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Information Security, a Certified Information Security Manager, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society, reflecting his professional stature and commitment to the cybersecurity field.
Beyond Ballistic Ventures, Venables is active on multiple private and public boards, including:
- Board member roles at HackerOne, Interos.ai, and Veza
- Board Advisor to Plaid, a leading financial technology company
- Serving on the Board of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and involvement with the NYU Stern Business School’s Volatility and Risk Institute
He is also a strategic security advisor to Google, maintaining a connection to the company’s leadership on evolving cyber risks and technologies.
Venables has co-founded the non-profit Center for Internet Security (CIS) and served on its board between 2014 and 2020, demonstrating his commitment to advancing cybersecurity standards globally. His career has been recognized with multiple awards, notably including induction into the Chief Security Officer Hall of Fame in 2024 and several honors at the RSA Conference.
He actively comments on industry developments, particularly the integration of AI within cybersecurity strategies, emphasizing AI’s role in threat detection, operational efficiency, and enhancing security talent effectiveness. His public communications highlight his advocacy for proactive cyber risk management and accountability at the leadership level.
Phil Venables’ trajectory from operational security leadership roles through to venture capital positions him as a key influencer in shaping cybersecurity innovation and strategic investment trends. His combined experience in engineering, executive management, board governance, and investment advisory enables him to provide valuable insights into the growth and scalability of cybersecurity enterprises.
Key actionable insights:
- Phil Venables’ dual expertise in hands-on security leadership (notably at Google Cloud and Goldman Sachs) and venture capital makes him a pivotal figure in early-stage cybersecurity investment decisions.
- His involvement on multiple boards suggests a broad and influential network across cybersecurity technology companies and financial technology sectors.
- His focus on AI and emerging cyber risk paradigms aligns with current market shifts, indicating openness to advanced technological solutions and innovation.
- His advocacy for accountability and resilience in cyber programs reflects a practical, results-driven approach favoring measurable risk management outcomes.
