MEET OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Meet the dedicated leaders at Difenda—where passion for cybersecurity excellence meets innovative solutions, driving us to be the premier Microsoft Managed Security Services Provider in North America.
MANOJ ARORA
FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Manoj Arora, Difenda’s Founder and CEO has always been ahead of the curve in Technology and Cyber Security. After securing his engineering degree in Computer Science, he wrote his first mobile banking application when he was just 23 years old. This accomplishment certainly set him apart from the crowd and prepared him for a lifetime of innovation and success in his field. At just 25 years old, he was selected as the youngest Cyber Security Officer for one of the largest banks in Asia.
DEREK NUGENT
VICE PRESIDENT, REVENUE
Derek Nugent, Vice President, Revenue lives by the motto “Be early, be better.” Derek leads our Revenue team and is responsible for the customer’s journey with Difenda. His high energy level and creativity have built high performing teams, whether at the Herjavec Group, CDW, or in his current leadership role at Difenda. After earning a Bachelor Administration and Management degree from the Academy of Learning, Derek started in the information technology industry in 2004 and transitioned to the cybersecurity industry in 2014.
ANDREW HODGES
VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY
Andrew prides himself on building high-performing teams operating with high degrees of teamwork to achieve very ambitious goals. As Vice President Product and Technology, strives to continuously evolve our organization through the support of our people and teams. He is responsible for working with the C3 Delivery team to develop and deliver innovative and operationally effective services designed to secure our customers and exceed their expectations.
IAN MIERSCH
VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
Ian has energy to spare, and uses his eclectic background to make a positive mark on the cybersecurity industry. As Vice President of Business Development & Operations, Ian Miersch is responsible for overseeing scalable business growth as Difenda expands throughout North America. But it is the way he does it that sets him apart. By leveraging his engineering background and critical thinking skills, he has been able to develop unique strategies that balance the company’s current business needs with its long-term growth plans.
MIRANDA MCCURDY
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING
Miranda uses her myriad super powers in all aspects of her job and personal life. As the VP of Marketing at Difenda, Miranda brings over a decade of experience to the table, which includes expertise in all facets of operations, brand management, and content marketing, as well as a multitude of successful strategies for the ever-expanding digital world. She is an expert at simplifying the message the company is trying to send, filling in gaps in the information, and strengthening the content in order to create compelling narratives that strengthen the brand and developing programs that bring teams together.
FAISAL ILAHIE
VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS AND TECHNICAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
Faisal brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic vision to the forefront of cybersecurity innovation. His journey in cybersecurity began after a successful tenure in IT Networking, where his expertise with Cisco products and an array of certifications like CCNA, CCNP, and CCVP laid a strong foundation for his career shift. His pivot to cybersecurity was driven by a desire for a fast-paced and constantly evolving field, leading him to roles such as Senior Director of Customer Success, before joining the Difenda team.
AMARDEEP JAGPAL
VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT & SERVICE DELIVERY
With a career that spans over two decades across pivotal sectors like telecommunications and financial services, Amardeep Jagpal, Vice President of Product and Service Delivery at Difenda, brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic insight to Difenda’s leadership team. With a passion for tackling the evolving challenges of cybersecurity, Amardeep pivoted into cybersecurity after witnessing the critical role of security in protecting business operations and customer data.