Endor Labs, the open source software security company, has appointed industry veteran Karl Mattson as the company’s first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). With 25 years of experience, Mattson’s expertise spans beyond cybersecurity to include broader technology strategy. He has led large teams at major corporations and advised innovative new companies, holding senior roles across industries such as financial services and retail.

In his new role at Endor Labs, Mattson will focus on securing the software supply chain by identifying and addressing hidden risks within open-source software dependencies and the software development lifecycle.

“The role of CISO is always critical, but it takes on even greater importance at a security-focused venture like ours,” said Varun Badhwar, co-founder and CEO of Endor Labs. “Besides keeping our own systems safe, Karl in many ways represents the voice of our largest customers and will help us better serve them.”

“I’ve always been drawn to companies that are truly able to look ahead even as they deal with the problems of the present,” Mattson noted. “Endor Labs does that by creating secure software capabilities that actually make developers more productive—a huge boon to the entire community. The company also has a visionary management team with a sterling track record, a talented and diverse staff, financial stability and a unique approach to solving a critical challenge. I’m very excited to join Endor Labs, and I look forward to a long future with this great company.”

Mattson was previously CISO at Noname Security, recently acquired by Akamai, which specialized in application programming interface (API) and application security. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions in the financial service sector, including serving as CISO for City National Bank and PennyMac Financial Services. He’s also been active in industry advocacy as a member of the FS-ISAC Mortgage Risk Council, President of the LA Cyber Lab, and Financial Services Sector Chief for InfraGard, the national non-profit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mattson is a graduate of the FBI CISO Academy, holds Masters degrees from Boston University and Auburn University, and has been on the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Minnesota for over 10 years.