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  Smeaton was CISO of a number companies, including DataRobot and Saudi Investment Bank
  
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  Merlin Ventures, based in Fairfax, Virginia invests in cybersecurity startups
  

Merlin Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of The Merlin Group has named Andrew Smeaton as the firm’s chief information security officer-in-residence.

Smeaton’s role will be to provide strategic and technical advice to Merlin Ventures portfolio companies.

Seth Spergel , managing partner at Merlin Ventures, said: “To stand out in the crowded venture landscape today, venture firms must have a thorough understanding of the industries and unique needs of buyers, other stakeholders, and investors.” With Andy on board as CISO-in residence, bringing with him his impressive industry expertise and an ability speak to other CISOs in a peer-to-peer setting, we now have even deeper insight into the wants and need of today’s security organisations

Smeaton was CISO for a number companies, including DataRobot and Saudi Investment Bank.

Merlin Ventures, based in Virginia and Israel invests in cybersecurity startups.

The Merlin Group is an international network of companies which invests, enables, and scales up technology companies.