Hoboken Cybersecurity Firm Semperis Adds Former Bertelsmann CIO to Advisory Board

Semperis, a Hoboken-based cybersecurity company, announced the appointment of Tom Linckens to its Strategic Advisory Board on Feb. 25, according to the company.

Linckens will support the identity-driven cyber resilience firm’s mission to help organizations strengthen their hybrid identity threat detection, response, and recovery capabilities, with a particular focus on the European, Middle Eastern and African regions, according to Semperis.

The new advisory board member brings extensive executive experience from major global corporations. Linckens previously served as chief information officer at media company Bertelsmann and German chemical business Henkel, where he oversaw hundreds of business units and more than 100,000 employees worldwide, according to the company. Since 2019, he has worked as an adviser to multiple companies, helping them improve organizational structures and understand how artificial intelligence can address business challenges.

“When identity systems are compromised, business continuity is disrupted, revenue losses pile up and critical infrastructure failures can lead to catastrophic losses,” Linckens said in a statement. “Semperis’ products and services are best-in-class, and it is no wonder the company is experiencing rapid growth across DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).”

Linckens emphasized the critical nature of cybersecurity threats facing modern businesses. “There is no bigger challenge today for corporations than protecting their digital infrastructure and I look forward to supporting Semperis’ mission of fortifying hybrid identity systems, such as Active Directory, Entra ID, Okta and Ping, from the never-ending cyber threats,” he said.

Mickey Bresman, CEO of Semperis, praised the appointment, calling Linckens “a proven leader and cyber resilience advocate.” Bresman said Linckens “will play a vital role in the coming months in brokering conversations with enterprises facing a constant and persistent threat to their hybrid identity systems.”

“We all look forward to working closely with him to help organizations increase their cyber resilience, an essential step in maintaining business continuity across their networks,” Bresman added.

The appointment places Linckens among a high-profile group of strategic advisers at the Hoboken company. The advisory board includes General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former CIA director; Chris Inglis, the first U.S. National Cyber Director; and Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian prime minister, according to Semperis.

Semperis specializes in crisis response and cyber resilience services, focusing on identity-driven security solutions. The privately held company serves customers in more than 40 countries, according to the firm.

The addition of Linckens comes as cybersecurity concerns continue to intensify for businesses worldwide. Identity systems have become increasingly critical infrastructure for organizations, making them prime targets for cyber attacks that can disrupt operations and cause significant financial losses.

Semperis’ focus on hybrid identity systems addresses a growing need as companies manage complex digital environments that span multiple platforms and security frameworks. The company’s services help organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents that target these essential identity infrastructure components.

The strategic advisory board appointment reflects Semperis’ continued expansion efforts, particularly in international markets where Linckens’ experience with European and global operations could prove valuable for the Hoboken-based firm’s growth initiatives.