Amazon Adds Mandiant Founder Kevin Mandia to Its Board

Amazon has appointed Kevin Mandia, founder and former leader of cybersecurity company Mandiant, to its board of directors. The appointment adds a security executive whose background spans a large company sale, a newer AI-focused startup and venture investing.

Amazon described Mandia as a widely recognized cybersecurity expert with experience combating threats in public and private sectors. The company said his record building security businesses and investing in security entrepreneurs will help inform the board’s perspective on cybersecurity opportunities and challenges.

From a major security company to newer ventures

Mandia founded Mandiant and sold the cybersecurity company to Google for $5.4 billion in 2022. He left Google in 2024, then launched Armadin the following year. Armadin uses artificial intelligence to identify network vulnerabilities. Mandia is also a general partner at Ballistic Ventures, the venture capital firm he co-founded.

The appointment’s disclosed terms

Amazon awarded Mandia 4,086 common shares as part of the appointment. The shares will vest in three equal annual installments beginning November 15, 2027. CNBC reported they were worth about $1 million at Wednesday’s closing price, a value that depends on the share price at that time.

Amazon also disclosed that Mandia’s sister-in-law, Kristin Mandia, is a company employee. CNBC, citing LinkedIn, identified her as a senior online community manager for Amazon Quick, an enterprise AI service.

Two kinds of security experience

Mandiant represents Mandia’s record leading an established cybersecurity company. Armadin and Ballistic Ventures place him in newer parts of the security market: a startup applying AI to vulnerability discovery and a firm backing security entrepreneurs. Amazon’s stated case for the appointment rests on that combined operating and investing experience.