Kevin Wade Stout is an international cybersecurity executive with over two decades of leadership experience across pharmaceuticals, aviation, manufacturing, defense, and critical infrastructure. As the former Head of Global Information Security Services at Merck KGaA, he built and led a 62-person global cybersecurity organization across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, transforming security into a strategic enabler for the business.
His expertise lies in developing robust cybersecurity programs from the ground up—harmonizing governance services, risk management, operations, and strategy into a unified, business-aligned model. Kevin specializes in helping organizations implement effective compliance solutions and move beyond surface-level maturity to cultivate long-lasting, resilient, and efficient cybersecurity services.
Having lived and worked across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Kevin brings a calm, grounded leadership style shaped by real-world operations, multicultural experience, and disciplined inner development. He approaches cybersecurity as both a strategic function and a service to the business.
Key Leadership Strengths:
- Business-aligned cybersecurity strategy
- SOC + IR maturity transformation
- Governance, risk & compliance (ISO 27001, NIS2, GDPR, NIST CSF)
- IT/OT security integration
- Board reporting & executive communication
- Simplification, cost-efficiency & program uplift
- Building high-performance teams
- Global leadership experience