Rapid7, a global leader in AI-powered managed cybersecurity operations, today announced a leadership transition in which board member Wael Mohamed will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, and current Chief Executive Officer Corey Thomas will become Executive Chairman of the Board, effective immediately. In conjunction with the announcement, the company is also reaffirming its financial guidance for the second quarter and full year 2026.
This leadership transition comes at a defining moment. Amid universal disruption from frontier AI innovation, customers and analysts have validated the company’s preemptive security strategy — effectively integrating managed detection and response (MDR) and exposure management into AI-led security operations to preempt attackers at machine speed. Rapid7 has been strategically moving the right pieces in place for the next phase of its growth, including the recent
acquisition of Kenzo, a leading AI security platform, and is well prepared to step into the next chapter.
"After joining our board last year, Wael quickly became an invaluable strategic advisor and partner to me," said Thomas. "He has built and transformed cybersecurity companies, balancing precise execution with strategic investment, and his leadership will help customers see the benefit of Rapid7’s vision faster."
Mohamed brings 30 years of cybersecurity and operational transformation experience to Rapid7. He is the founder of Global Forward Capital, a cybersecurity-focused investment firm, and previously served as CEO of Forescout, which he successfully led through two strategic acquisitions. Prior to that, Mohamed led Trend Micro Group, a constituent of the Nikkei 225, in successive roles over eleven years, culminating in President, COO, and member of the board.
“I join Rapid7 with gratitude, confidence, and excitement,” said Mohamed. “We have the customers, technology, leadership, and talent to own the AI-SOC market. I am committed to driving focus on the core businesses where Rapid7 is excellent and honing all of our resources and effort into the success of that vision.”
Thomas and Mohamed have collaborated closely over the last year to define and develop the strategy for Rapid7’s transformation to lead in the rapidly developing AI-SOC market. As part of this effort, Rapid7 has refreshed its senior leadership team, bringing on Rafe Brown as Chief Financial Officer, Allan Peters as Chief Commercial Officer, and most recently, Dan Deklich as Chief Product & Technology Officer. This team was constructed to lead Rapid7 through the operational shifts necessary to bring the company from a platform player to the AI-SOC leader.
As Mohamed assumes responsibility for growth-oriented operations and execution as CEO, Thomas will continue serving on Rapid7's Board of Directors as Executive Chairman, partnering closely on technology vision, AI strategy, and policy initiatives.
