Meet the team forged inside one of the world’s most advanced cyber environments.
Our executives bring decades of frontline experience and a track record of building advanced security operations.
Forged From the Frontlines of Cyber Defense
At Talion, leadership is not theoretical— it’s battle-tested.
Our executive team began their journey inside one of the world’s most advanced defence and intelligence environments: BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. From that foundation, they built Talion to bring the same caliber of solutions once reserved for the most demanding global security challenges directly to mid-market and enterprise businesses and organisations like yours.
This is why when you partner with Talion, you’re not buying another managed security service. You’re engaging a team that’s been trusted to protect critical national infrastructure, financial systems, and high-value assets against the most sophisticated threats on earth.
That pedigree is what shapes the critical mission of Talion: cyber security built with precision, transparency, and a relentless commitment to protecting what matters most to you.
Our Co-Founders
Keven Knight and Mike Brown didn’t just witness the evolution of cybersecurity — they helped shape it.
Talion was born out of a rare combination of expertise and opportunity. Keven Knight and his leadership team, having led BAE Systems Applied Intelligence’s Managed Security Services, saw the chance to create something different: a cybersecurity partner built on transparency, agility, and collaboration rather than black-box operations.
Keven had been central to BAE’s MSSP success, expanding its technical capabilities, advancing its operations, and establishing it as a market leader. That same commitment to operational excellence and innovation continues to define Talion today under his leadership as CEO.
To make the transition possible, Mike Brown drove the acquisition process that enabled Talion to spin out from BAE as an independent business. With more than three decades of experience growing and scaling global technology and security companies, Mike laid the foundation that allowed Talion to emerge as a standalone provider with the freedom to serve clients in new and better ways.
Keven and his leadership team’s future forward mindset combined with their vision of what they knew they could deliver, gave rise to Talion’s Hybrid SOC approach; a model that blends advanced detection, threat-led intelligence, and co-managed services that keep businesses secure without forcing them to sacrifice oversight or flexibility.
Together, they ensured Talion began with the strongest possible pedigree, combining operational expertise forged inside one of the world’s most advanced cyber environments with the independence to deliver security services built around transparency, collaboration, and client control.
The Hearts of Talion
Our Co-Founders are at the heart of everything we do. They embody our values, leading by example while supporting Talion’s internal operational teams to push the boundaries. Talion remains an agile force of cyber security defense. Talion’s unique value is found it it’s ability to quickly adapt to complex technical environs to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients.
““I’m proud of the robust service we built at BAE Systems, coupled with the agility we now have to evolve and improve it.””
Keven KnightCEO, Owner, Co-Founder
Keven Knight is the architect behind Talion’s transformation from a defense-grade security division into an agile, client-focused cybersecurity partner. He and Mike Brown together, led the divestment of BAE Systems Applied Intelligence’s commercial cybersecurity arm, to form Talion. Keven brings with him a proven track record of building one of the most respected Managed Security Service businesses in the market.
With a background spanning IBM, ICI, and AT&T, Keven has spent his career designing and delivering global service models that stand up to the most demanding environments. At BAE Systems, he managed and grew the Enterprise MSSP business into a market leader. Today at Talion, he combines that operational rigor with a modern, transparent, and collaborative approach — ensuring every client gains the clarity, agility, and resilience needed to thrive against evolving threats.
“I’m proud of the robust service we built at BAE Systems, coupled with the agility we now have to evolve and improve it.”
Mike Brown is the Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Talion and the leader of its U.S. business development strategy, bringing more than 30 years of experience driving growth and innovation in global technology and cybersecurity. He and Keven Knight together, led the acquisition of BAE Systems’ Managed Security Services business, laying the foundation for Talion’s evolution into a transparent, client-first security provider.
Mike’s career spans leadership roles at industry giants including IBM, Oracle, and Siebel, as well as high-growth security innovators such as Solidcore, Algosec, and Siemplify. This blend of enterprise scale and entrepreneurial agility enables him to guide Talion’s expansion with both vision and precision. Today, Mike helps organizations across the U.S. break free from the status quo, adopting security services that are as collaborative as they are effective.
“My mission is to provide a transparent and collaborative service — one that puts clients firmly in control of their security operations.”
Our Executive Leadership Team
Talion’s leadership team brings together decades of expertise earned at the highest levels of cybersecurity. Each leader is an industry veteran of BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, where they designed, built, and operated advanced security operations centers, led enterprise-scale managed services, and delivered mission-critical solutions to some of the world’s most demanding organisations.
Their combined experience spans global technology giants and high-growth innovators alike, covering disciplines from security architecture and service delivery to operations, finance, and client engagement. This blend of strategic vision and hands-on execution is what sets Talion apart — a team that has faced the most sophisticated adversaries and now applies that knowledge to help businesses everywhere gain clarity, control, and confidence in their security operations.
Collectively, their backgrounds span:
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Architecture & Engineering: designing and building secure SOCs and advanced cyber capabilities.
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Service Delivery & Operations: managing global teams and enterprise-scale security services.
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Client Services & Transformation: leading complex technology programs and long-term partnerships.
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Business Development & Growth: scaling innovative security services into new markets.
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Finance & Strategy: ensuring long-term resilience, investment, and innovation.
The Souls of Talion
When you meet our leaders, you won’t just find executives, you’ll find the souls of this company who will be your partners. Partners who understand the weight of your responsibility, the urgency of your challenges, and the value of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you in every fight.
““At Talion we challenge ourselves to design, build and operate robust products and services that increase clarity and reduce complexity for our customers.””
Liam SalsiDirector of Architecture
Gareth Norman is one of Talion’s founding members and the leader of its operational delivery. As Director of Operations, he is responsible for ensuring every client engagement runs with precision — from first-line triage in the Security Operations Centre to the seamless coordination of back-office functions.
Gareth’s expertise was forged at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, where he built and led the teams responsible for frontline SOC operations. His background also includes senior roles at EE and T-Systems, where he oversaw enterprise-scale service operations, including one of the world’s largest cloud-hosted Exchange environments.
At Talion, Gareth applies that experience to deliver operational excellence at scale, backed by strong processes, collaborative teams, and a relentless focus on client experience.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built at Talion — the talent here is second to none.”
Liam Salsi is a founding member of Talion and serves as Director of Architecture, where he leads the design and engineering of the company’s secure service portfolio. His role ensures every Talion solution is built with both resilience and clarity, giving clients security architectures that are robust yet practical to operate.
Before Talion, Liam was part of BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, where he led the Architecture and Onboarding consultancy team for the Enterprise Managed Security Service SOC. He has designed and built security products and operations centers at both commercial and nation-state scale, and previously served as Design and Technical Authority for advanced secure capabilities at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services (formerly Electronic Data Systems).
At Talion, Liam applies this deep architectural expertise to push the boundaries of what managed security services can deliver — simplifying complexity while strengthening protection.
“At Talion we challenge ourselves to design, build, and operate services that increase clarity and reduce complexity for our customers.”
Phil Phillips is the Director of Client Services and a founding member of the Talion Team. He is focused on ensuring every customer engagement delivers both value and confidence. With over 20 years of experience managing complex technology and security programs, Phil has built a reputation for transforming outsourced IT services into long-lasting, business-critical partnerships.
Before Talion, Phil spent six years at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, where he led the Enterprise Managed Security Delivery function, overseeing some of the most demanding client engagements in the sector. His career also includes leading major infrastructure programs for organizations such as Oracle, ING Barings, G4S, and Highways England.
At Talion, Phil combines this depth of experience with a commitment to transparency and collaboration, making sure clients remain firmly in control of their security outcomes while receiving the highest standard of service delivery.
“My mission is to provide a transparent and collaborative service — I want our clients to feel in control of their security operations.”
Led by Experience. Driven by Clarity.
From complex operations to evolving threats, our leadership team ensures Talion delivers strength where it matters most.
Partner with us, and gain not just protection rather a team committed to advancing your security with precision, transparency, and trust.
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