Home » News » CREST announces UK Council leadership transition
After six years leading the CREST UK Council, Rob Dartnall moves to a new Ambassador role.
[April 2026] – Rob Dartnall has played a central role in the work of the CREST UK Council over the past six years. His tenure has been marked by steady leadership and a strong commitment to raising professional standards across the cybersecurity community.
During this period, he has supported the council’s governance work, strengthened engagement with our members, regulators and industry partners, and helped steer CREST through significant regulatory change. In his new CREST Ambassador role, Rob will continue to contribute his insight and experience to CREST’s wider mission.
About CREST Councils
CREST’s regional and international Councils play a central role in shaping our strategic direction and ensuring that member perspectives are well represented across different markets. Our Councils provide oversight, align our regional and global aims, and create a forum for constructive engagement across the sector. Rob has been a driving force for the UK Council – strengthening our presence, commitment to professional standards, and our contribution to international leadership.
Rob’s CREST journey to date:
February 2019 – Co-opted to the CREST GB Council (when ‘CREST GB’ operated as a separate legal entity)
May 2019 – Appointed first reserve
June 2020 – Formally elected at AGM
August 2020 – Elected Interim Chair
March 2021 – Formally elected Chair of the UK Council
January 2022 – Joined CREST International Council on its formation as UK Chair
March 2023 – Re-elected as UK Chair and term extended under new Council Terms of Reference
May 2023 – Re-elected to UK Council
April 2026 – Formal retirement from UK and International Councils, transition to CREST Ambassador
Throughout his tenure, Rob has demonstrated exceptional commitment to CREST’s mission. His sustained involvement across both the UK and International Councils has provided invaluable continuity during periods of growth, structural change, and increasing regulatory complexity. His extraordinary attendance record – 42 UK Council meetings and 20 International Council meetings – is the highest of any member company representative in CREST’s history.
Rob’s impact in cybersecurity
Rob serves as Chief Executive Officer and Head of Intelligence at SecAlliance, where he leads the delivery of advanced cyber threat intelligence and security advisory services to public and private sector organisations. With a background in military intelligence and national security, he has built a reputation as a trusted authority on threat intelligence, resilience, and cyber risk. He is a CREST Certified Cyber Threat Intelligence Manager (CCTIM), a CREST Threat Intelligence Assessor, and an active Member of the CREST Threat Intelligence Focus Group.
Beyond his commercial work, Rob is a respected voice in national and international cyber policy and capability development, with strong connections to the global financial services sector. He regularly contributes to industry and government discussions on cyber legislation, data access, and security reform, and has represented the sector at global forums and policy events. His work advocating for responsible security research, modernised cyber legislation, and professional standards has helped shape public understanding and regulatory thinking across the UK and beyond.
His unique skillset of operational expertise, policy engagement, and community leadership has brought valuable real-world insight to CREST’s governance and strategic direction.
“Rob’s contribution to CREST over the past six years has been outstanding. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment have helped strengthen our UK governance and our international collaboration at a critical time for the industry. We’re pleased he will continue to work with us as a CREST Ambassador, and look forward to benefitting from his experience and insight for many years to come.”
Nick Benson, Chief Executive Officer of CREST
“It’s been a privilege to serve as Chair of the CREST UK Council and to work alongside such a dedicated community of professionals. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I’m grateful to my fellow Council Members and the CREST team for their support. I’m excited to continue my support of CREST’s mission in my new role as Ambassador.”
Rob Dartnall, CREST Ambassador
Rob’s next chapter with CREST
As a CREST Ambassador, Rob will represent the organisation at industry events, support Member engagement activities, and continue to champion the highest professional and ethical standards across the cybersecurity sector.
The whole CREST community is grateful for Rob’s exceptional service; we welcome the experience and insight he will continue to bring in his new role.
L-R Rob Dartnall and Nick Benson. Rob Dartnall is being presented with a ‘Distinguished Service Award’ for his contribution to CREST’s mission and his role as UK Council Chair for the last six years.
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