CREST International Council Appoints Rodrigo Marcos Alvarez as New Chair

Rowland Johnson to step down as Council Chair on 1 October 2025 after overseeing significant transformation and global impact of business, to be succeeded by Rodrigo Marcos Alvarez.

1 October 2025 – CREST, the global not-for-profit accreditation and certification body for the cybersecurity industry, today announced a planned leadership transition for its International Council. Rowland Johnson, who has served as Chair of the International Council since 2021, will complete his term and hand over the role on 1 October 2025. Rodrigo Marcos Alvarez, current Chair of CREST’s Europe Council and long-standing member of the International Council, has been appointed as the new Chair to lead the next phase of development. During Johnson’s tenure, CREST significantly expanded its global footprint and strengthened its organisational structure. He championed efforts to establish new regional councils and a new, more representative international council, fostering CREST’s presence in key markets worldwide. Throughout his chairmanship, he has been a visible advocate for CREST, shaping the progression of international standards through engagements with governments and regulators across the globe.

Reflecting on his time as Chair, Johnson said:
“Serving as Chair of the International Council has been an enormous privilege. Over the past four years we have achieved major milestones together – from expanding into new regions to reinforcing the standards that underpin our profession. Having reached the end of my term, I felt it was the right moment to hand the baton over and allow fresh leadership to continue building on this momentum. I want to thank the International Council, our members, and the CREST team for their support, dedication and friendship. I know Rodrigo will be an outstanding Chair and will continue to drive CREST’s mission forward.”

Rodrigo Marcos Alvarez will officially assume the International Council Chair role on 1 October 2025, bringing extensive experience in the cybersecurity industry and a longstanding contribution to CREST’s initiatives, having been the Chair of CREST’s Europe Council and a member of the International Council for the last three years. “It is a great honour to be appointed as Chair of the International Council,” said Marcos Alvarez. “Rowland Johnson’s leadership has built a strong foundation for CREST globally. I look forward to working with our regional councils, focus groups, members, partners and our secretariat team under the leadership of CEO Nick Benson, to build on that success. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards for our industry and drive our mission forward.”

Press Contact:
Emma Millard – Head of Marketing & Engagement, CREST International
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)1234 567 890

About CREST:
CREST is an international not-for-profit accreditation and certification body that represents and supports the technical cybersecurity industry. Established in 2006, CREST provides globally recognised accreditations for cybersecurity firms and professional certifications for individuals across disciplines such as penetration testing, incident response, threat intelligence and security operations. CREST member companies, which number over 500, and certified professionals, are held to the highest standards of quality and ethics through rigorous assessment and examination processes. Working closely with governments, regulators and industry partners, CREST strives to nurture a robust and resilient global cybersecurity ecosystem. For more information, visit www.crest-approved.org.