- Rob Dartnall has stepped down as UK Council Chair in April 2026, after overseeing significant transformation
- Successor, Dave Allan, CEO of Cysiam, has been elected as the new Chair of the CREST UK Council, following a vote by Council members.
- Dave’s appointment will be formally ratified at the next UK Council meeting on 11 June 2026
[5 May 2026] – CREST has announced the appointment of Dave Allan, Chief Executive Officer of CYSIAM, as the new Chair of the CREST UK Council.
Dave was elected by UK Council members following a formal vote and will officially take up the role following ratification at the next UK Council meeting on 11 June 2026. Dave succeeds Rob Dartnall, who recently stepped down after six years of service as Chair and has transitioned into a CREST Ambassador role.
A career built across defence, government and cybersecurity
Dave brings extensive operational and strategic experience to the role. He began his career in the British Army as a Royal Signals Operator, serving for ten years, including work supporting counter-terrorism operations overseas. He later held a number of IT and security roles within the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, concluding his public service career as Head of International Cyber Capacity Building. In 2019, Dave co-founded CYSIAM, where he served as Chief Technology Officer before moving into the Managing Director role and, more recently, Chief Executive Officer.
Under Dave’s leadership, CYSIAM has built a strong reputation in cyber threat intelligence, managed detection and response, incident response, and cyber resilience consulting, supporting public and private sector organisations across critical national infrastructure, defence, and enterprise environments.
A leadership role at an important time
The CREST UK Council plays an important role in shaping regional priorities, representing member interests, and ensuring alignment between UK market needs and CREST’s wider international mission.
Dave takes on the role at an important time for both CREST and the wider cybersecurity sector.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, regulatory expectations increase, and technology advances, CREST is expanding its work to support both service providers and buyers through strategic initiatives that strengthen trust, assurance and market confidence.
This includes the launch of CREST Marketplace, CREST’s trusted sourcing platform designed to help organisations identify independently assessed cybersecurity providers with greater confidence, as well as industry-led research initiatives such as CREST’s recent report exploring the use of AI in penetration testing and assurance services.
These initiatives reflect the growing role CREST plays in helping shape professional standards, improve transparency, and support informed decision-making across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Strong leadership within the UK Council will be critical in helping guide this next phase of growth and industry engagement.
Supporting CREST’s next chapter
Nick Benson, Chief Executive Officer of CREST, said:
“Dave’s appointment comes at an important time for CREST and for the wider cybersecurity industry. As we continue to expand strategic initiatives such as the CREST Marketplace and our member-informed research exploring the responsible use of AI in cybersecurity services, strong industry leadership is essential.
He brings a breadth of experience that will be invaluable in helping us represent our members, strengthen professional standards, and support greater trust and confidence in the market.”
Commenting on his appointment, Dave Allan said:
“I’m honoured to have been elected Chair of the CREST UK Council. CREST plays an important role in strengthening trust, standards and professionalism across the cybersecurity sector, and I look forward to working with fellow Council members and the wider CREST community to continue that work.”
Recognising those who stood for election
CREST would also like to thank Boglarka Ronto for standing for the position, and for her continued support of CREST and its community.
To learn more about the CREST UK Council, please visit: https://www.crest-approved.org/membership/region-uk/
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For Media and Press enquiries, please contact:
Emma Millard – Head of Marketing & Engagement, CREST International
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)1234 567 890
About CREST:
CREST is a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising standards and building trust in the cybersecurity profession.
Established in 2006, CREST works with its international community of Member companies and practitioners to promote excellence, integrity and professional development across the cyber ecosystem. Through robust standards, accreditation frameworks and skills pathways, CREST helps organisations buy cybersecurity services with confidence and supports practitioners in developing trusted, globally-recognised careers.
Working closely with governments, regulators and industry stakeholders, CREST plays an active role in shaping policy, strengthening market confidence and supporting the growth of a resilient, professional cybersecurity sector worldwide.
For more information, visit www.crest-approved.org
