Xiid Corp., a pioneer in zero-knowledge networking and next-generation cyber defense, has announced the creation of its elite advisory board, appointing Rachel Higham as a special advisor and consultant. Higham, formerly Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Marks & Spencer, will help steer Xiid’s expansion strategy and strengthen partnerships with hyperscalers, colocation providers, and telecommunications companies.

“Rachel brings exceptional insight and a wealth of experience to Xiid,” said Steve Visconti, CEO of Xiid. “With her addition, our advisory board—already comprising leaders from organizations such as Alcatel, Capgemini, Deloitte, Microsoft, and Vodafone—becomes even more influential.”

Cyber Technology Insights : Dropzone AI Joins Fortune Cyber 60 List of Fastest-Growing, Most Innovative Cybersecurity Firms

Higham first encountered Xiid’s innovative zero-knowledge networking approach during her tenure at Marks & Spencer. Her extensive career spans key leadership roles including CIO at WPP, Managing Director of IT and MD Asia at BT, and Head of Cloud and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence at Vodafone.

“Xiid’s solution provides a unique defense against ransomware and other advanced cyber threats,” Higham said. “Having seen the technology’s impact firsthand, I’m eager to help more organizations benefit from it. In the aftermath of a cyberattack, maintaining a secure environment during recovery can be extremely difficult. Xiid’s secure tunneling technology simplifies that process—accelerating recovery, cutting risk, and reducing costs.”

The newly formed Xiid Advisory Board unites a distinguished group of global executives with decades of board-level experience across telecom, finance, and defense sectors. These leaders have collectively guided large-scale technology transformations, cybersecurity strategies, and enterprise modernization initiatives.

Cyber Technology Insights : SentinelOne and Google Cloud Launch Wayfinder to Redefine Managed Threat Detection in the AI Era

“Xiid is redefining what secure connectivity means—embedding it as the foundation of enterprise architecture, not as an afterthought,” said Albert Hitchcock, Xiid Advisory Board Member and former CIO of Vodafone. “I’m excited to contribute to Xiid’s mission to make organizations more resilient and future-ready.”

  • Hitchcock joins a roster of high-caliber professionals on the advisory board:
  • Bertrand Alexis, with over 25 years of international business leadership experience.
  • Jérôme Desbonnet, C-level cybersecurity and cloud executive at Capgemini.
  • Kathryn Dougherty, expert advisor in cyber frameworks and regulatory alignment.
  • Serge Dujardin, General Manager and EVP-International at Xiid, former CEO of Alcatel-Lucent RT and VP of Cybersecurity at Capgemini.
  • Michel Emelianoff, former CEO of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, specializing in enterprise networking, cloud, and IoT systems.
  • Andy MacLeod, former executive at Verizon and Vodafone, with deep expertise in global telecom infrastructure.

Cyber Technology Insights : Cyera Named Among Top 10 Fastest-Growing Companies, Leading the Future of AI and Data Security

  • Kathryn Mihalich, authority in compliance strategy, data governance, and security architecture.
  • Ola Persson, Ericsson leader focused on telecom and 5G infrastructure design.
  • Anna Vikström Persson, leadership and culture transformation expert with prior roles at Ericsson and Sandvik.
  • William Touche, former Senior Partner and Vice Chair at Deloitte UK, noted for board governance and financial leadership transformation.
  • Linda Zecher, former CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and executive at Microsoft, Oracle, and PeopleSoft, recognized for her work in digital transformation and enterprise growth.

Visconti emphasized that the advisory board’s collective expertise will help Xiid accelerate innovation and global adoption.

“Our advisory board unites technology leaders who have shaped some of the world’s largest enterprises,” he said. “Their guidance strengthens Xiid as we expand strategically, refine product-market fit, and advance our mission of zero-knowledge networking—helping organizations achieve true prevention by design.”

Cyber Technology Insights : Pentera Acquires AI Red Teaming Leader EVA Information Security

To participate in our interviews, please write to our CyberTech Media Room at info@intentamplify.com