Chris Essex
About Chris Essex
Chris Essex serves as the Vice President of Cyber Security at Coalfire, having previously held senior roles at companies such as AppRiver and Forcepoint. He has a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth and achieving successful private equity exits.
Current Role at Coalfire
Chris Essex serves as the Vice President of Cyber Security at Coalfire, a position he has held since 2024. He operates from Gulf Breeze, Florida, and has been instrumental in driving the company's cyber security initiatives. His leadership focuses on enhancing the organization's capabilities in the rapidly evolving cyber security landscape.
Previous Experience at AppRiver
Before joining Coalfire, Chris Essex worked at AppRiver as the Senior Vice President of Global Sales from 2018 to 2020. During his tenure, he played a significant role in the company’s operations until its acquisition by Zix. He achieved notable success, including two private equity exits with returns exceeding 200% within two years.
Career at Forcepoint
Chris Essex had a substantial career at Forcepoint, where he held multiple roles from 2009 to 2017. He began as a Senior Manager and progressed to Senior Director, then Regional Vice President, and finally Director of North America. His leadership contributed to significant revenue growth and team restructuring, enhancing the company's market position.
Educational Background
Chris Essex studied at Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from 1984 to 1989. This educational foundation has supported his extensive career in sales and cyber security, equipping him with the skills necessary for leadership roles in the technology sector.
Achievements in Revenue Growth
Throughout his career, Chris Essex has demonstrated a strong ability to drive revenue growth. He successfully restructured international revenue teams, resulting in a 300% increase in revenue in the first year and over 225% in the second year. Additionally, he transformed a business from 5% quarterly growth to over 20% quarterly growth within five months.