Securecom appoints Head of Cyber Security & promotes Kolver

Securecom has appointed Paul Grapendaal as Head of Cyber Security and promoted Larissa Kolver to Head of Product Marketing and Commercialisation as the New Zealand IT services provider expands under Sharp New Zealand ownership.

Grapendaal joins the Auckland-based business with 26 years of cyber security experience across engineering, operations, governance and compliance roles in local and international organisations. He most recently served as General Manager of Cybersecurity, Governance and Compliance at Datacom, where he led a team of 30 cyber security professionals.

Kolver takes on the new role after leading Securecom's cyber security business. Her remit now includes product strategy, how the company packages and positions its services, and alignment across sales, marketing and delivery teams.

The appointments reflect Securecom's push to strengthen senior management as it broadens operations following its acquisition by Sharp New Zealand. The company has operated in New Zealand for more than two decades and focuses on IT, network, security and cloud services.

Grapendaal will oversee a cyber division spanning strategic advice for boards and day-to-day protection services. The unit is intended to connect technical security work with governance and risk reporting for business leaders.

"We are excited to welcome Paul to the Securecom whānau," said Greg Mikklesen, Managing Director, Securecom.

He said the appointment reflected increased investment following the change in ownership.

"Having someone of Paul's calibre on board is a clear reflection of the momentum we are building. Sharp's recent acquisition of Securecom was a strong signal of their commitment to investing in the New Zealand tech sector, and their backing is enabling us to rapidly expand our capabilities and bring in additional top-tier leadership. We look forward to the immense expertise and industry experience Paul will bring to our business and our customers," said Mikklesen.

Cyber focus

Cyber security remains a key area of hiring and spending across the technology services market in New Zealand and Australia, as businesses face growing regulatory scrutiny and more frequent board-level oversight of digital risk. Service providers have responded by adding executives with experience in governance and compliance as well as technical operations.

That background appears central to Securecom's choice of Grapendaal. His previous roles covered both operational delivery and governance functions, which would support customers seeking clearer links between security controls and business objectives.

Grapendaal said the ownership change had increased the pace of investment in the company.

"I am incredibly impressed by the robust foundation Securecom has built and the clear vision the company has for the future," said Paul Grapendaal, Head of Cyber Security, Securecom.

"The recent acquisition by Sharp has injected a new level of energy and investment into the business to accelerate growth. I am looking forward to working with this talented team to equip leadership teams with absolute assurance, ensuring their security investments align directly with their most critical business objectives," said Grapendaal.

Expanded remit

Kolver's promotion gives her a broader role beyond cyber security, placing her at the centre of product and commercial planning across the company. She will help shape how Securecom's services are structured and presented to customers while working across internal teams to support repeatable offerings.

The move also suggests a shift from specialist service lines towards a more coordinated commercial model, with product, marketing and delivery functions expected to work more closely together. That is a common step for services companies seeking to turn technical expertise into more standardised offers for clients.

Securecom cited Kolver's experience in security and customer relationships in making the decision. Her previous work leading the cyber security business was presented as evidence of her commercial focus and leadership within the company.

Securecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sharp New Zealand and designs and supports workplace technology environments for organisations across the country. Its work includes network, security and cloud services, with cyber security now playing a more prominent role in the company's senior leadership structure.