Stormshield, a European player in sovereign cybersecurity, announced that Christophe Canguilhem will succeed Pierre-Yves Hentzen as the company’s president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027. To ensure a smooth and orderly handover, a three-month transition period will take place, allowing Canguilhem to work alongside Hentzen before officially taking office.
On that date, Pierre-Yves Hentzen will take on new responsibilities within the Airbus group as part of its growth ambitions in cybersecurity operations.
A graduate engineer from ISAE-SUPAERO, Christophe Canguilhem brings 25 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry. He began his career at Airbus, spending nearly 20 years across various helicopter programs. In 2022, he was appointed President of Survey Copter, an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary specialized in the design, production, and operational support of light tactical drone systems. At the helm of the company, he notably guided its growth in unmanned aerial systems for defense and security markets.
His career within Airbus—at the intersection of technology, industrial, and defense challenges—now leads him to take the leadership of Stormshield. His ambition is to continue its growth in France and internationally, while reinforcing its positioning as a trusted European cybersecurity provider.
“I am delighted to join Stormshield to pursue the company’s growth and development, and I would like to thank Airbus Defence and Space for their confidence,” Canguilhem said in a media statement. “Stormshield possesses recognized expertise, robust solutions, and dedicated teams to address the growing challenges of cybersecurity and the protection of critical environments. It is with great determination that I commit to strengthening Stormshield’s position as a major player in European sovereign cybersecurity.”
Hentzen joined Arkoon in 2001 as CFO and member of the Executive Board, contributing to its sale to Airbus in 2013. Following the merger of Arkoon and Netasq that birthed Stormshield in 2016, he became Deputy CEO before being appointed President in 2017.
Under his leadership, Stormshield continued its transformation and growth, tripling in size to become the leading French cybersecurity software vendor and forging its position as a benchmark European player, particularly in strategic markets such as defense, critical infrastructure, and industrial environments.
This period was also marked by the reinforcement of Stormshield’s positioning around digital sovereignty, trust, and European strategic autonomy.
“After twenty-five years, including nine leading Stormshield, I am particularly proud of the path the company has traveled, its firmly established reputation in the cyber ecosystem, and the strength of its teams,” Hentzen commented. “I am confident that Christophe Canguilhem will build upon the ongoing strategy and open up new opportunities for Stormshield, its clients, and partners, both in France and internationally. His experience in demanding technological and industrial environments is a major asset in a context where cybersecurity, defense, and technological sovereignty are of strategic importance.”
