Former Canadian Spy Agency Chief Vigneault Joins US Intelligence Firm Strider

Former Canadian spy agency chief David Vigneault, who resigned after seven years in July, has joined U.S. security firm Strider Technologies as the managing director of its global intelligence unit, the company announced.

Vigneault stepped down amid scrutiny over the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) management of foreign interference issues in Canada. In his statement regarding his retirement, he expressed his desire to continue addressing security threats in a new capacity.

At Strider, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Vigneault will focus on collaborating with both private and public sector organizations and enhancing research and development efforts. Strider provides software and services aimed at safeguarding businesses from state-sponsored threats.

During his leadership at CSIS, Vigneault was instrumental in efforts to monitor and prevent alleged foreign interference in Canadian affairs, particularly from China, which has denied such allegations. An official investigation revealed evidence of foreign interference in Canada’s last two federal elections, although it concluded that the outcomes were not affected.

Vigneault also represented Canada in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Strider’s CEO Greg Levesque noted that Vigneault’s vast experience in the global intelligence community would be crucial to both the company and its clients worldwide. Strider has previously enlisted the expertise of former defense and military officials from the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, including H.R. McMaster, who served as a national security adviser under former U.S. President Donald Trump.