Norman Willox
I. Introduction:
Norman Willox is presently CEO and Managing Partner of Bluewater International, LLC. BLuewater is one of our nations boutique high growth investment advisory firms focusing on Digital Information, and Cyber Risk Markets. For decades, Mr. Willox has been recognized as a global leader in the societal transformation from analog to digital information risk management, due to the exponential growth and evolution of cybercrime, terrorism, international criminal organizations, economic crime and intelligence. He continues to help shape domestic and international legislation, policies and regulation leveraging his unique history and global risk expertise while incorporating information security, compliance and privacy. He has used his unique international, government and commercial career to evaluate critical market needs and associated risks, while engineering self sustaining commercial business models, that dramatically grow value, while solving critical societal gaps.
Since the early 1980’s Mr. Willox has been researching, building, analyzing and digitizing global information supply chains to manage multiple international and domestic risks on behalf of the US government, global democracies and US industries. He has consistently lead the integration of digital supply chains with super computers, innovative information technology, advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence; in order to locate, identify, predict and prescribe emerging and constantly evolving extreme risk. He continues to actively assist congressional, NGO’s, government and commercial stakeholders to identify societal risks, evaluate forward looking solutions and create successful business models ensuring organizational talent, leadership and governance. He uses his real world (C Level) operational experience with his domain and governance expertise to actively assist in developing our societies next leaders and digital risk companies.
II. Current & Past Work
While leading Bluewater International for over 10 years, Mr Willox actively manages, with his uniquely experienced partners, a portfolio of carefully selected companies and partnerships that meet Bluewater’s proven market guidance. These companies range from early stage to Fortune 500 companies bringing unique intellectual property, technical and analytical capabilities to solve critical societal needs identified by carefully researched industry and government stakeholders. This transformation can be very difficult without the appropriate talent, organizational alignment, board governance, risk assessment, product development and go to market strategy provided through executive coaching and board advisory.
Mr. Willox, was cofounder of Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions Group (LN), which is today over 1.5 billion in revenue. Willox also founded the Lexis Nexis classified business, post 9-11, in order to meet our nations rapidly emerging information risk needs caused by the dramatic growth and digital transformation of international criminal organizations, terrorism and cybercrime. Mr. Willox worked with the White House, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and Intelligence Community to establish, architect and operate some of our nations critically needed information risk programs. He also developed and managed LexisNexis Global Government, Industry and Regulatory Affairs Group, that provided thought leadership for government and industry stakeholders (domestic and internationally) on rapidly evolving information risk issues such as information sharing, security, privacy and authentication.
TransUnion and the National Fraud Center, are two additional organizations where Mr. Willox lead rapid growth, public – private information sharing partnerships, technology innovation, intellectual property creation and thought leadership.
III. Board Experience
Mr. Willox is an experienced Board-member, over the years serving as an Investor, Board Director and Advisor of risk technology businesses; Coalfire, XOR, Infozen, ID Experts, NowSecure, Fortress Information Security, Secured Communication, Threatminder, VOR, ALI. He is currently an Executive Board-member for Freedom House an NGO. A former member and advisor for the Business Services Advisory Board at Baird Venture Partners, a former partner for Comvest Private Equity. Willox also sat on several academic and non profit boards responsible for research and developing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs at Syracuse/Utica University, Indiana University (Center for Identity Management and Protection) , University of Texas (Center for Identity), DOJ’s National White Collar Crime Center.
IV. Education & Certifications
Over several decades with a very active and diverse career, Mr. Willox has obtained several certification and honors: Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), National Association Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Fellowship, Council of International Investigators (CII). Willox is currently a member and has been active over the years in the following Professional Organizations:
National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Council for International Investigators (CII), National Association for Corporate Directors (NACD), AFCEA International, Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), International Association for Chiefs of Police (IACP).
Mr. Willox has been a frequent speaker on cybercrime, terrorism, international criminal organizations (ICO’s) , economic crime, identification, authentication, and privacy before many national and international professional and law enforcement organizations. He holds a Top Secret Clearance. He has also published numerous articles, reports and studies, as well as having been a spokesperson on these subjects with the media.
Mr. Willox received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from West Chester University, PA.
V. Personal
Presently Mr. Willox lives in North Palm Beach, FL with his wife Karen. They have 5 adult children and 5 grandchildren. They have a home in Sea Island, GA and Annapolis, MD.