Difference between revisions of "David Vigneault"
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| name = David Vigneault | | name = David Vigneault | ||
| nationality = Canadian | | nationality = Canadian | ||
| − | | occupation = Public servant; intelligence director | + | | occupation = Public servant; intelligence director; commercial-intelligence executive |
| − | | known_for = Director, [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]]<br>{{Start date|2017|6|19}} – {{Start date|2024|7|20}}<ref name="CSISList">Craig Marlatt, [https://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/security%26defence/csis_directors.html Former Directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service], CanadaInfo, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref> | + | | known_for = Director, [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]]<br>{{Start date|2017|6|19}} – {{Start date|2024|7|20}}<ref name="CSISList">Craig Marlatt, [https://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/security%26defence/csis_directors.html Former Directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service], CanadaInfo, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref><br>Managing director, Global Intelligence Unit, [[Strider Technologies]] |
| education = [[Université de Montréal]]<ref name="VigneaultBio">Canadian Security Intelligence Service, [https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/transparency/briefing-material/2021-transition-binder/directors-biography.html Director’s Biography], 2021 transition briefing, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref> | | education = [[Université de Montréal]]<ref name="VigneaultBio">Canadian Security Intelligence Service, [https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/transparency/briefing-material/2021-transition-binder/directors-biography.html Director’s Biography], 2021 transition briefing, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref> | ||
| predecessor = [[Jeff Yaworski]] | | predecessor = [[Jeff Yaworski]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | [[David Vigneault]] led the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) as director, from 2017 to 2024.<ref name="CSISList" /> | + | '''[[David Vigneault]]''' led the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) as director, from 2017 to 2024.<ref name="CSISList" /> |
== Office held == | == Office held == | ||
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== Education == | == Education == | ||
[[David Vigneault]] holds a master’s degree in political science from the [[Université de Montréal]].<ref name="VigneaultBio" /> | [[David Vigneault]] holds a master’s degree in political science from the [[Université de Montréal]].<ref name="VigneaultBio" /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Workplace culture and reform == | ||
| + | At the beginning of [[David Vigneault]]’s term, a 2017 assessment of the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]]’s Toronto workplace exposed concerns about an ‘old boys’ club’ and a military-style culture. [[Jez Littlewood]] places the controversy within longstanding differences between intelligence-officer and other career streams, with separate training, pay and promotion structures. His account records the leadership’s acknowledgement of the need for change.<ref name="AddTSC53to55">Jez Littlewood, ‘The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)’, in Stephanie Carvin, Thomas Juneau and Craig Forcese (eds), ''Top Secret Canada: Understanding the Canadian Intelligence and National Security Community'', Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020, pp. 53–55.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Failure to brief ministers about threats to an MP == | ||
| + | In June 2023 [[David Vigneault]] acknowledged that the process for sharing intelligence about threats to [[Michael Chong]] and his family had not worked. [[CBC News]] reported that the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] had sent a May 2021 note through the [[Canada Top Secret Network]] to [[Bill Blair]]’s office, but Blair and his chief of staff did not have access to that system. Blair said he had not been briefed; Vigneault said the note was intended to highlight the intelligence to the minister. The dispute exposed a gap between transmitting a classified document and ensuring that the responsible minister had received its contents.<ref name="VigneaultChong">Catharine Tunney, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/blair-csis-chong-text-1.6876183 Blair says CSIS could have picked up the phone to alert him to Chong intelligence], ''CBC News'', 14 June 2023, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Commercial intelligence after CSIS == | ||
| + | On 7 August 2024 [[Strider Technologies]] announced that [[David Vigneault]] had joined as managing director of its Global Intelligence Unit. The company said he would support engagement between public and private sectors and research and development for its intelligence products. It markets an open-source-data platform addressing risks involving state-linked activity, including intellectual-property theft and supply chains.<ref name="VigneaultStrider">Strider Technologies, [https://striderintel.com/newsroom/david-vigneault-former-head-of-canadian-intelligence-joins-strider-as-managing-director/ David Vigneault, former head of Canadian intelligence, joins Strider as Managing Director], 7 August 2024, accessed 8 November 2026.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Strider Technologies]] linked [[David Vigneault]]’s appointment to his experience leading the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] and to the 2023 joint public appearance of [[Five Eyes]] intelligence heads warning businesses about state threats. The announcement makes his move from public intelligence leadership into commercial intelligence services explicit.<ref name="VigneaultStrider" /> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Latest revision as of 13:46, 8 November 2026
Canadian security intelligence director
| David Vigneault
| |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Public servant; intelligence director; commercial-intelligence executive |
| Known for | Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service 19 June 2017 – 20 July 2024[1] Managing director, Global Intelligence Unit, Strider Technologies |
| Education | Université de Montréal[2] |
| Predecessor | Jeff Yaworski |
David Vigneault led the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) as director, from 2017 to 2024.[1]
Office held
| Office | Start | End | Predecessor | Successor | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service | 19 June 2017 | 20 July 2024 | Jeff Yaworski | Vanessa Lloyd | [1] |
Intelligence and public-service career
David Vigneault worked at National Defence before joining the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, where he became assistant director of the secretariat in December 2006 and assistant director of intelligence in June 2009. He moved to the Canada Border Services Agency in May 2010 and became assistant secretary to the cabinet for security and intelligence at the Privy Council Office in December 2012.[2]
CSIS leadership
David Vigneault became director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in June 2017. In July 2024 the government announced that Vanessa Lloyd would serve as interim director following his retirement, effective 20 July.[2][3]
Education
David Vigneault holds a master’s degree in political science from the Université de Montréal.[2]
Workplace culture and reform
At the beginning of David Vigneault’s term, a 2017 assessment of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s Toronto workplace exposed concerns about an ‘old boys’ club’ and a military-style culture. Jez Littlewood places the controversy within longstanding differences between intelligence-officer and other career streams, with separate training, pay and promotion structures. His account records the leadership’s acknowledgement of the need for change.[4]
Failure to brief ministers about threats to an MP
In June 2023 David Vigneault acknowledged that the process for sharing intelligence about threats to Michael Chong and his family had not worked. CBC News reported that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had sent a May 2021 note through the Canada Top Secret Network to Bill Blair’s office, but Blair and his chief of staff did not have access to that system. Blair said he had not been briefed; Vigneault said the note was intended to highlight the intelligence to the minister. The dispute exposed a gap between transmitting a classified document and ensuring that the responsible minister had received its contents.[5]
Commercial intelligence after CSIS
On 7 August 2024 Strider Technologies announced that David Vigneault had joined as managing director of its Global Intelligence Unit. The company said he would support engagement between public and private sectors and research and development for its intelligence products. It markets an open-source-data platform addressing risks involving state-linked activity, including intellectual-property theft and supply chains.[6]
Strider Technologies linked David Vigneault’s appointment to his experience leading the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and to the 2023 joint public appearance of Five Eyes intelligence heads warning businesses about state threats. The announcement makes his move from public intelligence leadership into commercial intelligence services explicit.[6]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Craig Marlatt, Former Directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, CanadaInfo, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Director’s Biography, 2021 transition briefing, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Public Safety Canada, Minister LeBlanc announces appointment of Interim Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, 19 July 2024, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Jez Littlewood, ‘The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)’, in Stephanie Carvin, Thomas Juneau and Craig Forcese (eds), Top Secret Canada: Understanding the Canadian Intelligence and National Security Community, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020, pp. 53–55.
- ↑ Catharine Tunney, Blair says CSIS could have picked up the phone to alert him to Chong intelligence, CBC News, 14 June 2023, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Strider Technologies, David Vigneault, former head of Canadian intelligence, joins Strider as Managing Director, 7 August 2024, accessed 8 November 2026.