Scott Nicholson bids Bridewell farewell

The executive director steps down “to spend more time with family and take some time out”

Scott Nicholson, executive director at Reading-based MSSP Bridewell, is to leave after nearly ten years at the company.

He assumed the role of exec director since February 2024, after serving as co-CEO for eight years, alongside current and now sole CEO Anthony Young.

His journey in the channel started in 2012 when joining IBM as senior cybersecurity and privacy consultant at IBM, before moving to Adapt in 2014 as head of cyber security and compliance.

Simultaneously to his position at Adapt, he founded his own company, Cyber and Compliance, a managed cybersecurity and compliance services provider of which he was also the CEO.

The organisation was dissolved eight months after its launch.

During Nicholson’s tenure at Bridewell, the company scaled to over 300 employees, acquired public sector cybersecurity firm Arculus in 2024, and signed an agreement with Oakley Capital and Eurazeo to create a strategic partnership with I-TRACING.

“After over ten years building the business with Anthony [Young], I decided I wanted to spend more time with family and take some time out,” wrote Nicholson in LinkedIn post.

“We started wanting to deliver modern cyber services at scale and be a true, trusted partner to our clients.

“I think we achieved that and have now evolved into a leading player within the cyber services market.”

In an official statement, the exiting executive director added: "With Bridewell entering the next phase of its growth journey, it felt like the right time to take a further step back from the business and step down as executive director.

“With the business performing so well over the past 18 months, and new investors coming in as part of our partnership with I-TRACING, I’m happy to be leaving Bridewell in such a strong position.

“I’m proud to have been part of it and to have worked alongside so many talented individuals.”

Young also declared: “We have had a lot of successes over the years; it has been a fantastic journey and Scott will always be a part of Bridewell.

“Building on the successes we’ve had over the last ten years, we’re in a really strong position to grow even further with a highly experienced board, fantastic leadership team and new investors coming into the business.”