Paul Rivers

Paul Rivers is the Chief Innovation Officer and Special Projects lead for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury basketball organizations.125 He brings over 25 years of sports executive experience to this role, where he drives transformative strategies and fosters partnerships to elevate both teams.3

Career Highlights

Current Position:

• Chief Innovation Officer / Special Projects at Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury (since at least 2024)

Previous Roles:

• Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Security Officer at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (February 2023 - Present)
• Director of Security and Compliance at Amazon Web Services (AWS) (November 2021 - February 2023)
• Chief Information Security Officer at Yale University (October 2017 - November 2021)
• Executive Director, Office of the CISO at Optiv Inc (June 2016 - October 2017)
• Chief Information Security Officer at UC Berkeley (2012 - June 2016)

Education

Paul Rivers holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies (Double BA) from Indiana University Bloomington, which he completed between 1988 and 1992.1

Skills and Expertise

Paul is known for his:

• Ability to work with highly technical individuals in designing complex systems
• Patient and thoughtful approach
• True desire to be helpful
• Experience in formulating and implementing information security and compliance strategies
• Leadership in driving cyber security strategies for Fortune 500 clients
• Expertise in security operations, risk management, and IT policy

Recent Contributions

In his role with the Phoenix Suns, Paul Rivers has been involved in significant projects, including:

• The opening of a new office for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury in the Warehouse District near Footprint Center in 20246
• Speaking engagements, such as the Integro Bank CEO Club event in March 2024, where he shared insights on challenges and opportunities in sports innovation34

Paul Rivers' extensive background in information security and his current focus on innovation in sports demonstrate his versatility and leadership in both technology and sports management.