Former IBM Group Manager Brendan Hannigan Named Polaris Venture Partner

Brendan Hannigan, former general manager of the security division at IBM, has joined Polaris Partners as a venture partner to support the investment company’s efforts to finance and establish security, cloud and software-as-a-service businesses.

He also plans to invest in technology startups and seek new business opportunities in his new position, Polaris said Thursday.

“For more than 15 years, we’ve known Brendan as a great business partner and a champion of innovation, both at small startups and global corporations,” said Dave Barrett, managing partner of Polaris.

“We’re super-excited about the insight and perspective he’ll add to our technology team, and about the contributions he’ll make to our partnership,” Barrett added.

Hannigan joined IBM through its acquisition of Polaris-backed security intelligence and analytics company Q1 Labs, which he previously led as president and CEO.

Before Q1 Labs, he served as vice president of marketing and technology at Sockeye Networks and head of network industry research at Forrester Research.