JD Harris
Founder & CEO, Argent Reach
Resilient organizations are built before the crisis, not during it.
Education/Experience
JD is a technology executive and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of leadership experience across cybersecurity, enterprise software, and professional services. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Argent Reach, where he advises organizations on cyber incident prevention, detection, and response. His career includes senior leadership roles at Vision Technologies, HighJump Software, Nexiant, Kiva Systems, and Microsoft, as well as international consulting experience with Ernst & Young. JD is also the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Ascent Solutions, a cybersecurity services firm he led through rapid growth and a successful exit.
Social Accounts
Biography
JD Harris is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur known for building, scaling, and transforming technology-driven organizations. As Co-Founder and CEO of Argent Reach, he advises executive teams and boards on cybersecurity strategy, incident readiness, and operational resilience, helping organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Over three decades, JD has led professional services, operations, and consulting organizations at some of the world’s most respected technology companies. At Microsoft, he strengthened and expanded the North Central professional services division. He later held senior leadership roles at HighJump Software and Kiva Systems, both of which achieved successful exits. HighJump Software was acquired by 3M, and Kiva Systems became Amazon’s largest acquisition at the time.
As Founder and CEO of Ascent Solutions, JD led the firm’s transformation into a leading cybersecurity services provider, earning industry recognition for both performance and culture. Under his leadership, Ascent Solutions was named the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s #1 Company for Values and Ethics. He has also received Microsoft’s Intelligent Security Association (MISA) 2023 Security Trailblazer Award and was nominated twice for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
Beyond his executive roles, JD is a Forbes Business Council member and contributor, and a frequent speaker on leadership, strategy, culture advancement, and cybersecurity. His work reflects a consistent focus on disciplined execution, ethical leadership, and building organizations that endure under pressure.
Areas of Expertise
- Cybersecurity strategy and incident response
- Executive advisory and board-level guidance
- Professional services leadership
- Scaling and exiting technology companies
- Operational transformation
- Enterprise consulting and delivery
- Culture, values, and leadership development
- Go-to-market and growth strategy
