The Messaging, Malware, and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) has announced Seth Blank as the new Co-Vice Chairperson of its Board of Directors and extends its deep gratitude to Sharon Kent for her service as her term as Co-Vice Chairperson concludes.
“M3AAWG’s Board of Directors is pivotal to achieving the courageous goals set forth by our members and the cybersecurity community at large. Leaders like Sharon and Seth not only enhance online safety through their leadership at their own companies, but they also selflessly dedicate immense personal time to these roles as we strive towards a world free of online abuse,” said Amy Cadagin, M3AAWG Executive Director.
As the Chief Technology Officer at Valimail, Seth brings over two decades of experience and industry knowledge, both as an entrepreneur and an executive, to his new role with M3AAWG.
“For years, I’ve been deeply engaged in M3AAWG’s mission—serving as a board member, co-chairing both the Collaboration and Technical Committees, and driving key initiatives to combat messaging abuse. I’ve seen firsthand how impactful this organization can be when we work together to protect users and the ecosystem,” he said.
Seth joined Valimail in 2017 to help expand DMARC as the gold standard in email authentication. He is no stranger to collaboration within this industry, having co-chaired working groups and authored documents at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) related to messaging security. He also serves as the Chairperson of the AuthIndicators Working Group, aiding in the development of security indicators for email.
“I’m committed to supporting our leadership team in expanding our impact, ensuring our work remains at the forefront of emerging threats while strengthening M3AAWG for the future,” he added.
Through the volunteer leadership of these officers, M3AAWG members advance its mission without the constraints of industry competition and geographic boundaries. Their work upholds an atmosphere of open communication while promoting diversity in voices and fresh perspectives.
“Seth and Sharon are both industry-savvy and resilient, leadership traits that are vital for stopping the proliferation of online abuse. We cannot thank Sharon enough for her service, and we are enthused to have Seth join this esteemed group of officers,” Amy added.
Sara Roper will continue to lead as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, with Severin Walker and Seth Blank serving as Co-Vice Chairpersons. Sam Silberman will remain as Treasurer, while Tom Bartel will continue his role as Assistant Treasurer. Amy Cadagin, M3AAWG’s Executive Director, will serve as Secretary to the Board of Directors. This dedicated leadership team will continue driving M3AAWG’s mission forward, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the global fight against online abuse.
“Collaboration is the heartbeat of M3AAWG, and Seth’s robust experience shows his selfless commitment to teamwork and his ability to build alliances between industries and competitors. This is not only key to our past success, but it’s the only way forward, as we cannot address the challenges posed by online abuse without strong teamwork,” Sara said.