About Toro
Toro was founded in 2015 by Peter Connolly.
Following a career in the military, Peter was asked to create the UK’s first Red Team penetration testing methodology blending ethical hacking, physical intrusion, and social engineering to replicate attacks by SOC (Serious Organised Crime) and Nation States. Peter and his team were tasked with attacking hundreds of businesses from government departments to data centres, banks, and corporate offices to identify their weaknesses.
The Red Team quickly discovered the gaps that were most easy to exploit were because the defenders had a siloed approach to cyber and physical security.
Criminals exploit the path of least resistance, combining cyber threats, physical breaches, and human error but the Red Team found that the defenders were treating each element of security as a stand-alone creating gaps that they could breach.
This is where the idea of Toro was born.
Peter wanted to build
a company of experts
that not only thought like
attackers but also combined
cyber, physical and personnel
security knowledge to give
organisations the defence
needed to protect themselves
into today’s world.
Toro, meaning bull in Spanish, symbolises risk. Toro helps organisations take and manage risk to help them thrive.
Toro is now a thriving and growing team, discover our industry leading security professionals that are here to protect your organisations below:
Toro believes in the importance of people - our client, our employees, and those we are trying to defend you from. We think like your attackers. Our clients are our priority, and we strive to provide excellence in everything we do. Our innovation is what separates us from other security providers, due to our converged approach, and our ability to scan the threat landscape for future threats, and to contextualise them for your business. If your threats are not contextualised you're receiving information, and not intelligence. If your security is stovepiped, you are vulnerable to the blended approach that attackers use.
At Toro our core values define who we are and guide everything we do...
Excellence
Constantly striving to improve.
People
Our people are our greatest asset, they are passionate about what they do, act with integrity, and we invest in their growth.
Innovation
Not afraid to challenge convention or fail to improve, we work together.
Clients First
Understanding and meeting their needs, going the extra mile to ensure their satisfaction.
MEET THE TEAM
Peter Connolly
CEO
Peter is a distinguished business leader, problem solver, and entrepreneur, with over two decades of hands-on experience in security risk management within both private and public sectors.
His journey into security started as an Officer in the British Army, where he served for 12 years, leading troops in Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism operations in the UK, Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Kenya, and Somalia.
In his role as the Regional Military Advisor for his Majesty's Government (HMG) in East Africa, Peter played a pivotal role in developing a large commercial partner network and building unprecedented strategic relationship with regional armies, foreign governments and intelligence.
In 2012 Peter created the UK's first Red Team penetration test service. Using the blended approach, Peter and his team attacked hundreds of clients to expose gaps in their cyber, physical and people security, before helping them better defend themselves.
In 2015, Peter founded Toro, where he currently serves as CEO. His responsibilities encompass charting the strategic course of the business, collaborating closely with clients to understand their requirements, and driving strategic projects.
Peter is a co-founder of the non-profit TechVets which has helped over 4,000 UK military veterans and their spouses to access free training and pursue careers in technology and cyber. Peter is a trustee of two veterans charities.
Katie Barnett
Director of Cyber Security
Katie is a tenacious cyber security professional, with fifteen years’ experience in IT, built upon a corporate foundation of legal training and a stint as a commercial solicitor.
She has run IT and security operations for a number of commercial, academic and media organisations. This includes delivering government supply chain assurance projects and supporting multiple UK and US government contracts in the strategic communications space.
As a consultant she operates at Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) level, providing board level expertise in information security. This includes assessing cyber security maturity and conducting gap analyses against industry standards such as Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NIST, SOC 2, CAIQ, and CAF. She relentlessly drives improvement by building relationships, adopting a methodical approach and communicating effectively.
Her talent is in distilling complex environments down to deliver simple, robust solutions that address cyber, physical and people security. She has overseen cybersecurity and risk management for projects delivering globally, including throughout Europe, Australia, Iraq, Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, Georgia and Ukraine. This has involved utilising cloud technologies, implementing structured procedural frameworks and engaging a multitude of stakeholders. Other projects include leading on the delivery of ISO 27001, ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials Plus and B Corps status attainment.
Gavin Wilson
Director of Physical Security & Risk
Gavin has had a distinguished career in the field of security and emergency leadership, having served within prominent blue-chip organisations, where he has played a pivotal role in supporting delivery, capability enhancement, growth, and development. His global experience in running security operations has been centred on safeguarding people, assets, and brand protection.
Gavin is a notable contributor to security he has shared insights through published articles in industry journals and magazines, as well as authored whitepapers for industry associations. As well as his written contributions Gavin is also a recognised speaker at industry events, discussing best practices in physical asset protection and the evolving landscape of security.
As a specialist in security design, Gavin works as an embedded consultant for both new-build and in-use projects, designing and assuring security designed solutions. He also conducts security audits to assess organisations' security maturity in compliance with ISO, BS, EN, and LPS standards.
Gavin is a founding member of a technology company dedicated to providing digital risk management and data automation services.
Furthermore, Gavin is a SABRE Registered Assessor and professional and a member of several professional bodies.
Ray Burke
Cyber Assurance Manager
A Geordie at heart, with a degree in Computer Network Security, Ray is fanatical when it comes to all things technology. He has a passion to learn and an eye for detail, and is diligent in his approach to solving cybersecurity problems, applying cyber assurance frameworks and best practices at the core of everything he delivers.
Taking a thorough, and logical manner in his approach to delivering cyber security Governance, Risk & Compliance in conjunction with appropriate solutioning, Ray has helped organisations overcome cybersecurity risk and incidents of varying scales, and takes great pleasure in going the extra mile to help clients stop cybersecurity criminality. Ray brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having previously worked in America, Canada, Europe, and African markets architecting solutions and overseeing projects across those geographies, to address and mitigate risk and ensuring compliance with intercontinental legislative requirements across several jurisdictions.
In a challenging and evolving cyber security threat landscape, Ray is often described as visionary in his approach to tackling the latest threat vectors, addressing concerns of both public and private sector organisations, taking a consultative approach to his delivery and execution. ISC2 member, COMPTIA certified, and Microsoft endorsed, Ray strives for the best quality in everything he delivers.
Liv Harris
Head of Marketing
With over 15 years of experience, Liv is a hands-on and dynamic senior marketing professional with a history of devising and executing company, product, and service marketing action plans. Liv has experience working in a broad range of sectors including public sector, recruitment, and technology. As Toro’s Head of Marketing, Liv leads Toro’s marketing efforts across multiple key channels, including social media, public relations, webinars, content creation, and corporate events, all of which contribute to Toro’s growth and success.
Mike Zalewski
Account Manager
Mike is a dedicated professional responsible for strategically expanding Toro's market presence and increasing revenue.
As Toro's Account Manager, Mike plays a vital role in nurturing customer relationships and actively promoting Toro's services to new clients. With over a decade of experience in client engagement, Mike excels in comprehending and addressing individual client needs and adeptly navigating complex challenges. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mike is a certified firearms instructor.
Tracey Gordon
Business Operations
Tracey is an experienced account manager and project coordinator with over 10 years of experience supporting and managing high-performing staff in the media industry and security sector. Tracey is Toro’s Business Operations Specialist, where she looks after everything related to the business, including HR and Toro’s internal processes and policies. Tracey is also an Account Manager and supports with internal design work.
Ana Penades Vera
Project Manager
Ana is an accomplished Project Manager with over 10 years of experience leading complex international projects in the international development and media sectors. She has a strong background in managing initiatives across multiple countries and cultures, consistently delivering successful outcomes for global organisations. Ana’s expertise spans areas such as countering disinformation, addressing hate speech, and tackling key ethical and human rights issues on a global level.
At Toro, Ana plays a central role as Project Manager for various high-profile public sector and select private sector projects. She ensures each project is managed with meticulous attention from start to finish, maintaining the highest standards of delivery. Known for her strong client relationship management, Ana works closely with clients to ensure their needs are met with professionalism and care. She is also highly skilled at overseeing budgets, timelines, and project execution, ensuring smooth and efficient delivery.
Connor Conlan-Coke
Business Development Executive
Connor is a results driven Business Development Executive focused on expanding Toro's security client base by identifying new business opportunities and building strong relationships with key decision makers. Bringing professionalism and insight to every client engagement, Connor is known for his ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. His collaborative, adaptive approach enhances Toro's converged security strategy, integrating cyber, physical, and investigative measures.
With over nine years of experience in the security sector, including a background as an Avionics Technician in the Royal Air Force, Connor has worked on complex systems in diverse, high-stakes environments worldwide. His technical foundation is reinforced by certifications such as ISO 27001 Provisional Implementer, along with expertise in security frameworks like Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, and NIST
Tara Heffer
Service Delivery Manager
With a background encompassing both the public and private sectors, Tara brings extensive experience in overseeing the day-to-day IT operations and user support, as well as successfully executing large-scale projects within organisations.
Tara’s expertise lies in proficiently managing teams to deliver exceptional and efficient services, ensuring that every client receives the highest level of care and attention. Tara’s qualifications include certifications such as CC, Azure Fundamentals, and MS Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals.
Dorian Marinov
Technical Lead
With over 19 years of experience in IT and cyber security Dorian has worked across various industries including public sector, central Government, FTSE, financial services, family office, publishing and not-for-profit. His expertise spans from service desk management and training to infrastructure (both cloud and physical), he’s also worked in countries in Europe, the Middle East, and South-East Asia.
Dorian is Toro’s Technical Lead; his exceptional interpersonal skills ensure that he understands each clients’ individual requirements to deliver the most appropriate solutions whilst mitigating vulnerabilities and risks using tried and tested best practice. His logical, methodological approach to systems, coupled with an understanding of policies and compliance requirements, allows him to make fully informed decisions and deliver against industry frameworks (such as Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 or NIST).
Andrew Wright
Senior Security Consultant
Andrew is an experienced IT professional with over 20 years software development experience before moving full time into penetration testing. He has worked in both the private and education sectors developing web applications as well as performing system administration with the emphasis on cyber security. He has performed over 200 penetration tests in the education sector helping to improve the security of University and Colleges.
Andrew is a certified as a Cyber Scheme Team Member, CISSP, Practical Network Penetration Tester, and is a Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus assessor.
Lily-May Welling
Service Delivery Analyst
With over three years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Lily is a proficient MSP professional. Her qualifications include a CCSA from the Chartered Institute of Information Security, a BCS Level 3 Award in Business Processes from the Chartered Institute of IT, and Level 2 Business Administration from Barnet and Southgate College and Level 1 & 2 ICT certifications from Pearsons.
Lily is proficient in Ninja RMM, Egnyte Administration, Google Administration, Active Directory, and Microsoft Entra, Purview, and Intune. In her role at Toro, Lily provides technical support, assisting clients with a wide range of queries and issues.
N’yahh Crooks
Senior IT Analyst
N’yahh is a seasoned IT professional with a passion for streamlining operations and boosting productivity through technology. His diverse career spans from eCommerce to recruitment. He is known for transforming organisations from home office set ups into thriving SMEs with robust policies and innovative solutions. N’yahh excels in managing networks, creating IT policies, and practicing strong governance and security. With project management skills and experience in leadership, he consistently delivers value while shaping technology landscapes. N’yahh is Toro’s senior IT Analyst, supporting clients to an excellent standard, always keeping security at the heart of everything he delivers.
Lyubo Hristov
IT Systems Specialist
Lyubo is a seasoned IT professional with 15 years of experience in IT support, engineering, and consulting. His expertise spans a wide range of technologies, with a particular focus on Microsoft, JAMF, Qualys, Sophos, and VMware solutions. Lyubo is Toro's IT System Specialist where he works with a wide range of organisations to optimise their IT infrastructure and enhance operational efficiency. Throughout his career, he has consistently delivered innovative IT solutions, provided invaluable support to clients, and offered strategic consulting services to help businesses thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. He is passionate about staying at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring clients receive the best guidance and solutions to meet their IT needs. Lyubo is a JAMF Certified Admin, JAMF Security and Management Consultant and JAMF Endpoint Security Admin and JAMF Expert. Lyubo also holds certifications in Microsoft, Fortinet NSE 1, 2 and 3 and Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Cybersecurity and Sophos Certified Engineer and Sophos Certified Sales Consultant.
Gareth Stinton
Cybersecurity Specialist
Gareth is a former British Army officer with a background in IT project management and digital transformation. Gareth has experience working with major players in the financial services, having held roles at Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Nationwide and Old Mutual Wealth, he also has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that smaller organisations face.
Gareth holds the System Security Certified Practitioner qualification, he is also qualified in best practice information security frameworks, holding the ISO 27001 Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor certifications and he is a Cyber Essentials Assessor. Gareth is also a certified Prince 2 Practitioner.
Gareth is Toro’s Cybersecurity specialist responsible for delivering cyber security reviews, supporting security enhancement activities, and managing complex projects.
Jim Berry
Physical Security Consultant
Former UK military, Jim is an advisor and trainer in hostile and complex environments.
With experience providing travel security, executive protection, and training for media, governments, and business; he currently serves as a Physical Security Consultant at Toro, assisting with clients' safety, security, and training needs.
Justin Cooper
Physical Security Consultant
Justin Cooper is a former member of the British Armed Forces, with a long extensive career in the security industry. His experience encompasses a wide variety of or roles from diplomatic protection officer in hostile environments to security management roles. He has worked closely with large warehouse and distribution clientele to providing consulting services to range of clientele all over Europe and the UK.
Justin brings to Toro his experience from variety of roles within the security industry to form a complete package within the physical security consultancy sector.
Renata Legierska
Head of Investigations
Renata has over 10 years' experience conducting corporate investigations, due diligence & asset tracing across multiple jurisdictions.
Andrej Kokoc
Senior Investigator
9 years Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) (clear, deep, and dark web), research and due diligence for corporate, NGO and Government clients.
Nick
Senior Security Consultant
18 years of UK Government experience in operational intelligence.
Jeremy Lloyd
Head of Strategy Advisory
Jeremy is an experienced corporate executive with 30 years of IT & consulting experience. Exited in 2017 as Founder, CISO & CTO of a software development firm.
Accreditations & Partners
