Vectra AI taps Chua Hock Leng for regional VP role to lead growth agenda

Vectra AI is sharpening its APJ strategy as digital transformation drives demand for connected threat detection.

Chua Hock Leng has been appointed Vectra AI VP and GM for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) to spearhead its growth strategy across the region, providing AI-driven network detection and response (NDR).

With previous roles at EMC, RSA and Pure Storage, Hock Leng combines leadership across security, cloud and digital transformation with regional experience. He will target partner growth with hyperscalers and MSSPs to meet growing demand for hybrid and multi-cloud threat detection.

“As organisations across APJ embrace digital transformation, securing complex environments, especially against identity-based and lateral movement attacks, is more critical than ever,” he said.

Vectra AI is finding that organisations are struggling to bridge the gaps in visibility and security coverage as they shift workloads to the cloud while maintaining on-prem infrastructure.

A connected ecosystem helps unify threat detection across different environments, reduces operational overhead and speeds up response, according to Hock Leng.

“What we’re hearing from CISOs is clear: they need unified detection and response across network, cloud, identity and SaaS,” he told CRN Australia.

Regional strategy tailored to diverse needs

Cybersecurity maturity and regulatory expectations vary significantly across the region and Hock Leng will steer the firm’s localised approach.

“What makes this region unique is the speed of digital adoption combined with the complexity of hybrid infrastructure,” he said.

“Regional knowledge is essential to navigate this complexity and tailor our solutions to local needs – whether that’s addressing data sovereignty, language localisation, or aligning with sector-specific compliance requirements,” he added.

Hock Leng sees significant regional opportunities in key sectors such as financial services, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and government — industries that are navigating regulatory requirements while also facing increasing cyber threats.

“That’s why having feet on the ground and partners with local expertise is crucial. It’s not a one-size-fits-all region – it demands deep local market expertise, nuance, trust and adaptability,” he added.

For many organisations in the region, working with MSSPs or leveraging cloud-native services is how they scale their security posture without overburdening internal teams, according to Hock Leng.

“It’s about meeting customers where they are and helping them build security operations that are both agile and effective,” he concluded.