High-assurance security specialist strengthens leadership team with experienced executive for next growth phase in the Netherlands and Europe
Delft, 7 May 2026: Sentyron (formerly Fox Crypto), the Dutch provider of high-assurance cybersecurity solutions for government, defence and critical infrastructure, has appointed Artie Debidien as Chief Operating Officer. Artie previously held CIO and board positions at Knab, NIBC, NN Group and KPN. In her new role, she will strengthen the operational organisation and support Sentyron's international growth ambitions.
Appointment fits the next phase of the organisation
With this appointment, Sentyron takes a further step in its development as a leading European player in high-assurance security. The company, based in Delft and with more than twenty years of experience as a preferred supplier to governments and defence organisations, says it is at a turning point. Growth in scale brings increasing complexity in processes, collaboration and service delivery, while the demands around security, compliance and digital sovereignty remain consistently high. Bringing in a COO with both executive experience and substantive expertise is intended to enable that next phase.
Sentyron develops and manages certified solutions such as the Sentyron DataDiode (Common Criteria EAL7+ and NATO TOP SECRET), SkyTale, OpenVPN-NL and an Electronic Key Management System. The products are used by ministries, defence organisations, intelligence services, energy companies, transport authorities and financial institutions in more than thirty countries. The Dutch government has designated the company as strategically vital.
"Security is no longer a luxury. It is a precondition for trust," Artie says. "I believe cybersecurity is a societal responsibility. Organisations have an obligation to properly protect their systems and data."
Broad executive and substantive background
Artie has extensive experience in heavily regulated environments where reliability and continuity are daily requirements. At Knab, she helped lay the foundations for one of the first fully digital banks in the Netherlands. Over the past two years she has also been active as an interim CxO through her own company, FRWRD Debidien Consultancy, supporting organisations through complex transitions.
Alongside her new role at Sentyron, Artie holds several supervisory positions. She is a member of the Supervisory Board and the Financial Committee at De Nederlandsche Bank, chair of the Supervisory Board of Stichting Competens IT Skills Fund, and guest lecturer at the Erasmus Institute for Business Economics in The Next CFO and The Next CIO programmes.
A builder, not an operator
According to CEO Christian Prickaerts, the choice of Artie goes beyond a traditional operational appointment. "We weren't looking for an operator. We were looking for a builder," Christian says.
"Artie knows both sides of the table. As a former CIO, she understands exactly how cybersecurity measures are implemented, what they require from an organisation and where things often go wrong in practice. That combination of executive experience and substantive depth makes her valuable, not only internally, but particularly in the conversation with clients about their strategic challenges."
The appointment aligns with Sentyron's broader positioning as a European alternative in a market dominated by non-European suppliers. The company develops and manages its solutions entirely in the Netherlands, with an emphasis on digital sovereignty, compliance with frameworks such as NIS2, BIO, IEC 62443 and NATO standards, and full control over hardware and software. Artie's network within the CIO community is a strategic asset for the years ahead.
Building a name across Europe
Artie herself describes the move as "the sum of everything I have done and learned in recent years." Her first priority is to build an organisation that is ready for the next phase, with room for personal development and clarity in roles and collaboration.
The ambition she brings aligns with that of Sentyron: "I want Sentyron to become an established name. Not only in the Netherlands, but in Europe as well."