Red Alpha names Neo Say Beng Chief Business Officer

Red Alpha Cybersecurity has appointed Neo Say Beng as chief business officer, adding a former Singapore public sector cybersecurity leader to its senior management team.

He joins the Singapore-based workforce development company as it focuses on training professionals for roles across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud, data, networking, and software engineering. The appointment is intended to support its work on talent development and workforce transformation as employers seek staff who can combine technical knowledge with business understanding.

Neo brings more than 30 years of experience across defence, government, cybersecurity, research, innovation, and ecosystem development. His previous roles included senior positions at the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the Ministry of Defence.

In those organisations, he worked on cybersecurity policy, talent initiatives, and national research programmes. He also oversaw more than S$400 million in investments across cybersecurity, AI security, quantum technologies, and other digital fields.

Talent focus

Red Alpha's model integrates AI-assisted workflows, automation tools, and practical industry applications into training rather than treating artificial intelligence as a separate topic. It says this reflects changing employer demand for staff who can apply technical tools in operational and commercial settings.

The company is also exploring talent pathways based on roles that sit between technology implementation, customer engagement, and business change. It points to Forward Deployed Engineers as an example of workers who help organisations apply complex technologies in day-to-day operations.

Dean Gefen, group chief executive officer of Red Alpha Cybersecurity, linked the appointment to that shift in workforce needs.

"AI is fundamentally changing how organisations build capabilities, develop talent, and create value," Gefen said.

"The professionals who will thrive are those who can combine technical depth, sound judgement, business acumen, and the ability to harness AI effectively. Say Beng brings extensive experience in capability development, ecosystem building, and strategic leadership, making him exceptionally well positioned to help shape Red Alpha's next phase of growth."

Workforce demand

The appointment comes as companies and public sector bodies reassess hiring and training needs in response to the wider use of artificial intelligence. In Red Alpha's view, the issue is not only access to technology but also whether organisations have employees who can work across technical, operational, and business functions.

Neo addressed that point in comments released by the company.

"The conversation around AI often centres on technology. Equally important is the question of talent," Neo Say Beng, chief business officer of Red Alpha Cybersecurity, said.

"Success in the AI era will depend on developing professionals who combine technical depth with critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, and the ability to translate innovation into real-world impact. Organisations will need people who can work effectively across technology, operations, and business domains. Red Alpha has a unique opportunity to help shape this future workforce, and I am excited to be part of that journey."

Track record

Red Alpha says it has trained more than 400 associates and placed talent with more than 20 hiring partners across government, defence, critical information infrastructure, telecommunications, managed security services, systems integration, transportation, and media.

The company received the SGTech Impact Award for Workforce Transformation in 2025. It describes itself as a workforce transformation and technology talent development business focused on AI-native professionals.

Its broader proposition is that employers need a different type of technology worker as AI tools become more common in business processes. That includes people who can move between technical delivery, stakeholder engagement, and practical deployment, an area where Neo's background in public sector strategy and ecosystem development may prove relevant.

For Red Alpha, the appointment is part of a push to deepen leadership as competition grows around how companies source and train digital talent. For Singapore's technology labour market, it reflects a wider effort to develop workers who can apply AI in operational settings rather than simply understand the tools in theory.