My name is Pietro Melillo, and I have been working for several years in the field of cybersecurity, with a specific focus on Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), security governance, and advanced threat analysis.

I currently serve as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Würth Italy, where I am responsible for defining and overseeing the company’s cybersecurity strategy across multiple business entities. My role includes regulatory compliance—particularly with the NIS2 Directive—as well as the implementation and continuous improvement of international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. I also lead enterprise-wide initiatives in incident response, vulnerability management, security awareness, and AI governance, ensuring alignment between cybersecurity controls, regulatory obligations, and business objectives.

In parallel, I am a PhD Researcher in Cyber Threat Intelligence at the University of Sannio, where my research focuses on the ransomware ecosystem, dark web dynamics, and data-driven models for threat analysis and prediction. My academic work combines empirical analysis, threat intelligence methodologies, and applied research aimed at improving the understanding and anticipation of complex cyber threats.

Alongside my research activities, I am involved in academic teaching at several Italian universities, including the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Unisannio. I deliver specialized courses on Cyber Threat Intelligence, dark web analysis, and cybercrime, with an emphasis on bridging theoretical frameworks and real-world operational practices.

I am also the Director of the CTI group “DarkLab” at Red Hot Cyber, where I coordinate research, monitoring, and dissemination activities focused on emerging threats, underground ecosystems, and the evolution of criminal activity in cyberspace.

A detailed overview of my professional certifications is available in the dedicated Certifications section.