Top 10 Cyber Leaders in EMEA
With a threat landscape more tumultuous now than at any time in the past five years, the issue of cybersecurity is at a pivotal point. It is in these times, that Cyber leaders, who oversee the development, implementation, and enforcement of critical security practices within a business, become essential.
These leaders manage the teams that implement necessary security technologies to minimise risk to organisations. With Europe and the Middle East both facing surges in DDoS, there job has only increased in difficulty and complexity.
With this in mind, Cyber Magazine considers some of the leading cyber leaders for well-established organizations within the EMEA region, who have a significant influence within the global cybersecurity landscape.
10. Dr Magda Chelly
Role: Co-founder at RiskImmune
Location: UK
Dr Magda Chelly stands out as one of the pioneering women to serve on the advisory board of the BlackHat Asia Executive Committee, a prestigious position in the cybersecurity industry. In 2016, she established her own cybersecurity start-up based in Singapore, making significant contributions to Asia's tech ecosystem.
As a founding member of Women on Cyber, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting gender diversity in cybersecurity, Dr Chelly has shown unwavering commitment to the field. Her drive led to the launch of the first Catch The Flag competition for girls in Singapore, an initiative that received support from the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.
9: Michael Beck
Role: Global CISO at Darktrace
Location: UK
Michael Beck joined Darktrace in its early stages in 2014, where he developed the cyber analyst operation that provides 24/7 support to thousands of Darktrace customers. Since 2023, he has taken on the role of Global CISO, overseeing the company's internal security programme.Beck's career began as a software engineer on GCHQ's technologist programme, progressing to support military operations.
His experience includes conducting intelligence analysis and assessment in operational theatres worldwide, running cyber defensive operations for the UK government, implementing the national cyber security strategy, and protecting the London 2012 Olympic Games.
8. Joy Omoruku
Role: CISO at Airtel Nigeria
Location: Nigeria
Joy Omoruku is a cybersecurity specialist with extensive experience in IT audit, information security, cybersecurity, security operations, cybersecurity governance, and cloud security. Her career includes roles at Sterling Bank in Nigeria and Microsoft, where she advised and consulted for commercial banks and telecoms on hybrid infrastructure security.
At Airtel Nigeria, Omoruku contributes to the design and approval of a comprehensive security strategy. This strategy encompasses the end-to-end lifecycle of information security operations, including evaluating the IT threat landscape, devising policies and controls to reduce business risk, and leading auditing and compliance initiatives.
7. Jesús Mérida
Role: Chief Information Security Officer at Iberia
Location: Spain
Jesús Mérida, appointed as CISO at Iberia in 2019, is an experienced IT manager dedicated to information security and risk management. He has extensive experience in governance models and project implementation at both technical and organisational levels. Mérida consistently emphasises that cybersecurity is a key point in the company's strategy.
With a background in international business focused on information technology, Mérida has worked across Europe (EMEA), the United States, and the Middle East. His work at Técnicas Reunidas earned him the 2018 ComputerWorld Award for CISO of the Year.
6. Andrew Robson
Role: Chief Information Security Officer Bentley Motors
Location: UK
Andrew Robson is an information technology security specialist with a proven track record of directing a wide range of IT initiatives. He has successfully participated in planning and implementing information-security solutions that directly support business objectives. Robson's involvement in information security dates back to 1987 when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a telecommunications operator.
Since then, he has worked in various areas of security, including administration, systems management, IT risk, and as Head of Security Operations. His career includes prominent senior roles at LloydsTSB, Barclays, and The COOP Bank. Since 2016, he has held the position of CISO at Bentley Motors.
5. Helen Rabe
Role: CISO
Location: UK
Helen Rabe is responsible for managing the BBC's information, cyber and technology security strategy and operations. Her role encompasses a variety of responsibilities, including developing, implementing, and enforcing the BBC's security policies to protect critical data, services, and systems across the organisation.
With over 13 years of experience in the cyber industry, Rabe has successfully managed high-performing teams to counter genuine cyber threats. She has delivered security and data privacy management solutions across a broad range of industry sectors, including financial services, life sciences, and broadcasting.
4. Björn Fröhlich
Role: CISO Deutsche Bank
Location: Switzerland
Björn Fröhlich brings more than a decade of combined experience in enhancing information security and risk management. He has consistently worked to implement security controls within a wide range of business platforms, always aiming to enable smart digitalisation in a secure manner for the businesses he serves.
As the CISO for Deutsche Bank's Switzerland branch, Fröhlich is responsible for information security topics, including regulatory matters specific to Switzerland. He works to enhance the bank's information security and advance its IT security strategy. Fröhlich's career includes prominent cybersecurity roles at Credit Suisse, Novartis, and Roche.
3. Henrik Parkkinen
Role: Information Security Officer at Wirelesscar
Location: Sweden
Henrik Parkkinen stands out as a prominent figure in the cybersecurity landscape. Recognised as one of the '40 under 40 in Cybersecurity', Henrik has established himself as an experienced security advisor with over two decades of expertise in Information Security.
Henrik's career is characterised by his dedication to bolstering organisational security postures and enhancing cyber resilience. With his extensive knowledge and experience, Henrik's has become a sought-after expert for organisations looking to implement robust security solutions, with his consultancy work spanning a broad spectrum of critical areas, including security strategy development, comprehensive analysis, rigorous assessments and audits, cloud security implementation, governance frameworks, risk management, and business consulting.
3. Eugene Kaspersky
Role: CEO at Kaspersky
Location: Russia
Eugene Kaspersky is a renowned figure in cybersecurity and IT, known for his pioneering work in computer security software and the establishment of Kaspersky Lab in 1997. The company has since become one of the world's leading cybersecurity firms.Born in Russia in 1965, Kaspersky's journey into cybersecurity began with a background in mathematical engineering.
His interest in IT security was sparked when his computer was hit by the devastating Cascade virus in 1989, prompting him to create a program to remove it. Kaspersky Lab consistently delivers cutting-edge antivirus tools, with solutions deployed to combat many high-profile threats, including cyber espionage. Kaspersky himself is an outspoken advocate for global cooperation in combating cybercrime. He is also one of the world's wealthiest individuals, with Forbes estimating his net worth at US$2.1bn.
1. Shlomo Kramer
Role: Founder & CEO at Cato Networks
Location: Israel
Shlomo Kramer is an information technology entrepreneur and investor. He is the Founder and CEO of Cato Networks and the Co-founder of Check Point Software Technologies and Imperva, earning him the nickname the the Godfather of Israeli Cybersecurity.
His involvement in the tech industry includes serving as a board director and founding investor in several security, fintech, and software companies, and his previous investments span a wide range of successful ventures, including Forescout and Palo Alto Networks.
Throughout his career, Kramer has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the technology industry. These include being named Executive of the Year by SC Media in 2024, CEO of the Year by SC Magazine in 2008, and one of 20 luminaries who changed the network industry by Network World in 2006.
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