In recognition of their exceptional commitment to advancing cybersecurity and resilience within the financial sector, FS-ISAC announced the winners of its third annual Global Leaders awards today. FS-ISAC, a member-driven, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting cybersecurity and resilience in the global financial system, acknowledged outstanding members across APAC, EMEA, Latin America, and North America.
This year’s winners include Banco Mercantil del Norte, CIBC, Macquarie Group Limited, PNC, and Santander, who were recognized for their unwavering dedication to FS-ISAC’s pillars of intelligence, security, and resilience. These cybersecurity professionals exemplify cross-border collaboration, cyber intelligence sharing, and collective defense against emerging threats.
Christophe Barel, Managing Director for APAC at FS-ISAC, expressed gratitude and excitement for the winners. He emphasized the significance of their contributions in addressing ongoing cyber threats in the APAC region and their invaluable resilience in enhancing cross-border collaboration to safeguard the financial services sector.
The APAC region, in particular, has experienced a surge in cyber attacks. According to a report by Check Point, the global Finance and Banking sector saw a notable 32% year-over-year increase in cyber attacks in the first quarter of 2023, impacting 1 in 25 organizations. APAC stood out with the highest surge, recording a 16% year-over-year increase, averaging 1,835 weekly attacks per organization.
David Gee, Global Head of Cyber, Technology, and Data Risk at Macquarie Group Limited, and the recipient of the Global Leaders award for APAC, highlighted the importance of staying updated on the latest cyber resilience tactics and compliance needs as the threat landscape evolves. Macquarie Group Limited has collaborated extensively to build a regional community, fostering regulatory harmonization and industry-wide security progression through information sharing.
David Broad, Senior Manager, Cyber Security Partnerships at CIBC and Global Leaders winner for North America, emphasized the significance of building strong partnerships and trust among FS-ISAC’s members. These efforts increase awareness of the cyber threat landscape and collectively enhance resilience for the financial sector. CIBC has been instrumental in forming the Canadian Intelligence Council, the Incident Response Team Council, and the Canadian CISO Council.
Marina Nogales, Global Head of Cyber External Engagement at Santander and Global Leaders winner for Europe, UK, Middle East, and Africa, highlighted their significant strides in intelligence sharing and partnership with FS-ISAC. Santander formed the Europe Board of Directors in collaboration with FS-ISAC, expanding the dissemination of cyber intelligence on the European cyber ecosystem. This recognition reaffirms Santander’s strategic work in protecting customers from rapidly evolving cyber threats.
Alejandro Nunez, Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Banco Mercantil del Norte, and Global Leaders winner for Latin America, emphasized the collaborative efforts across Latin American financial institutions to strengthen security maturity and resilience. Their focus on increased intelligence and knowledge sharing has significantly contributed to cross-border collaboration in the region.
Samuel Strohm, Senior Vice President and Director, Global Security Fusion Center at PNC, and Global Leaders winner for North America, stressed the importance of coordination across functions and sectors in managing risk and combating bad actors. PNC’s Global Security Fusion Center actively contributes to protecting the global financial sector and the general population by sharing actionable cyber threat intelligence and best practices.
FS-ISAC’s selection committee, composed of members from each region, narrowed down the submissions based on industry impact and member contributions. Two to three finalists were chosen per region, and the winners were then selected. In the North America region, two winners were recognized.
These Global Leaders awards highlight the exceptional efforts made by cybersecurity professionals in safeguarding the financial sector and advancing resilience. Their contributions are crucial in combatting the evolving cyber threats faced by the global financial system.
