Chief Information Security Officer

Our client is a premier Top 50 global financial titan \~ Tier-1 global financial services behemoth $1 T in AUM and a true pillar of the international capital markets backed by a historic, disciplined legacy, commanding over

$1 trillion (approx) in Assets Under Management (AUM)

alongside a massive corporate balance sheet of

nearly $750 Billion (approx) in total assets

. Operating a highly interconnected network across approximately 30 countries with an elite workforce of roughly 30,000 professionals, this century-old institution seamlessly connects global markets to deliver sophisticated, institutional financial solutions. This high-profile, New York-based dual mandate commands global cybersecurity ownership for a multi-billion-dollar Wholesale banking division that generates 50% to 60% of the firm's overall revenue, while simultaneously steering the strategic security footprint across the Americas region. This is a high-visibility, board-reporting interaction role, granting senior leadership massive autonomy to make critical security decisions and execute them independently.

Leadership Board Reporting and more: This is not a role for everyone.**

Operating with high-stakes autonomy requires a specific executive DNA: a rare combination of transparent communication, technical curiosity, and motivational grit. We aren't looking for a passive manager, but a resilient, hands-on change agent who thrives in a rapid-fire, "do 130% tomorrow" technology culture.

Leadership here means building trust through radical transparency—maintaining a strict

"no surprises"

mindset with the Global CTO, Global CSO, and corporate boards. You must be an inspirational collaborator capable of navigating a deeply matrixed international ecosystem, leading through

influence rather than direct budget control

, and replacing legacy structures with best-in-class security architectures. If you rely on rigid hierarchies to get things done, you won’t survive. If you lead by pure impact, this is your canvas.

This role sits at the intersection of business, risk, and technology—serving three key constituencies: regulators/board, the Wholesale business, and global security leadership. The mandate is to transform a developing security function into a modern, innovation-led capability while embedding security as a strategic business enabler.

Core Mandate

• Own CISO responsibilities while ensuring alignment with global security strategy
• Act as the Wholesale CISO/BISO, representing security at the highest level of business governance
• Build and lead a global Security R\&D/Innovation capability—sourcing, piloting, and scaling emerging technologies ** T

he Cyber Venture Pipeline:

Funding, incubating, testing, and launching new security enterprises.

• Elevate security maturity by implementing best-in-class practices from leading financial institutions
• Serve as a translator between technical teams, executive leadership, and regulators

Key Responsibilities

• Represent cybersecurity across board governance, regulatory engagement (SEC/FINRA), and business leadership
• Drive end-to-end transformation of security capabilities, including architecture, risk frameworks, and controls modernization
• Build a globally relevant innovation function focused on startups, VC ecosystems, and emerging technologies
• Partner closely with CIO, CTO, and business heads to embed security into revenue-generating activities
• Lead and motivate distributed teams across US, Japan, UK, and India, bridging cultural and operational differences
• Aggregate and communicate risk in a clear, business-relevant way for non-technical stakeholders
• Operate effectively in a matrix environment without direct budget control, influencing global stakeholders
• Act as a visible external ambassador, engaging with CISOs, investors, and the cybersecurity ecosystem

Candidate Profile

• Likely a CISO or Deputy CISO / at a major financial institution (ideally, but not required) ready to step into a broader, global leadership role
• Background from complex, global, wholesale/investment banking environments
• Comfortable operating in a high-intensity, front-office-aligned culture with rapid decision-making
• Motivated by building, transforming, and innovating—not maintaining status quo environments
• Strong blend of technical depth, business acumen, and executive presence

Top Critical Skills \& Experience

Executive Cyber Leadership (CISO or senior executive leader Experience):

• Proven experience operating as a

CISO or senior executive leader

or equivalent in large, global institutions; adept at executing global security strategies within a regional context without divergence.

Global Matrix Stakeholder Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across IT (CTO/infrastructure), application development, BC/DR, corporate/physical security, legal, compliance, and business lines (notably Wholesale), driving outcomes without direct budget control.

Security R\&D and Innovation Leadership :

• Experience building and leading a global security R\&D/innovation function; establishing strategy, metrics, and reporting; partnering with business and strategy teams to evaluate startups, investments, and innovation that enable revenue.
• Transforming security into a profit center

by investing in, nurturing, validating, and launching next-generation cybersecurity startups.

• Monetizing cybersecurity expertise

through the entire venture lifecycle: funding, incubating, field-testing, and commercializing new ventures.

• Security as a growth engine:

Capitalizing, incubating, and spinning off market-ready cybersecurity companies using internal operations as a proving ground.

Trust, Transparency, and Cultural Agility:

• High-integrity communicator who is transparent, non-rigid, and effective across US–Japan–UK–India cultural and time-zone divides; strong team motivator and relationship builder.

Financial Services Domain Expertise (not required):

• Deep familiarity with global wholesale/investment banking and asset management security requirements, regulatory environments, and large-scale enterprise security operating models.

Leadership Traits That Matter

• Straightforward, transparent communicator (“no surprises” mindset)
• Collaborative, low-ego operator with zero tolerance for politics
• Resilient and high-energy, able to thrive in a demanding, global role
• Curious and forward-looking, constantly scanning offensive/defensive trends
• Culturally agile, able to bridge US–Japan and other global location (over 33 countries) leadership dynamics

Why This Role

• Opportunity to “build and reshape” a global security function at a critical inflection point
• Direct impact on a high-performing, revenue-critical Wholesale business
• Unique chance to combine CISO leadership with global innovation ownership
• High visibility across board, executive leadership, and external ecosystem