Link. Click. Hacked!

The ease with which hackers are able to target even the largest organizations highlights the growing challenge faced by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). Their role and responsibilities have grown progressively intricate and challenging in response to the growing risks in the cybersecurity domain.

As the world becomes a global phenomenon, connected via the internet and social media, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be ignored. Protecting data is no longer an option, and guarding against these hackers has become a paramount concern for organizations across the globe. 

As we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s crucial to recognize the indispensable role that CISOs play. CISOs are the frontline defenders, entrusted with the responsibility of fortifying their organizations against the relentless onslaught of cyberattacks.

In this article, we look at the Top 20 Indian CISOs of Global Companies who have made their mark in the security world, successfully steering their organizations through the intricate cybersecurity realm. 

Top 20 Indian CISOs of global companies

1. Karthik Swarnam, CISO at Kroger

Karthik Swarnam, the CISO of Kroger, a leading US supermarket chain, is highly regarded for his cybersecurity expertise and ability to tackle emerging threats.

With over 25 years of experience as a technology leader, Swarnam has successfully implemented strong security measures to protect Kroger’s extensive customer data network, instilling trust in millions of shoppers.

He has a proven track record of driving global organizations forward, employing innovative solutions, and spearheading digital transformations. Swarnam also advises startups, large enterprises, national governments, and C-level executives, guiding technology and secure digital transformation.

2. Aman Raheja, CISO at Humana

Aman Raheja has played a pivotal role in strengthening Humana’s cybersecurity defenses as a prominent healthcare company.

With over two decades of experience in security and technology, Raheja’s deep understanding of the healthcare industry has empowered him to overcome unique challenges and safeguard sensitive patient information.

He has successfully ensured compliance with regulatory standards while driving innovation in digital health services.

Raheja’s career journey began as a software developer and progressed through various security roles, including pen testing and app security, before assuming leadership positions.

He has collaborated with business and IT leaders, regulators, and Boards to effectively manage security risks and devise comprehensive security strategies at an enterprise level.

3. Sunil Seshadri, CISO at Wells Fargo

Sunil Seshadri has been at the forefront of financial cybersecurity as the CISO of Wells Fargo. Through his proactive approach, Seshadri ensures the protection of customer financial data and strengthens critical infrastructure against malicious attacks.

His visionary leadership encourages collaboration between security teams and business units, establishing a secure and resilient ecosystem that preserves the trust of Wells Fargo’s extensive customer base.

With over 20 years of experience in leadership, strategy, technical operations, and cyber risk management, Seshadri has excelled in assessing, designing, and operating large-scale security platforms in complex and fast-paced environments. 

4. Amit Aggarwal, CISO at Moderna,

Amit Aggarwal, the CISO of Moderna, plays a crucial role in safeguarding online data and implementing effective policies.

With his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, Aggarwal implements robust cybersecurity measures that protect Moderna’s groundbreaking vaccine development efforts. These measures are particularly crucial in the global fight against hackers and scammers.

At Moderna, Aggarwal focuses on enhancing people’s vitality and well-being by strategizing and implementing bold technology visions that support developing and delivering transformative medicines to patients.

He takes pride in contributing to Moderna’s achievement of delivering over a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide, ensuring the protection and advancement of the company’s information systems amidst rapid growth.

5. Ravi Mani, CISO at Quest Diagnostics

Ravi Mani serves as the guardian of sensitive patient data within Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic information services. With a strategic cybersecurity approach, Mani ensures the confidentiality and integrity of medical records, upholding patient privacy and reinforcing trust in the healthcare industry.

He has extensive experience as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Distinguished Engineer in IT and services.

Mani possesses a diverse skill set in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, IT service management, and business intelligence. His expertise has earned him recognition, including the prestigious 2022 Top Global CISO in the World award by Cyber Defense Magazine.

6. Gurdeep Kaur, CISO at PSEG

Gurdeep Kaur, the CISO of PSEG, a prominent energy company, plays a crucial role in protecting critical infrastructure from relentless cyber threats.

With her deep understanding of the energy sector, Kaur skillfully implements robust cybersecurity measures. These measures ensure the resilience and reliability of the energy supply, impacting the lives of millions of customers who depend on a secure and uninterrupted power flow.

With 20 years of experience in Fortune100 organizations, she possesses a broad technology and business management education and industry-leading credentials in security, risk, audit, and project management. Kaur is a trusted partner to the business, enabling innovation by mitigating security risks and safeguarding the company and its customers.

7. Sandeep S, CISO at GXO Logistics, Inc.

As the CISO of GXO Logistics, Inc., Sandeep S. effectively tackles the complex cybersecurity challenges within the logistics industry. With innovative strategies, Sandeep strengthens the security framework of GXO’s supply chain operations.

This seamless integration mitigates risks associated with cyber threats, ensuring the smooth flow of goods across extensive networks while maintaining the trust of partners and customers.

Sandeep is an expert in leveraging technology, data-driven digital transformation, and customer-centricity to help organizations unlock their business potential.

With a proven track record in the pharma, consumer healthcare, retail, and supply chain sectors, Sandeep has successfully driven substantial transformation agendas amid radical industry disruptions. 

8. Medha Bhalodkar, CISO at Columbia University

Medha Bhalodkar, the esteemed CISO of Columbia University, protects sensitive academic and research data. Her comprehensive cybersecurity framework fosters a safe digital environment, nurturing a culture of innovation and intellectual growth.

Bhalodkar’s unwavering commitment ensures the security of the university’s knowledge repository, enabling students, faculty, and staff to thrive in a resilient ecosystem.

As the Chief Information Security Officer and Enterprise IT Risk Officer, she oversees multiple teams, managing IT policies, data protection, cybersecurity, identity access management, and enterprise IT risk across Columbia’s 17 schools and 10 Global Centers.

With an extensive background in the financial industry, Bhalodkar has earned numerous accolades, including the Wasserman Award and recognition as a Top Global CISO.

9. Priya Sirwani, CISO at Fiera Capital

As the CISO of Fiera Capital, Priya Sirwani strengthens the defenses of the global asset management firm, protecting client investments and financial data.

Through her strategic approach to cybersecurity, Sirwani builds an impenetrable defense system that shields against evolving threats.

Her unwavering commitment establishes a foundation of trust and confidence among Fiera Capital’s esteemed clients.

Sirwani is a Cyber Security and IT Risk Executive with extensive expertise in developing transformative enterprise security programs. She is known for delivering security transformations with a risk-based approach, fostering a creative and highly engaged team culture.

10. Sujeet Bambawale, CISO at 7-Eleven

Sujeet Bambawale serves as the CISO at 7-Eleven, leading the Information Security department. His focus is on maintaining a strong security fabric aligned with business goals and customer-centricity.

With experience at Symantec, NetApp, and Intuit, Sujeet has spearheaded significant security initiatives and expanded global brand presence.

He prioritizes maturing the organization’s security posture through relationship-building and talent development. Holding a Master’s degree and certifications in C|CISO, CISM, and CGEIT, Sujeet brings extensive expertise.

He actively supports the security community through leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, mentorship, and sponsorship of initiatives like Women in Technology and programs for online safety.

11. Vaibhav Patkar, Ciso at Qualfon,

Vaibhav Patkar is the CISO at Qualfon, a global service provider for back office management, and business process outsourcing. Patkar have experience as the Head Of Risk in the IT sector, and is known for his technically strong background in information technology.

Vaibhav Patkar has excelled at technical specification and have professional background in ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HiTrust, GDPR, Privacy Shield and Operations Management. With multiple certification and accreditations under his name, Patkar is on of the eminent names in the cybersecurity world.

Serving as the CISO at Qualfon, Vaibhav Patkar is providing exceptional services to clients, catering to a wide range of industries in the IT domain.

12. Kumar Ravi, CISO at Teleperformance,

Kumar Ravi, the CISO at Teleperformance India, possesses over 22 years of extensive expertise in Leadership, Management, Consulting, and Implementation within the realms of Information & Cyber Security, Data Privacy, and Risk & Compliance. His current role involves spearheading Teleperformance’s Information Security and Cyber Security strategy, as well as overseeing the Business Continuity Management program.

Prior to his tenure at Teleperformance, Kumar served as the Vice President of Information Security at EXL Service, where he managed a global portfolio. With a diverse background in IT/ITeS, BPM, and Insurance organizations, Kumar has excelled in various areas such as Governance, Risk Management, Incident Response, Application Security, and more. He has actively participated as a speaker and panelist in esteemed Information and Cyber Security conferences.

13. Rajendra Bhalerao, CISO at Scotiabank 

Rajendra Bhalerao, the CISO at Scotiabank, brings over twenty years of diverse experience in Banking, Consulting, Telecom, ISP, and Data Center environments. With a Postgraduate degree from Mumbai University, India, Rajendra is a certified ISO27001 Implementer and holds the CISM credential.

His expertise spans various areas, including BCP/DRP consulting, Vulnerability/Penetration testing, Datacenter setup, Project Management for IDC customers, Suntone audit for IDC, and system/network/telecom administration. Rajendra’s specialties encompass CISM, CPISI, ISP background, Datacenter and mailing solutions management, network security, BS7799, ISO27001, ITILv3, RedhatLinux certification, and CCNA proficiency.

14. Niju Mohan Kumbalaparambil, CISO at SBM Bank

Niju Mohan Kumbalaparambil is the Chief Information Security Officer and Data Privacy Officer at SBM Bank (India). Being at the forefront of security defences, Kumbalaparambil provides training, and security solutions to the company.

As a CISO, Kumbalaparambil takes care of the security and oversees the cyber security of multiple stakeholders. He is also responsible for developing, enforcing, and implementing security policies to protect crucial data. Kumbalaparambil also manages security incidents, spreading awareness, and overseeing security teams at SBM Bank (India).

15. Deepen Desai, CISO at Zscaler 

Deepen Desai, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Zscaler, is an expert in combatting malware threats through reverse engineering and analysis. With a focus on network security, he specializes in researching and analyzing vulnerabilities, malware, and spyware, as well as creating IPS and Gateway AV signatures.

Deepen also possesses strong programming skills in PHP, Perl, Java, Shell, C, and VB, enabling him to develop effective solutions. His expertise in big data analytics allows him to stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity threats, ensuring the protection of systems and data under his care at Zscaler.

16. Ravinder Arora, CISO at Infogain 

Ravinder Arora is a cyber security professional with 19 years of experience in global cyber security program management. As Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer, he excels in implementing and managing Security Operations Centers (SOC) and utilizing various cyber security tools such as DLP, SIEM, WAF, SOAR, and more.

He has successfully conducted internal risk assessments, incident management programs, and improvement measurement programs based on industry standards like ISO/IEC 27001:2013, GDPR, NIST, and others. With a wide range of certifications including CCSK, CRISC, CISM, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, Ravinder Arora brings comprehensive expertise to the field of information and cyber security.

17. Rinki Sethi, VP & CISO NYSE at Bill 

Rinki Sethi, VP & CISO NYSE at Bill, is an award-winning leader and executive with a strong background in developing innovative online security infrastructure for major companies like IBM, PG&E, Walmart.com, and eBay, as well as Intuit Inc. and Palo Alto Networks. With over 20 years of experience as a strategic leader, Rinki possesses expertise in product security, security education, and security operations.

Skilled in managing diverse technical teams and budgets exceeding $100 million, Rinki is a strategic visionary known for implementing security strategies across Fortune 500 companies and building multi-million dollar security infrastructure for Walmart.com.

18. Ankush Chowdhary, CISO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Ankush Chowdhary, the CISO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), possesses over two decades of cybersecurity expertise. As the Global Cloud CISO, he spearheads the cloud security transformation for HPE GreenLake Cloud Platform. Ankush has an impressive history of driving innovation and making a meaningful impact in the realm of cyber security.

He brings extensive experience in deploying and overseeing enterprise security solutions across various private and public sector entities. Furthermore, his career highlights include the successful establishment of security operations centers, implementation of robust security monitoring systems, development of efficient incident response protocols, and the creation of advanced threat intelligence programs.

19. Om Moolchandani, CISO at Accurics ( acquired by Tenable )

Om Moolchandani, the 19th CISO at Accurics (acquired by Tenable), serves as the Co-founder, CISO, and CTO of the company. Prior to his tenure at Accurics, Om held the position of Chief Security Officer at AutoGrid, where he led Cyber and Product Security for AutoGrid’s Energy Cloud and attained the industry’s inaugural NERC CIP attestation for GovCloud.

He also served as the Head of Cyber Security for General Electric’s Industrial Cloud and Edge platform, Predix, where he developed cutting-edge cybersecurity products to safeguard Critical Infrastructure and Industrial Clouds. Additionally, Om has played key roles in leading security engineering for startups such as SxiQ and Agiliance, focusing on Cloud Security, ITGRC, Secure Software Development, and Cyber Security Automation.

20. Parimala Rao, Deputy CISO at GSA

Parimala Rao, the Deputy CISO at GSA, is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive range of qualifications. She holds certifications as a Stanford Certified Advanced Cybersecurity Professional and an MIT Certified Advanced Data Science and Machine Learning Professional. With a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering, Parimala has proven her expertise in various domains.

As an influential thought leader, she excels in transforming innovation into tangible results by driving technology, product, and engineering initiatives. Parimala has a remarkable track record of building and deploying large-scale enterprise applications, managing vendor partnerships, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, and establishing robust cybersecurity and information security frameworks.

Conclusion

The role of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) is vital in shaping the security landscape and delivering value to their customers. As revealed by a joint study conducted by Kaspersky, an overwhelming 89% of CISOs are actively sought after by boards of directors to provide security recommendations and protocols.

This signifies a significant shift in mindset, acknowledging that security is an integral part of businesses rather than a mere add-on. The new era of cybersecurity requires boards of directors to understand security is a part of the businesses and not an add-on.

With their diverse skill set and comprehensive approach to security, CISOs serve as the cornerstone of an organization’s security posture. Their expertise, coupled with their ability to align security practices with business objectives, positions them as key drivers of cybersecurity strategy.