Ray Daoud
Senior Vice-President and Chief Security Officer
CGI
Ray Daoud is CGI’s Chief Security Officer, and he is responsible for overseeing the company’s global enterprise security strategy and establishing global security policies, standards and practices across all security areas, including personnel, information, physical security and cybersecurity. He also is responsible for CGI’s business continuity programs and supporting activities.
With more than 26 years of experience in information security, cybersecurity, IT, architecture, risk management, governance and compliance, Ray has served in a variety of security leadership positions in various large organizations.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I joined CGI in 2005 and since then have had the pleasure of working with some fantastic leaders, technologists and security professionals to help continuously evolve CGI's security program and capabilities that protect both CGI and our clients.
Prior to my current role, I led CGI's global Information Security and Architecture function which gave me a great opportunity to work with our business leaders to ensure security is embedded in everything we do.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Build strong relationships through active listening, empathy, and clear communication. It's all about people after all - doing the above will both strengthen your team and foster strong collaboration with others.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see your role going in the next 1-2 years?
A CSO role will continue to be about bringing value to the board, the business and our clients.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CISO?
Be focused on every opportunity to help the business.
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I'm passionate about hockey - I love the Habs, play twice a week & coach youth hockey.
- I am a trained graphic artist and had (still have?) aspirations to draw comics for a living.
- I've lived in Montreal most my life but am actually from a small town in Ohio.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Learning from others and sharing lessons from our successes and failures.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
by CISOs, for CISOs
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