Thomas Zuliani
Global CISO
Arla
Thomas Zuliani is a devoted and passionate cybersecurity expert with more than 25 years of experience in Information Security and IT. He has a Masters in IT, MBA for Executives, and several certifications: CISM, Microsoft, SAP, ITIL, Agile SaFe, Project Management, etc.
Learn more about the Nordic CISO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I worked for the German Multinational Siemens from 2002 until 2017 in several positions, including IT Infrastructure Director, Director of NW Voice & Communication, and Information Security Officer among others. I moved to Vestas as Security Director in 2017 until 2020.
From 2020-2023, I had the opportunity of creating one of the strongest cybersecurity teams at Pandora, for which I was nominated as Best CISO in Denmark by Computerworld, being a top 3 finalist. In June 2023, I decided to join ARLA foods as Global CISO, to strengthen their cybersecurity and information security posture.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
My leadership style is to give autonomy and freedom to my employees so they can execute tasks that achieve our mission and vision. I think it is important to combine work with a sense of humour and off-work activities, which create a more solid bonding and thus, high performance team. I am very much focused on delivery and execution, with one eye looking ahead in the strategy, and the foot on the pedal, just in case we need to take an emergency break. Otherwise, full speed ahead.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CISO role going in the next 1-2 years?
CISOs will have to be inspirational leaders in a role that will become more and more a commodity.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CISO?
Don’t fix everything at the same time. Choose your battles.
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I have been a basketball referee for 32 years.
- I was also a well known DJ in Spain in the Indie-rock scene.
- I am addicted to series.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Evanta is the most valuable organisation in which one can openly share concerns, learn from colleagues, do great networking and grow as a professional.
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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