Director of Cyber Defence & Strategic Operations

Overview

Director of Cyber Defence & Strategic Operations – Informa

This role is base in our Howick Place, London office.

The Information Security (InfoSec) team at Informa is dedicated to protecting the organisation's information assets and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. The team implements and maintains robust security measures, policies, and procedures to safeguard against cyber threats and vulnerabilities. The InfoSec team works collaboratively with various departments across the organisation to embed security practices and awareness, ensuring that security is an integral part of Informa's business operations.

As a key member of Informa’s Information Security leadership team, you will drive the strategic direction and operational excellence of the company’s cyber defence capabilities. This role leads the global Security Operations Centre (SOC), ensuring robust threat detection, incident response, and continuous monitoring to protect Informa’s digital assets and operations. You will also support mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from a cybersecurity perspective—leading due diligence, identifying integration risks, and ensuring secure onboarding of acquired entities. Additionally, you will provide executive oversight to the Head of Information Security - APAC, aligning regional initiatives with global security standards while addressing local regulatory and threat landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

• Security Operations Centre (SOC): Leadership and management of the SOC; oversee daily operations, monitor and respond to security incidents; mentor and manage security analysts and engineers.
• Incident Response: Develop and implement incident response protocols; coordinate with departments and external partners to manage threats.
• Threat Intelligence: Utilize threat intelligence to identify and address potential security risks; stay updated on current cybersecurity trends.
• Security Technologies: Implement and maintain security technologies; evaluate and adopt new tools to enhance SOC capabilities.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure regulatory compliance; prepare and present security reports to senior management.
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Manage information security aspects of M&A activities, including due diligence, risk assessment, and integration planning.
• APAC Information Security: Provide oversight to the Head of Information Security - APAC; align with global strategy; coordinate regional initiatives and regulatory compliance.

Key Outputs and Outcomes

• Strengthened SOC capabilities and proactive threat intelligence; improved incident response and reporting.
• Effective integration of M&A security considerations; improved risk assessments and governance.
• APAC region aligned with global programs; regional risk posture and regulatory compliance maintained.

Measures of Success

• Defined metrics for the function; reduced mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR).
• Strong cyber risk management in M&A activities; compliant with APAC regional and global standards.
• Positive audit outcomes and improved risk posture; high engagement and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications

What we’re looking for

Experience

• Extensive experience in cybersecurity; proven experience managing a global or regional SOC.
• Demonstrated success in leading cybersecurity aspects of M&A activities.
• Experience in complex, matrixed, multinational organizations.
• Familiarity with regulatory environments across Asia and global security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, MITRE ATT&CK).
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into execution; leadership and team development.
• Excellent communication; deep understanding of threat landscapes and incident response.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment; cultural awareness for diverse regions.

Additional Information

We believe great things happen when people connect face-to-face. We work in-person with colleagues or customers three days a week or more. When not in offices, you can work from home or remotely.

Benefits include: community engagement, volunteering opportunities with charity match funding, training and career development, generous leave, private medical cover, ShareMatch, wellbeing support, recognition programs, and global collaboration opportunities.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. See our website for full information on data handling and diversity commitments.

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