Archives: Speakers

Experienced COO&CIO executive with proven track-record in managing international operations, developing new business and driving digital transformation in multinational and fast growing environments, across industries (Financial Services, TMT sector, Internet and Construction) and channels (B2B/B2O/B2C). Bringing a unique combination of commercial focus and operating experience to drive growth, industry leadership and shareholder value.

Particular skills include (among others):

• Proven ability to lead international teams (+300 people) to successfully achieve results and increase profitability in multicultural and complex environments.
• Great deal of analytical thinking and creativity to lead the creation and implementation of new systems and procedures to enable an organization to operate more effectively, increase revenues and customer satisfaction. It does include Mobility, Cloud, Big Data and reengineering projects; and off-shore relocation experience.
• Great experience in managing complex projects for internal and external clients with clear delivery dates, SLAs and performance targets.
• Developing international markets and exploiting business opportunities by leading the execution of corporate transactions (JVs, M&A deals, Partnerships, etc.).
• General management skills with remarkable experience in Operations, Business Development, IT, B2B sales, P&L management and Big Data.
• Strong interpersonal skills, open-minded, customer oriented and highly adaptable to all type of environments (early stage, fast-paced growth, etc.) and industries.

– Expertise in: General Management; Operations; IT; Digital Transformation; Business Development; Mergers&Acquisitions; P&L management; Lean and Organizational performance; Big Data and Analytics; Project Management; Open Banking; Open Innovation; Agile; Artificial Intelligence.

Information Security and Risk Management covering Payment Systems, Capital Markets, Wealth Management and Investor Services

Despina Spanou is the Head of the Cabinet of the Vice-President of the European Commission overseeing the European Union’s policies on security, migration and asylum,health, skills, education, culture and sports.Previously, she was Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity at the Directorate-General for Communications Network, Content and Technology(DG CONNECT) of the European Commission.In this capacity, Mrs. Spanou was responsible for the European Union’s cybersecurity policy and law, digital privacy, connected cities andmobility, digital health, eGovernment andelectronic identification. As Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity, she was also responsible for the implementation of the EU legislationon security of network and information systems (NIS Directive)and for the negotiations of the EU Cybersecurity Act,which recently entered into forceacross the European Union.Mrs. Spanou hasserved asa member of the management board of ENISA, the EU agency for cybersecurity, andof the Steering Board of the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, bodies and agencies (CERT-EU). She is a founding memberof the Women4Cyber initiative and advocate for the need for more cybersecurity experts in Europe.Despina Spanouhas also beenDirector for Consumer Affairs at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (2013-2017) in charge of consumer policy, consumer and marketing law, redress and enforcement, and product safety. Prior to this position, she was Principal Adviser in the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers responsible for communication andstrategies on managing chronic diseases including the EU’scontribution to the UN General Assembly on Health. She was the Deputy Head of Cabinet for the European Commissioner for Health and Consumers Mr. Kyprianou (2004-2008) and for the Commissioner for Health Mrs. Vassiliou (2008-2010). Despina Spanou started her career at the European Commission at the Directorate General for Competition (in 2003). She had previously practiced European law with the Brussels branch of a US law firm. Despina Spanouis a member of the Athens Bar Association and holds a Ph.D. in European law from the University of Cambridge.She is Greek/Cypriot

Fredrik is a Cyber Resilience Advisor to governments and multinationals in Europe and the Middle-East. He works at the intersection of people and technology in the context of Cyber Security, and brings extensive domain experience built up in the Government, Finance, Energy and Internet sectors over the last 18 years.

Fredrik believes that every organisation has the right to Cyber Defence and that the greater good is a facilitator of individual success. C in Cyber is for Collaboration. These values are carried in a strong focus on a People strategy through group dynamics, transformational leadership and organisational design.

Fredrik is an active advocate for change in the industry through a Cyber Resilience newsletter, journal articles and speaking at conferences around the world. He is a recognised contributor as scenario author for award winning UK Financial Services Cyber attack stress testing exercises through Waking Shark and the Market Wide 2011.

Current areas of focus include business agility, competitive intelligence and systemic risk.

A man with Information Security in mind. With broad experience in all aspects of risk assessments, auditing and vulnerability management. Direct experience with different scanning tools, security consulting and vulnerability management. Interested in anything related to new technologies in the field.
Currently working on policy implementation on cybersecurity in different areas, including Finance and Automotive sector.

Specialties: Finance: NIS Directive, PSD 2, MIFID; Automotive: Automated and Autonomous Connected Vehicles, CyberSecurity and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates