CBA changes its chief security officer

CBA has elevated its chief information security officer of six months Nicola Nicol to the role of chief security officer following the departure of Brendan Goode last month.

Nicola Nicol.

Nicol’s LinkedIn notes the change occurred in April.

“As the chief security officer at Commonwealth Bank, my focus is on safeguarding a brighter future for our customers and partnering with the Australian security community to protect Australia's digital economy,” she wrote in her profile introduction.

In a statement to iTnews, Nicol added that it "is a privilege to be taking on this important role at a time when security is increasingly at the forefront of Australians’ minds, especially when it comes to keeping customers’ data and their money safe."

CBA's CIO Gavin Munroe welcomed Nicol's elevation to the CSO role.

"Nicola will be leading a team of over 1000 security experts whose jobs ultimately are to keep our customers safe and secure every day, 365 days a year by safeguarding our technology across the bank," he said.

"She will play a vital role in helping to protect our customers, employees and operations from evolving security threats.”

The change was actually foreshadowed back in February when US-based Citizens Financial Group issued a statement that it had secured Goode’s services effective April 29.

“Goode joins Citizens from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where he most recently served as chief security officer with responsibility for the group security organisation,” the statement read.

“In that role, he brought cyber security, fraud, physical security, and business resilience together to combat and respond to growing cyber and financial threats to the bank, the market, and at the same time dramatically improve experience for its customers.”

For his part, Goode formally acknowledged the change in a LinkedIn post earlier this week.

“In early April, I said farewell to colleagues and the many friends that I made during my time at Commonwealth Bank and in Australia,” Goode wrote.

“I am greatly appreciative to [ex-group CIO] Pascal Boillat and [group chief risk officer] Nigel Williams for bringing me to CBA and Australia, and for providing me an opportunity to establish and evolve the group security organisation, and to [current tech chief] Gavin Munroe for his counsel, continued support, and the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the tech strategy.”