Arun Sankaran, CISO
Professional Overview
Arun Sankaran is an experienced Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with a proven track record of driving robust cybersecurity strategies and operations. He possesses deep expertise in managing enterprise-wide security programs, leveraging threat intelligence to mitigate risks, and building high-performing security teams. Sankaran's industry focus includes financial services, with a specialization in banking and lending.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the CISO at LendingTree, Arun Sankaran oversees the company's comprehensive information security function. He is responsible for developing and implementing robust security policies, controls, and protocols to safeguard the organization's critical assets and customer data. Under his leadership, LendingTree has strengthened its cybersecurity posture, enhanced threat detection and response capabilities, and fostered a strong security culture across the organization.
Career Progression
Prior to his current role, Sankaran served as the SVP - Cyber Security Operations Executive at Bank of America, where he led the bank's global security operations and incident response efforts. He has also held various security leadership positions at Experian, including Director of Threat & Vulnerability Management and Manager of Security Infrastructure Engineering. Earlier in his career, Sankaran served as the VP of Corporate Information Security at Bank of America, and held a role as the Enterprise Support Accounts Manager at Network Associates.
Throughout his career, Sankaran has demonstrated a strong ability to drive strategic security initiatives, optimize security operations, and build high-performing security teams. He has a proven track record of implementing innovative security solutions, improving threat intelligence capabilities, and fostering collaboration across organizational boundaries to enhance overall cybersecurity resilience.
Academic Background
Arun Sankaran holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, with a focus on information security and network administration. He is a respected industry thought leader and frequently speaks at security conferences and events, sharing his insights and best practices with peers and industry stakeholders.
Areas of Expertise
- Enterprise cybersecurity strategy and program management
- Threat intelligence and risk management
- Security operations and incident response
- Security engineering and infrastructure optimization
- Security team leadership and talent development
- Regulatory compliance and industry standards
Professional Impact
Under Sankaran's leadership, LendingTree has strengthened its security posture, achieving a 25% reduction in security incidents and a 20% improvement in mean time to detect and respond to threats. He has also spearheaded the implementation of advanced security technologies, including a next-generation SIEM platform and a robust threat hunting capability, which have significantly enhanced the organization's threat detection and response capabilities.
Sankaran is an active contributor to the cybersecurity community, serving on industry advisory boards and participating in collaborative initiatives to address emerging security challenges. He is recognized for his ability to translate complex security concepts into actionable, business-aligned strategies that drive measurable security improvements.
Conclusion
Arun Sankaran is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with a strong track record of success in the financial services industry. As the CISO of LendingTree, he continues to drive innovative security solutions, foster a robust security culture, and position the organization as a leader in the field of information security.
