Eric Pickersgill
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Professional Overview
Eric Pickersgill is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with over 15 years of experience in protecting mission-critical data and infrastructure for leading financial institutions. As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at FINRA, he is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive security strategies to safeguard the organization's sensitive information and digital assets. Additionally, Eric serves on the Global CISO Advisory Council at Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing strategic guidance on cloud security best practices.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the CISO at FINRA, Eric is accountable for the overall security posture of the organization. He leads a team of security professionals in designing, deploying, and maintaining robust cybersecurity controls to mitigate evolving threats. Under his leadership, FINRA has achieved a 25% reduction in security incidents and a 35% increase in user awareness of security protocols. Eric is also a prominent voice in the industry, regularly contributing to industry publications and speaking at renowned security conferences.
Career Progression
Prior to his current role, Eric served as the Chair of the BITS Cloud Security Committee at the Bank Policy Institute, where he collaborated with industry peers to develop cloud security standards and best practices for the financial sector. Before that, he held the position of SVP of Cloud Security Strategy at Wells Fargo, where he spearheaded the bank's cloud migration efforts and implemented robust security controls to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Eric's career began as the Director of Cloud Governance and Security at Capital One, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the organization's cloud security practices and governance frameworks.
Academic Background
Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he graduated cum laude. He also completed the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, further strengthening his strategic business acumen and leadership capabilities.
Areas of Expertise
- Cybersecurity strategy and risk management
- Cloud security architecture and implementation
- Identity and access management (IAM) best practices
- Regulatory compliance and industry standards (e.g., NIST, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
- Security incident response and investigation
- Security awareness and training program development
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Eric has been recognized as a thought leader in the field of cybersecurity. He has authored numerous articles and whitepapers on emerging security trends and has been invited to serve on industry advisory boards, including the Global CISO Advisory Council at AWS. Eric's work has had a significant impact on the financial services industry, as he has been instrumental in shaping cloud security standards and best practices that have been widely adopted by organizations worldwide.
Conclusion
With his extensive experience, technical expertise, and strategic leadership, Eric Pickersgill is a highly respected cybersecurity professional who is well-positioned to guide FINRA and the broader financial services industry in navigating the evolving threat landscape. His proven track record of success, coupled with his industry contributions and collaborative approach, make him a valuable asset in safeguarding critical data and infrastructure.
