Nishad Sankaranarayanan

Global Director - CyberSecurity - IAM, Genuine Parts Company

Professional Overview

Nishad Sankaranarayanan is an accomplished cybersecurity and identity and access management (IAM) leader with over 15 years of experience driving strategic security initiatives. As the Global Director of CyberSecurity - IAM at Genuine Parts Company, he is responsible for spearheading the company's enterprise-wide cybersecurity and IAM programs, ensuring the protection of critical assets and enabling secure access for employees and partners.

Experience Summary

Current Role

In his current role at Genuine Parts Company, Nishad is tasked with building and leading a world-class cybersecurity and IAM team. He is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive security strategies, managing incident response and threat mitigation, and driving continuous improvement in the organization's security posture. Nishad's expertise in IAM has been instrumental in streamlining access control, enhancing user authentication, and strengthening identity governance across the global organization.

Career Progression

Prior to his current role, Nishad held senior security positions at Equifax, where he served as the Senior Director of Identity and Access Security Architecture, and at PwC, where he progressed from Manager to Director within the Cybersecurity, Privacy and Risk practice. Throughout his career, Nishad has demonstrated a strong track record of delivering complex security solutions, managing enterprise-wide security programs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to mitigate cyber threats.

Academic Background

Nishad holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Wright State University, where he also completed his postgraduate studies. His educational background has provided him with a strong foundation in information technology and cybersecurity principles, enabling him to bridge the gap between technical and business requirements.

Areas of Expertise

Cybersecurity strategy and program management

Identity and access management (IAM) architecture and implementation

Vulnerability assessment and risk management

Incident response and threat mitigation

Regulatory compliance and security governance

Stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration

Professional Impact

Throughout his career, Nishad has made significant contributions to the cybersecurity and IAM domains. At Equifax, he led the development and deployment of a comprehensive IAM system that enhanced user authentication, streamlined access control, and improved identity governance across the organization. This initiative resulted in improved security posture, reduced operational costs, and enhanced user experience. Nishad's industry expertise and thought leadership have also been recognized through his advisory role at Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business.

Conclusion

Nishad Sankaranarayanan is a seasoned cybersecurity and IAM professional with a proven track record of driving strategic security initiatives and delivering measurable results. In his current role at Genuine Parts Company, he is poised to further enhance the organization's security posture and enable secure digital transformation through his comprehensive expertise and visionary leadership.