Leadership
Joe Bastian, our visionary and CEO is an Information Security, Privacy Protection & Audit Professional with over 33 years of expertise in India and abroad.
- His core competencies come from his leadership positions with MNCs for last 22 years, including 8 years as the Head of Information Security for the World’s largest retail franchisee company ‘MH Alshaya Retail WLL’ Kuwait (52000+ staff, 4000+ retail stores and $6 billion in sales), PWC Logistics (now Agility) - the largest logistics company in Asia, and Galfar Engineering, the largest EPC Company in Middle East.
- As a Pioneer for Alshaya, he set up their Information Security Department, developed a large team of Information Security Officers handpicked from across India, and he took Alshaya though their 3 life cycles of ISO 27001 & PCI DSS certifications. Was responsible for Information Security for Alshaya’s 19 operating countries (including UK, Russia, Turkey, Egypt to name a few).
- As the Information Security Architect at PWC Logistic in Kuwait, he took the organization through their ISO 27001 Certification.
- As the Onsite Project Lead at Rane Group in Chennai, he managed their BS 7799 implementation in 2005.
- As Head of IT for Galfar Engineering in Qatar, he spearheaded their Digital Transformation and responsible for automating all their business process as well as cloud migration during 2018.
- Over the past 30 years he has gained deep understanding and expertise in driving IT as well as Information Security for large and small organizations.
- He is an expert in GDPR & Data Privacy Protection requirements for organizations.
His Core Competencies
- Program Management of Information Security & Data Protection initiatives across geographies
- Define IT Security & Technology strategies; Provide management directions & roadmap
- Implement / Certify Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) based on ISO 27001:2013
- Implement Credit Card security standards based on PCI DSS
- Personal Data Protection / GDPR & implementing Personal Data Protection Management Systems
- Identify Process & Control weakness across IT Functions and providing remediation.
- Perform External / Internal Audits on IT General Controls and Compliance Audits
- Define and Develop IT Policies & Procedures and design the control requirements framework.
- Business Impact Assessment across IT Systems and Processes and Risk Mitigation Advisory
- Design and implemented IT Continuity Plans based on Impact Assessments
- Advisory on IT Support and Operations Process Maturity roadmap.
Certification
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), ISACA - USA , 2004
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), ISACA, 2007
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), ISACA
- IRCA Certificated Lead Auditor – ISO27001:2013
- Certified Lead Implementer of ISO 27001
- Lead Auditor of ISO 22301 (Business Continuity)
- Lead Auditor - ISO 27701:2019 (Privacy Protection & GDPR)
- Lead Auditor - ISO 20000-1 (Service Management)
- Certified Payment Card Industry Security Implementer (CPISI)
- Certified Implementer of Personal Data Protection & GDPR
Education
Joe is an Alumnus of BMS College of Engineering Bangalore, with a Masters in Computer Applications
XLRI, Jamshedpur, Advanced Managment
Awards & Recognitions
- He is winner of CIO award 2018 in Doha, Qatar for his work on Digital Transformation
- UAE Emirates Award for highest scorer in CISM exam in Middle East conducted by ISACA USA, 2007
TESTIMONIALS
“Joe demonstrated proven knowledge in security process development and audit during his tenure at Agility. His contribution in mitigating the security gaps for the ISO controls, greatly helped in acquiring the ISO27001 certification”. Ghassan Farra.. Ex. CIO, PWC Logistics, Kuwait
“Joe is an experienced and mature manager. He combines detailed IT and IT-security knowledge with sensitivity and tenacity. Operates at the highest level of management, and is supportive to the COO, CIO and CFO. He ensures the company is operating at a professional level with regard to the IT-security requirements" Bart Koops.. Managing Director at Eagleville Group B.V
“I have worked with Joe on several security projects, most prominent being the implementation of ISO 27001 in Alshaya Retail. Information Security is Joe's passion and his enthusiasm rubs on everyone he interacts with. His detail-oriented approach and knowledge of various industry standards make him an excellent auditor.” Kaisar Amin.. Enterprise Architect, London
“Joe Bastian is a highly qualified, talented and hardworking professional. His passion for Information Security Management is amazing. Having seen how Joe was driving ISO 27001 certification process in such a short span of time for the Alshaya Retail, an uphill task many felt initially, I have great respect and admiration for him. It is great pleasure working with such a committed and focused professional.” Narayanan KR Ex. Director, Alshaya Kuwait
"Joe is a proactive and tireless contributor who would make a great addition to the organization. While were conducting ISMS audit, he was the main point of contact. Joe impressed all of us by handling such kind of challenging assignment very easily. Joe is dedicated & completes all his commitments on time and never failed to add a creative touch when appropriate".... Neeraj Goel, Internal Audit Professional at KNPC, Kuwait
"You count on Joe to get the job done right from the very beginning and also make it look quite easy. He is a cool professional who insists in getting complex projects defined and completed in the stipulated time. His passion for getting ISO 27001 requirements implemented within IT at Alshaya in a very short time has earned him a lot of respect from all his colleagues".... Anshuman Tripathy, IIM Amulmus, Associate Professor in Strategy