British software and services company Advanced has hired Phil Lea as Head of Security and Compliance. Reporting to Jon Wrennall, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Phil will focus on customer security, security technologies and governance. This will include the tools that Advanced (re-branded last year from Advanced Computer Software Group) uses to secure its products, customers and internal IT as well as developing managed security service offerings for its hosted and IT outsourced customers. He will also be responsible for coordinating security governance across the firm and see that the business is ready for regulation including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Phil Lea, pictured, said: “Advanced has undergone what is arguably the largest transformation of any UK company at this current time. Its ambition represents a unique opportunity for any senior leader, and I am thrilled to be joining the organisation as it focuses on accelerating its growth. Key to this growth, as with any company, is a solid security strategy and I look forward to supporting Advanced through its next transformative phase as well as helping customers securely reimagine their own businesses.”
Phil brings over 20 years’ IT and security experience. Former roles include at Fujitsu, Gartner and the Department for Work and Pensions. At Fujitsu, he spent over eight years as Managing Security Consultant before taking up the role of Security Practice Manager where he led the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Consultancy Practices in the company’s security operations team. He later joined the market research firm Gartner as Security and Risk Management Leadership Partner to advise the firm’s senior clients including CISOs and other IT executives.
Jon Wrennall, CTO at Advanced said: “Our latest appointment reflects our need to create a powerful leadership team as we, and our customers, face ever-increasing security and compliance challenges. Phil has clearly played a significant part in coaching and advising senior security and risk management clients, and we are confident he will make a valuable contribution to the shaping and progression of our cybersecurity agenda.”
Advanced employs 2,000 people and has a customer base that includes HM Revenue & Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, Virgin Trains, Harvey Nichols, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Carewatch.
