Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
As the CEO of Swiss Safe, I am dedicated to empowering businesses to thrive securely in today's fast-paced digital economy. With over 18 years of experience in Enterprise Security Architecture, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Data Privacy, I have led major projects and built high-performing teams across various industries, including banking, healthcare, government, education, hospitality, and supply chain. My expertise lies in delivering tailored data security and digital identity solutions that enable companies to operate efficiently while ensuring their operations remain secure. Holding an MBA in IT and an MSc in Secure IT, I combine strategic leadership with deep technical knowledge to address the complex challenges of modern cybersecurity. I frequently speak on Web3 and security topics, sharing insights on innovation and best practices. At Swiss Safe, our mission is to provide businesses with the right tools to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and agility. Through our core offerings—Digital Trust Strategy Workshops, Project Implementation, Virtual CISO services, and Enterprise Security Architecture Services—we help organizations build safe and scalable data architectures that grow with them. I am passionate about helping businesses accelerate confidently, building resilient systems that are ready for future opportunities. Let's connect to explore how we can enhance your organization's security posture and build greater customer trust.
As the CEO of Swiss Safe, I lead a global team of security experts dedicated to empowering businesses in the fast-paced digital economy. Our mission is to provide tailored data security and digital identity solutions that enable companies to operate at top speed while ensuring their operations remain secure. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: • Strategic Leadership: Defined and executed the company's vision and strategy, focusing on enhancing customer trust and improving security posture for businesses across banking, healthcare, government, education, hospitality, and supply chain sectors. • Service Innovation: Developed and launched core offerings, including the Digital Trust Strategy Workshop, Project Implementation services, Virtual CISO engagements, and Enterprise Security Architecture Services, providing comprehensive solutions for clients to navigate the digital landscape with confidence. • Client Engagement: Fostered strong relationships with clients in the EU and MENA regions, delivering measurable improvements in security and enabling them to build safe, scalable data architectures. • Thought Leadership: Spearheaded initiatives in advanced digital identity solutions and data privacy, frequently speaking on Web3 and security topics to promote industry innovation. • Team Building: Assembled and led high-performing teams of security professionals, cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. Under my leadership, Swiss Safe is committed to helping businesses accelerate confidently by staying competitive, resilient, and prepared for future opportunities through cutting-edge expertise and proactive support.
As the Executive Director and Head of Architecture at Sygnum Bank, a pioneering fintech startup and Web3 bank, I reported directly to the CIO and led critical architecture initiatives that enhanced security, scalability, and facilitated business growth. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: • Strategic Governance: Improved governance structures by defining target architectures and leading efforts to ensure alignment with organizational goals and excellence in execution. • Technology Strategy Development: Delivered comprehensive strategies for cloud adoption, observability, and data management, which improved operational efficiency and reduced risks. • Team Leadership: Led and developed a team of senior architects, fostering a collaborative environment that enhanced skills and capabilities, ensured high performance, and drove alignment across projects. • Stakeholder and Vendor Management: Successfully managed key stakeholders and negotiated with vendors to optimize costs and enhance performance, ensuring that the technology infrastructure met the bank's evolving needs. • Innovation and Modernization: Spearheaded initiatives involving cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, and Web3, integrating them into the bank's core systems to drive innovation and competitive advantage. During my tenure, I was instrumental in enhancing the bank's technological foundation, positioning Sygnum as a leader in secure digital banking solutions, and enabling scalable growth in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.
As a Freelance Security Architect, I led product strategy and architecture for multiple cloud security projects, delivering innovative solutions to clients across the banking, technology, and digital asset sectors. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: • Authentication Strategy Leadership: Provided strategic leadership on authentication initiatives for Credit Suisse in Zurich. Successfully delivered implementations of Windows Hello for Business, Certificate-Based Authentication (CBA), and Temporary Access Pass (TAP), enhancing security measures and improving user experience. • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Strategy: Executed a Verifiable Credentials IAM strategy for Publicis Sapient in Dubai. Implemented cutting-edge identity solutions that strengthened security posture and streamlined user authentication processes for the client. • Innovative NFT Custody Solution: Developed an NFT Hardware Security Module (HSM) custody solution for Veritic in Zug, Switzerland. This project won first prize in a leading Swiss competition, showcasing innovation in secure digital asset management and reinforcing the company's position in the blockchain space. During this period, I applied my expertise in cloud security and identity management to help organizations enhance their security frameworks, adopt advanced technologies, and achieve their strategic objectives.
As a Director and IT System Engineer at UBS, I led critical global security initiatives that transformed and automated Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategies, significantly enhancing the bank's security posture and operational efficiency. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: • Enterprise Vault Creation: Led the development of the Enterprise Vault, automating secret rotation for over 5,000 applications. This initiative resolved major security risks associated with manual key management and strengthened the overall security infrastructure. • PKI Modernization: Modernized legacy Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems, enabling automatic cloud deployments for applications. This modernization unblocked cloud initiatives and streamlined deployment processes, accelerating time-to-market. • Cross-Functional Team Management: Managed and coordinated cross-functional teams across various departments. Through effective leadership and streamlined architecture, achieved significant cost savings amounting to millions, while improving collaboration and efficiency. • IAM Strategy Transformation: Transformed and automated IAM strategies, enhancing the efficiency and security of identity management processes across the global organization. • Leadership and Collaboration: Fostered a culture of excellence and innovation, working closely with stakeholders to align security initiatives with business objectives and regulatory requirements. During my tenure at UBS, my contributions significantly improved the bank's security infrastructure, reduced operational risks, and enabled scalable growth through optimized architectures and processes.
As an Advisory IT Specialist and Software Developer at IBM's Crypto Competence Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, I developed Identity and Access Management (IAM) and data security software and hardware products used globally by millions of users. My work focused on innovating in authentication, digital signatures, time-stamping, encryption, and blockchain solutions. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: • Product Development: Developed and maintained IAM and data security products, contributing to both software and hardware solutions that enhanced security measures for clients worldwide. • Innovation in Security Technologies: Innovated authentication methods, digital signature algorithms, time-stamping services, encryption protocols, and blockchain solutions, keeping IBM at the forefront of security technology advancements. • Cryptographic Libraries Maintenance: Coded and maintained low-level cryptographic libraries in Java and C, improving the security and efficiency of IBM's security products. • Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, security analysts, and product managers, to deliver high-quality security solutions. • Performance Optimization: Optimized cryptographic operations to enhance performance without compromising security, contributing to better user experiences and system efficiencies. During my tenure at IBM, my contributions significantly impacted the security landscape, providing robust solutions that protected data and identities for millions of users globally.