VP Cyber Defence & Strategic Operations

At Informa Global Support, we’re about connecting businesses and professionals with knowledge. From cutting-edge research to specialist digital demand, our reach is extensive. We’re the power behind a range of fantastic brands such as FAN EXPO, Omdia, World of Concrete and many more. Through cutting edge research we’re here to champion specialists by helping people learn more, know more and do more.

This role is based in our Howick Place, London office. The Information Security (InfoSec) team at Informa is dedicated to protecting the organisation's information assets and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. The team is responsible for implementing and maintaining robust security measures, policies, and procedures to safeguard against cyber threats and vulnerabilities. The InfoSec team works collaboratively with various departments across the organisation to embed security practices and awareness, ensuring that security is an integral part of Informa's business operations.

As a key member of Informa’s Information Security leadership team, you will be responsible for driving the strategic direction and operational excellence of the company’s cyber defence capabilities. This role leads the global Security Operations Centre (SOC), ensuring robust threat detection, incident response, and continuous monitoring to protect Informa’s digital assets and operations. As the VP, you will also play a pivotal role in supporting mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from a cybersecurity perspective—leading due diligence, identifying integration risks, and ensuring secure onboarding of acquired entities. Additionally, in this role, you will provide executive oversight to the Head of Information Security - APAC, aligning regional initiatives with global security standards while addressing local regulatory and threat landscapes.

Key Areas of Responsibility/Accountability

• Security Operations Centre (SOC): Leadership and Management: Oversee the daily operations of Informa's SOC, ensuring the effective monitoring, detection, and response to security incidents. Lead a team of security analysts and engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance management.
• Incident Response: Develop and implement incident response protocols and procedures to ensure timely and effective handling of security incidents. Coordinate with other departments and external partners to manage and mitigate security threats.
• Threat Intelligence: Utilise threat intelligence to proactively identify and address potential security risks. Stay updated on the latest cybersecurity trends and threats to ensure Informa's SOC remains at the forefront of security operations.
• Security Technologies: Implement and maintain security technologies and processes to protect Informa's digital assets. Evaluate and recommend new security tools and technologies to enhance SOC capabilities.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. Prepare and present regular reports on SOC activities, incident trends, and overall security posture to senior management.
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Manage the information security aspects of M&A activities, including due diligence, risk assessment, and integration planning. Ensure that security considerations are integrated into the M&A process to protect Informa's interests.
• APAC Information Security: Provide oversight and support to the Head of Information Security - APAC, ensuring alignment with Informa's global security strategy. Coordinate regional security initiatives and ensure compliance with local regulations and standards.

Key Outputs and Outcomes

• Security Operations Centre (SOC): Strengthen business engagement and InfoSec value through proactive threat intelligence and incident response. Improve decision‑making efficiency and outcomes by providing timely and accurate security reports. Enhance reporting cycles and quality to ensure senior management is well-informed about security posture.
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Strengthen business engagement by embedding cybersecurity risk management into all phases of M&A activity, from due diligence through to post‑acquisition oversight. Support informed decision‑making by delivering clear, timely, and actionable risk assessments tailored to the business context of each transaction.
• APAC Information Security: Provide executive leadership and direction to the APAC Regional Information Security Office, ensuring alignment with Informa’s global cybersecurity strategy and risk management framework.

Measures of Success

• Introduce and manage key metrics for the function.
• Reduction in mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) to security incidents.
• Effective identification and management of cybersecurity risks associated with M&A activity, from due diligence through to integration or ongoing operational oversight, aligned with the business strategy and risk appetite.
• Compliance with APAC regional and global cybersecurity regulations and standards.
• Positive audit outcomes and risk posture improvements.
• High engagement and performance scores from direct reports and regional teams.
• Effective cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications

Experience: Extensive experience in cybersecurity. Proven experience managing a global or regional SOC. Demonstrated success in leading cybersecurity aspects of M&A activities. Experience working in a complex, matrixed, and multinational organization. Familiarity with regulatory environments across Asia and global security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, MITRE ATT&CK). Extensive experience in cybersecurity planning and delivery. Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage complex security operations across multiple regions. Superior analytical and problem‑solving skills. Ability to communicate effectively with strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence corporate opinion and key stakeholders.

Key Competencies: Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into execution. Strong leadership and team development skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities. Deep understanding of threat landscapes, security technologies, and incident response. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment. Cultural awareness and sensitivity, especially in working with diverse regional teams.

Additional Information: We believe that great things happen when people connect face‑to‑face. That’s why we work in‑person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at an Informa event – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely. Employee experience is very important to us at Informa. On top of joining a supportive, diverse and ambitious team that welcomes all types of candidates. We are also flexible with different working patterns and prioritize promotions internally.

Our benefits include: Great community: a welcoming culture with in‑person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks. Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too. Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on‑demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves. Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year. A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover. A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares. Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more. Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes. As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world.

We know that sometimes the ’perfect candidate’ doesn’t exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don’t fit all the requirements. If you’re excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we’re looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Informa is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.