WALNUT CREEK, CA, May 18, 2016– Mechanics Bank has appointed Selim Stiti as Vice President / Information Security Manager.
Stiti, whose career has included roles in IT security with global IT services and solutions provider DCI and as IT Security Manager at Deloitte, is charged with developing and maintaining information security and business continuity roadmaps for the bank, including policies and procedures, creating and maintaining a bank-wide information security awareness campaign, and coordinating with vendors, auditors, management and user departments to enhance information security. He also will oversee and conduct risk assessment, gap analysis, and business impact analysis to help the bank determine appropriate personnel, physical and technical security controls.
“Selim is an expert in information security advisory, consulting, design, implementation and training,” says Ken Russell, Mechanics Bank CEO. “His years of experience addressing global IT security issues – a significant part of which was in financial services and in the defense industry—will give us a tremendously valuable perspective on one of the most vexing issues facing our industry.”
Stiti says the opportunity to manage end-to-end IT security at Mechanics Bank was very appealing. “It’s a big challenge, because the financial industry faces more IT attacks than any other, given that one successful breach can be extremely harmful. I spent years working for 15-20 clients at a time, and soon realized that no matter how good you are, you can’t meet 100% of their needs,” he says. “But at Mechanics Bank, I have that opportunity; to focus on creating and implementing a cutting edge security program.”
A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), ISO 27001 Lead Auditor / Lead Implementer, and ISO 22301 Lead Auditor / Lead Implementer, Stiti is Harvard Management Essentials Certified and holds a wide array of industry standard security professional certifications. He completed a Master’s Degree in computer security in France and received his MBA at California State University East Bay. He also has lectured on IT Security/Networks architecture there.