Retabile (cism

Independent Consultant & Virtual CISO

About

I am a cybersecurity executive, board advisor, and former CISO with over 15 years of experience leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity, governance, and operational technology (OT) security programs across multinational organizations. As CISO for Volkswagen Group South Africa, I directed UNECE R155 compliance programs enabling EU-bound exports valued at over €3B, expanded ISMS frameworks across Africa, and deployed IT/OT/ICS security platforms reducing industrial cyber risk exposure significantly. I have served on governance committees and steering panels, including roles as Data Protection Delegate, Compliance Delegate, and Cyber Risk Advisor, where I influenced executive risk decisions, regulatory compliance strategies, and enterprise cyber investments. Currently, I act as a Virtual CISO and Independent Consultant, advising boards and executives on cyber risk oversight, regulatory alignment, supplier risk, and digital resilience. Certified CISM, CRISC, and ISO27001 Practitioner, I bring a unique blend of technical depth, governance expertise, and boardroom fluency to organizations navigating today’s evolving risk landscape. Key Expertise: Cybersecurity Strategy | Board Advisory | IT/OT Security Integration | ISMS (ISO27001, TISAX, NIST) | Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) | Industrial Cybersecurity (IEC 62443) | Regulatory Alignment (GDPR, POPIA, UNECE R155/R156) | Enterprise Risk Reporting | Supplier Risk Governance

Country

South Africa

City

Pretoria

Industry

Consumer Goods

Skill

ICS/OT Frameworks & Standards, ICS/OT Attack Surface Management, ICS/OT Security Strategy Development, Cybersecurity Governance & Strategy, Supplier Cyber Risk Maintenance, Regulatory Compliance (UNECE R155/R156), Board-Level Risk Reporting, ISMS (ISO27001, TISAX), IDS/IPS, Data Loss Protection (DLP), Endpoint Security, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Industrial Cybersecurity (IEC 62443), IT/OT Security Integration, Board Advisory Services, Information Security Management System (ISMS), Data Privacy, NIST, Cloud Strategy, IT/OT Security Consulting

Experience

Independent Consultant & Virtual CISO

2025-1 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

Advise organizations on cybersecurity governance, risk posture, and compliance. Design enterprise-wide ISMS maturity programs, cutting audit findings significantly. Lead cyber transformation strategies, integrating IT/OT security and regulatory compliance.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) | Production ISO | SO for Vehicle Production

Volkswagen Group Africa

2022-10 - 2025-1 · 2 yrs 4 mos

South Africa

Directed enterprise cybersecurity strategy and UNECE R155 compliance, enabling EU market access. Chaired Cyber Steering Committee, presenting cyber risk dashboards to regional and global leadership. Deployed OT cybersecurity tools (e.g. Nozomi) reducing ICS network exposures by significatly. Delivered board-approved security awareness campaigns, achieving >90% participation

Expert & Specialist: Governance, Cybersecurity & OT Security

BMW Group

2016-9 - 2022-10 · 6 yrs 2 mos

Pretoria Area, South Africa

Led plant-level cybersecurity governance, securing production environments for 70,000+ vehicles annually. Acted as the Subject Matter Expert in the global team of OT Security Experts to implement systems like Claroty amongst many others. Established Cyber Defense Centre capabilities in the OT environment, reducing incident response time by more than 45%. Acted as IT Risk & Governance Delegate, presenting KPIs to senior leadership Coordinated the implementation of the “IT Security Policy Framework” and provided IT Security awareness training and communication campaigns Plant-wide

Production Systems & Technology Specialist

Mercedes-Benz South Africa

2013-1 - 2016-8 · 3 yrs 8 mos

Eastern Cape

Developed and optimized planned maintenance procedures. Assisted artisans with breakdowns as second line of defense for Industrial Control Systems. Developed standard repair procedures for equipment. Participated in development of standards and technology (Locally and in Germany) as a Subject Matter Expert.

Electrical & Automation Technician

Volkswagen of South Africa

2008-7 - 2012-12 · 4 yrs 6 mos

Uitenhage Area, South Africa

Programmed PLC/SCADA systems and integrated robotics to modernize manufacturing processes. Ensured optimal operation of the production facilities for maximum production efficiency.