Professional Summary
Cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of experience delivering Managed Detection & Response (MDR) and Security Operations Centre (SOC) solutions across the Middle East, and UK. Expertise in SIEM, GRC, and compliance with ISO 27001, EU GDPR, and Saudi Arabia’s NCA licensing framework, driving client ROI and regulatory alignment. Proven track record in leading global teams and high-profile projects, including the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Experience
Director Managed Security Services Middle East
(February 2023 – to-date)
Obrela (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Coordinating and leading the delivery of Managed Detection & Response services to clients in KSA and across the Middle East.
Overseeing MDR and SOC Threat Management services to meet customer SLAs and regional regulatory requirements.
Drive pre-sales to meet sales targets, regional goals and strategy for each financial year.
Head of Delivery Managed Security Services
(July 2021 – January 2023)
Atos (Doha, Qatar)
Managed 3 SOC teams across Doha, Pune, and Bangalore, delivering MDR for 10+ clients in finance, telecommunications, and government.
Ensured compliance with MOI, QCF, and FIFA standards for FIFA World Cup 2022, reducing incident response time to meet customer SLAs.
Head of Cyber Defence & Security Operations
(April 2020 – June 2021)
Al Futtaim (Festival Tower, Dubai, UAE)
Led SIEM and Threat Detection & Response (TDR) initiatives, establishing a SOC compliant with CIS and ISO 27001 standards.
Developed incident response playbooks using NIST and MITRE ATT&CK frameworks, improving response efficiency.
Mentored a team of analysts, fostering expertise in vulnerability management and forensics.
Technical Product Manager – Safety, Security & Compliance
(August, 2019 – March 2020)
Emirates Group (Emirates Group Headquarters, Dubai, UAE)
Guided cybersecurity product owners in developing technical controls to be compliant with aviation security regulations.
Collaborated with SOC to deploy security products, improving Emirates Group security posture across all lines of business.
Senior Business Analyst
(March, 2016 – August, 2019)
Emirates Group (Emirates Group Headquarters, Dubai, UAE)
Technical management and leadership for the analysis and delivery of a Cyber Security Operations Centre.
Conduit between SOC and DPO to deliver essential cybersecurity controls to meet EU GDPR compliance.
Provided full life cycle expertise in the design, development, integration, testing of the SOC.
Senior Business Analyst
(March 2015 – March 2016)
dnata (Emirates Group Headquarters, Dubai, UAE)
Senior business analyst to dnata and Emirates Group IT – providing business solutions design for IT, Safety and Security.
Delivered a GRC platform for dnata’s safety data system across UAE and 8+ international outstations, enhancing compliance reporting by over 50%.
Solutions Architect
(November, 2011 – March, 2015)
Mibtree Ltd (Bedfordshire, UK)
Led solution design and IT security for clients like Vodafone, UBS, Virgin Media, Network Rail Telecom, OmanTel, and Oman Airports.
Principal Consultant
(January, 2011 – November, 2011)
Innovise ESM Africa, Pty (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Solutions architecture, design and technical pre-sales for Innovise ESM Africa.
Principal Consultant and Instructor
(September, 2009 – November, 2011)
Innovise Plc (Slough, UK)
Solutions architecture, design and on-site consultancy to Innovise customers. Technical pre-sales – IBM practice (EMEA). Sales support for Innovise business development managers. Key Clients HBL, UBS, T-Systems, and Mobilink.
Principal Consultant
(January, 2005 – September, 2009)
Abilitec Ltd (Bedfordshire, UK)
On site consultancy and training to Abilitec customers – primary product capabilities: IBM Netcool, GuardedNet NeuSecure and Managed Objects.
IT Manager / Exhibitions Manager – Director
(August, 2001 – January, 2005)
Maxon Computer Ltd (Bedfordshire, UK)
Responsible for securing the Maxon Corporate network and maintaining websites, FTP and email servers. Other duties included managing user forums, roadshows and trade fairs.
Systems Administrator
(October, 1995 – August, 2001)
HiSOFT (Bedfordshire, UK)
C++ Programmer and Systems Administrator (Linux, Atari, Commodore and MacOS).
Education
University of Bedfordshire, UK – Computer Science, BSc Hons
(1992-1995)
Luton College, UK – National Diploma in Computer Studies
(1990-1992)
Accreditations
Palo Alto Sales Product Specialist – XDR, in 2025
IBM QRadar Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Technical Sales Intermediate, in 2024
IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Sales Foundation, in 2024
IBM QRadar Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Sales Foundation, in 2024
IBM Tivoli Automation Solution Sales Professional v4, in 2014
IBM Tivoli Internet Security Systems Sales Professional v2, in 2012
IBM Tivoli Security Solution Sales Professional v4, in 2012
IBM QRadar Technical Sales Professional v1, in 2012
IBM Certified Deployment Professional – Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus V7.3, in 2012
IBM Certified Deployment Professional – Tivoli Business Service Manager, in 2009
IBM Certified Deployment Professional – Tivoli Netcool/Proviso V4.4.1, in 2008
IBM Certified Administrator – Tivoli Netcool/Proviso V4.4.1, in 2007
Micromuse Netcool Certified Consultant, in 2005
Awards
Skills
Cybersecurity Tools: QRadar, Splunk, ArcSight, Taegis, LogRhythm, Cortex
Frameworks: ISO 27001, NIST, EU GDPR, MITRE ATT&CK, KSA NCA
Technical: Linux, SQL, ITIL v3
Leadership: SOC management, pre-sales, mentoring
Interests and Activities
Karate (40 years experience), keeping fit
motorsport and technology.
PDF Version –