Case study

Building World-Class Cybersecurity Leadership

Europe
Conceptual illustration of autonomous vehicles on a digital highway, with binary code and data graphics representing AI-driven communication and connected transportation systems.

THE CHALLENGE

We partnered with a €20 billion global automotive software leader to drive one of the most ambitious transformations in the global automotive industry: the development of the organisations Cloud, and the digital platforms powering the future of mobility.  

As the business approached critical launch, they faced an urgent priority: to appoint a world-class Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with the seniority, technical authority, and global perspective to lead both enterprise IT and product security.  

The new CISO needed to deliver more than regulatory compliance. They were tasked with creating and executing a robust security strategy spanning IT infrastructure, connected vehicles, software platforms, and regulatory frameworks such as UNECE and ISO21434. Alongside this was the need to strengthen its leadership team with a Chief Product Security Officer (CPSO) to ensure comprehensive coverage of cyber risk across product and enterprise domains.

THE SOLUTION

Miramar partnered directly with the senior leadership and Group stakeholders to deliver a global search strategy designed to identify and secure the very best talent.  

  • Global market coverage: We engaged cybersecurity leaders across Europe, North America, and Asia—reaching beyond automotive to target executives from consumer technology, cloud hyperscalers, industrial technology, IoT/OT, and telecommunications.  
  • Depth and rigor: Over 500 senior executives were approached, with each candidate assessed for technical depth, regulatory knowledge, cultural alignment, and ability to lead transformation at scale.  
  • Collaborative partnership: Our process included real-time client portal access, weekly progress reviews, and close alignment with leadership to ensure complete transparency and agility throughout the search.  
  • Inclusive and international: A key success factor was supporting the global relocation of a diverse candidate from Japan to Germany, ensuring we secured the right talent regardless of geography. 

THE RESULT

Within an accelerated timeline, Miramar successfully delivered two pivotal appointments:  

  • Chief Information Security Officer – accountable for global security strategy, covering IT, digital products, cloud, and connected vehicle platforms.  
  • Chief Product Security Officer  – focused on safeguarding product and software security across the Group’s next-generation technology stack.

The impact

  • 500+ global executives engaged across cybersecurity, cloud, and automotive industries.  
  • Two critical leadership hires secured, strengthening the organisation's cyber resilience at a decisive moment in its growth.  
  • Diversity and global mobility delivered – including the relocation of a senior executive from Japan to Germany.  
  • Future-proofed leadership to safeguard Cloud and OS, enabling the organisation to meet stringent global regulations while driving innovation at scale.