Cybersecurity: a pragmatic approach for financial executives - Interview with Jacques Fontignie

November 7, 2025

At a time when cybersecurity is becoming a strategic issue for the entire financial sector, ISFB is launching a new short course dedicated to senior executives. Jacques Fontignie, expert in IT security and lecturer on the program, shares his vision of an approach that is both pragmatic and interactive, and rooted in the realities of the field.

Jacques Fontignie, you are a lecturer at ISFB, where you teach the brand-new short course "Cybersecurity for financial executives: from strategy to the field". What are your expectations and what approach will you adopt as a lecturer?

I've already had the pleasure of speaking at ISFB, and I'm delighted to be taking part in this new training course dedicated to cybersecurity for financial executives. Today, cybersecurity is more than just a technical issue: it directly affects corporate strategy, governance and resilience.

My approach will be above all interactive and pragmatic. Rather than sticking to theory, I want to use concrete examples, recent incidents and feedback from the field. The idea is to create a genuine exchange with participants, so that they can identify the right reflexes, share their own challenges and leave with realistic courses of action.

I'll also highlight some of the tools and methods used in real-life contexts, to help build a sustainable securing approach aligned with market best practice.

Can you tell us about your academic and professional background?

I've always had a passion for technology and information systems, which naturally led me to pursue a Master's degree in computer science. I began my career at IBM, where I had the opportunity to immerse myself in software development. A few years later, I joined Lombard Odier in the security field: first as a developer, then progressing to architect and finally security manager. It was here that I really got a taste for cybersecurity, both for its technical and strategic challenges.

Today, I'm involved in defining and steering the company's cybersecurity strategy, as well as overseeing operations and incident management.

What do you see as the main challenges in cybersecurity today?

Today's cybersecurity challenges are manifold, but three are particularly important.

The first is the growing complexity of threats. Attackers are becoming more professional, using increasingly sophisticated techniques and exploiting both technological flaws and human weaknesses.

The second challenge concerns the speed of evolution. Technologies - cloud, AI, IoT - are progressing faster than organizations' ability to secure them. We must constantly adapt, rethink approaches and train teams.

Finally, the third challenge is cultural and organizational. Cybersecurity is no longer just a matter for specialists: it needs to be understood at all levels of the company, from the management committee right down to employees.

The ISFB short course "Cybersecurity for financial executives: from strategy to the field" will take place shortly (first quarter 2026). How can this program offer concrete solutions? What, in your opinion, are the strengths and specific features that make this program so rich and valuable?

What sets this program apart is its resolutely practical approach. It's not just a theoretical approach to cybersecurity, but an understanding of the current threats and their practical implications for a financial manager: how to anticipate, decide and react to a crisis. The aim is to enable each participant to leave not only with a better understanding of the risks, but above all with concrete action keys to reinforce the resilience of their company.

Jacques Fontignie

Head of Cybersecurity (UBP)

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