Francis Gnakouri

• Accomplished and results-driven ICT Professional with 7+ year experience advising and deploying security frameworks and compliance requirements, leading productive and well-integrated teams within banking and insurance industries. 
• Demonstrable expertise and knowledge of best practices for IT risk assessments, security monitoring & response services, regulatory compliance and security incident response management, proven track record of project implementations.
• Effectively translating business/user requirements into actionable IT business cases, articulate project design recommendations and deliver continuous improvement. 

WORK EXPERIENCE 

Sales Director & Senior InfoSec Expert - BRANDVAKT – Remote, May 2022 - Present

• Provide consulting services to clients in various markets including finance, telecoms, oil and Gas etc
• Research and recommend technological solutions to ensure client objectives and profitability are met.
• Document technical requirements, schedules and client interactions
• Provide support to sales team and infosec advices to clients.

Senior InfoSec Consultant - BRANDVAKT – Remote, Apr. 2022 – May 2022

• Performed information security maturity assessment and reduced risk level from "High" to "Medium" within one year based on CIS Controls. That included policies and procedures reviews and risk remediation planning.  
• Boosted the information security posture with a remediation plan and raised the overall maturity level to level 2 (fully implemented on some assets) from Level 1 (Not implemented) within one year.
• Increased Brandvakt footprint by hiring new clients and nutrishing existing ones.
• Assisted and mentored teammates on InfoSec matters such as preparing services and bid proposals.
• Supported clients to mature their InfoSec posture via Brandvakt CISO –as-a-Service activities.

IS Security Program Manager - SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE CÔTE D’IVOIRE, Apr. 2021 – Sep. 2021

• Improved the overall information security maturity level by reducing the risk rating from "High" to "Medium" within six (6) months.
• Provided senior management 100% visibility on stakeholders and third-party vendors activities through continuous monitoring and weekly reporting while ensuring services enhancements.
• Strengthened information security controls by 90% by defining and tracking performance and risk indicators (KPI, KRI) while formalizing IT and security governance based on industry best practices.

Regional Chief Information Security Officer - NSIA BANQUE CÔTE D’IVOIRE, Oct. 2018 – Jan. 2021

• Identified and mitigated 80% of various security risks by developing a 3-year information security strategic roadmap based on ITIL best practices and ISO 27001/2 standards.
• Enhanced overall information security maturity to level 3 (Defined) from level 2 (Repeatable) within one (1) year.
• Strengthened information security controls by 75% by defining and tracking performance and risk indicators (KPI, KRI) while formalizing IT and security governance based on industry best practices.
• Reduced the time to market of new services by 50%, in secured manner by pioneering project management framework.
• Transformed and stimulated corporate risk culture by 50% by mentoring periodic security awareness trainings (e-learnings and workshops).

Chief Information Security Officer - SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE CI, Oct 2014 - Oct 2018

• Improved the security posture by reducing 75% of various information security risks via continuous control and execution of group strategic security masterplan across sub-Saharan region within 3 years. 
• Strengthened information security controls by 75% by defining and tracking performance and risk indicators (KPI, KRI), formalizing security governance based on industry best practices and executing Risk Control Security Assessment (RCSA).
• Stimulated employees including C-Level Managers information security awareness by 50% via periodic trainings (e-learnings and workshops).

Senior Manager, Risk Assurance Services - PWC KENYA, May 2012 – Feb. 2014

• Increased controls over IT applications and systems by developing and executing information technology annual audit plans to mitigate business and IT risks.
• Mentored 5 people team members through personal development and supervision of audit engagements.
• Improved client satisfaction by 50% via on-time delivery of final engagement reports while ensuring staff credibility, trust and professionalism and by cutting client complaints by half.

IT Audit Manager - PROTIVITI KUWAIT, Feb. 2009 – Aug. 2011

• Increased controls over IT applications and systems by developing and executing information technology annual audit plans to mitigate business and IT risks.
• Reduced security breaches by 75% via meaningful assessment of IT infrastructures, applications and systems. 
• Improved client satisfaction by 50% via on-time delivery of final engagement reports while ensuring credibility, trust and professionalism with our business partners. That was achieved via post-audit surveys of auditees to assess client satisfaction.

IT Program Manager - WARID CÔTE D’IVOIRE, Nov. 2008 – Feb. 2009

• Achieved project delivery 2 weeks ahead of schedule and on budget, by increasing manpower efficiency at no extra cost.
• Created and communicated on periodic basis metrics driven reports and status to quantify progress and build projects stakeholders’ confidence.
• Managed cross-functional (5+ project managers) single points of accountability leads to deliver projects across IT, Legal, HR, Finance and Facilities business units.

Project Manager - MTN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, Jul. 2007 – Nov. 2008

• Improved quarterly portfolio planning process by clearly communicating planning schedule, defining team roles and responsibilities, and executive sponsorship governance.
• Created and communicated on periodic basis metrics driven reports and status to quantify progress and build projects stakeholders’ confidence.
• Managed highly successful business process re-engineering project by improving quality by 33%, cutting lead times 20%, reducing costs 40%.
• Delivered $800,000 contact center relocation project in 250 day timelines.
• Executed $1,000,000 enterprise data warehouse project within the baseline budget.
• Delivered $140,000 process reengineering project.

EDUCATION

MBA Entrepreneurship, University of Liverpool, UK - 2004

Master of Science in IT &  Telecommunication ISAPT, Cote d’Ivoire - 1999