A former apprentice at a leading firm of IT and cyber security specialists in the East Midlands has been promoted to the company’s leadership team.
Fern Ritchie joined Eastwood-based Your IT Department five years ago and progressed to become a team leader in cyber security and compliance.
Commenting on her new role, Fern described it as an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of the company’s strategic goals, with a special focus on cyber resilience.
“It’s more important than ever for all companies to have a security and compliance voice at leadership level,” said Fern. “The current Cyber Security Resilience Bill has implications for all businesses and particularly the role of managed service providers like Your IT Department.
“Part of my role will look at ensuring that cyber security and compliance are considered in all our business planning and decision-making processes. I’m looking forward to bringing this important perspective to the leadership team and helping to drive the business forward in a positive way for everyone.”
Earlier this year, Fern joined a panel of industry experts at a prestigious event in London. She was praised for her valuable contribution to the IT Nation Connect Europe event, which hosted some of the leading managed service providers across Europe.
With cyber security remaining a key issue for many businesses, Fern will continue to lead a growing team delivering improved security to clients. In some cases, she will also be a strategic advisor to clients on risk management, compliance and cyber resilience.
The Managing Director of Your IT Department, Lee Hewson, said “Fern’s deep understanding of information security and her passion for safeguarding organisations make her a perfect fit for our future Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role.
“Her leadership will be key in building on our security capabilities and ensuring we continue to protect our clients to the highest standards.”
