Simon Blanchet is leading HSBC’s Security Testing organization globally supporting all Group Businesses and Functions. He is also responsible for helping to ensure the delivery of an enhanced capability to support the DevOps ways of working and drive the adoption of automated security testing capabilities within the development/integration pipelines. Regionally managing the Cybersecurity Assessment & Testing service line workforce performing software security assurance functions including End-to-End Risk Consultancy, Security Testing and Third-Party Security Risk Review.

Simon has been professionally working in the fields of Information Security and Security Software Design & Development for the past 19+ years. He started his career as a Software Developer and Development Team Leader (cryptographic & security-related software) in Montreal, Canada where he had the opportunity to contribute to the first version of the SDK implementing Stefan Brands’ Digital Credential (later acquired by Microsoft as part of their user-centric identity management technology called U-Prove). In early 2005, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to land in Switzerland where he worked in the Private Banking industry for more than 8 years, first as an Application Security Architect at Lombard Odier Private Bankers then as the Head of Application Security for HSBC Private Bank. In late 2013 he moved further east to Hong Kong where, as the Regional Head of Information Security Risk, he led the Asia-Pacific region on all information security related initiatives, projects and operations for HSBC Private Bank. In late 2015, he was globally responsible for Application Security Innovation and R&D before moving into his current role as the Global Head of Security Testing since late 2018.