Four technology risk and data appointments for PwC Scotland

PwC has bolstered its Scottish technology risk and data team with the appointment of three new directors and a senior manager.

Ross Foley and Kenny Munro have been promoted to director from their current roles at the firm, while George Scott has arrived from KPMG as risk assurance director (Scotland) and James Dean has joined from Accenture as data & anatics senior manager.

PwC said the moves underline the professional services firm’s commitment to technology and data risk among its Scottish practice in areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, drone and virtual reality.

There are now 10 directors working in risk assurance at PwC in Scotland, managing a team of 57, with a further 30 focusing on cyber security alone as businesses adapt to a world where there is an increasing risk of data breaches.

Claire Reid, head of assurance at PwC in Scotland, said: “These appointments underline just how much of a focus we are putting on technology and data risk. The financial world is rapidly changing and we are adapting with it, growing our team of experts to help clients develop security strategies and put in place technology risk and governance plans.

“I’m delighted to welcome George and James to PwC, while the well-deserved promotions of Ross and Kenny will really help us to deliver on our continued investment in the Scottish market.”

The firm said George Scott arrives at PwC with a wealth of experience in technology risk across the financial services sector. He has previously held senior security and audit roles at RBS and Standard Life, before becoming Tesco Bank’s first Head of Information Security. In 2011, Mr Scott moved to KPMG, where he was director for cyber & technology risk in Scotland, leading a team of information protection and business resilience specialists in the firm’s risk consulting practice.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining PwC at a time when technology risk is becoming a vital component of the wider assurance service offering. This is an expanding team, one which is helping provide businesses across financial services, oil and gas and the wider private business sector with everything they need as digital transformation gathers pace.”

Ross Foley is a CISM (certified information security manager) qualified information security professional, specialising cyber security strategy and risk management. He has spent much of career working in the Financial Services sector including two years at RBS before joining PwC in 2015.

Mr Foley added: “Our clients operate in increasingly interconnected ecosystems, and every day they face new and more sophisticated cyber threats. We are growing our cyber security team and investing in leading technologies, to help our clients both manage their security risk, and to support their response and recovery in the face of attack. By proactively managing this threat, we believe we can help our clients grow and thrive in a secure digital society.

Having worked at PwC since 2007, Kenny Munro leads business process and IT controls reviews across of wide range of clients ranging from those listed on the FTSE100 to small private businesses.

He said: “The growing number of directors and partners focused on technology risk at PwC in Scotland highlights a changing business environment, one where we are leading the way in delivering effective solutions to our clients across the wider assurance market.”