What Every CEO Should Understand

During the past year I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet and interview the best and brightest CSOs. Each was asked what every CEO should understand about security. Their ideas, advice and wisdom are shared with you in this month’s column. What should your CEO know? Share it with us at mccourtm@bnpmedia.com

“CEO’s should look at their security organizations as a business partner, innovator and contributor to overall goals. If they set their expectations in this manner, then they allow security to demonstrate its value in these terms.”

Tim Janes, Capital One

“Risk management and security are truly about contributing to the business. CEOs should understand that world-class security is another sign of a well-run operation and a selling point to attract and retain employees and investors. Risk management is critical to position the company for growth.

Jeff Larner, Peabody Energy

CEOs have come to understand that risks exist and the security programs to mitigate them are not optional. It is a cost of doing business. But done correctly, organizations gain a better understanding of their business processes and the ability to better control process and make them more effective.”

Bernadette Morris, Conair

“Today, CEO’s recognize that security brings value to the table and that there is an ROI. They see the return and have gained a respect and trust for the role. Important is that they understand what security can do for their organization and communicate it. That is often not understood but needs to be.”

Rick Fisher, CB&I

“Every CEO should understand the value of preparedness and consider the dynamics of human behavioral effectiveness for a successful and sustainable business in times of security and risk planning. Focusing a percent of resources on safety and security training and education reduces critical risks through both awareness for prevention and response to events.”

Dr. Krista Osborne, Starbucks

“Security is more of an art and less of a science. A good security leader should be able to translate the art into numbers and metrics, which make security a science. A security leader who does so understands their craft. And every CEO should recognize that security is its own skill set and profession and that it needs to be staffed accordingly. And they should expect their security organization to deliver value.”

Bryan Warren, Carolinas Health Care

“CEOs have also become knowledgeable about the necessity and value of security in their organizations. They recognize that they must set the tone and lead by example. There must be a commitment from senior managers, working in unison, to achieve the organizational goals of the institution. Further, that security cannot succeed without the partnerships that we develop and nurture with others. Also, we cannot function in a vacuum and must communicate effectively with all internal and external stakeholders.”

Domenic Ceccanecchio, Drexel University

“Every CEO should understand that they impact more than their own business, their actions and their company has a residual, downstream impact on their clients. Risk and security planning will heighten or lessen that impact. A key reason I love my job is that I enjoy knowing what we do makes a difference. Each day we do our job, we are protecting multiple, national economies and a way of life. Risks that can harm a business and its employees are managed for them. They are protected from them.”

Roland Cloutier, ADP

“Every Mayor should understand the huge, gray, positive impact security delivers. There is a profound comfort and freedom of employees to come to work or visitors to enjoy the city. Accessibility and the availability of our facilities have a direct impact on Toronto’s brand and financial health. There are unfortunately far-reaching negative effects of not having a balanced security program.”

Dwaine Nichol, city of Toronto

It is a challenge to execute new editorial thinking, new websites, redesigned eNewsletters and a world class Security 500 Conference in step with 12 great magazine issues in an unfriendly economy. As 2011 comes to a close, thanks to the entire Securitymagazine team for a great and rewarding year. I know it was not nearly as easy as you all made it look.

Here is wishing a secure holiday season to our readers, advertisers, partners and team.

Mark McCourt was once the publisher of Security magazine.

ON DEMAND: Business-impacting events such as severe weather, man-made disasters, and supply chain disruption are increasing in frequency and making impacts around the globe.

In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, organizations face an ever-growing array of disruptive events, security threats and risks. Traditional reactive approaches to security intelligence often leave businesses vulnerable and ill-prepared to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats that could impact the safety of their people, facilities or operations.