Philip Halpin is a Senior Vice President and the Head of Global Security at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. He is responsible for leading all aspects of the firm’s global security strategy, program development, technology and services. Additionally, he has responsibility for the Information Security Risk Management Division, which directly manages logical provisioning, providing access to all systems and technology resources for the enterprise.

Since joining the firm in 2014, Halpin has transformed the security function from a basic reactive and facility-based model into comprehensive program comprised of professionals that take a proactive risk-based approach to security risk mitigation and demonstrate a quantifiable value to the firm through intelligence driven programs and services. Then, Halpin began execution on a vision converging certain aspects of physical and logical security – namely Identity and Access Management; beginning a journey to digitally transform the way BBH manages identity and access.

Previously, Halpin served as a U.S. Marine and in law enforcement for the NYC and the Suffolk Co. Police Departments. 

Halpin strongly feels that having a growth mindset, a vision and strategy, a positive attitude and a real focus on supporting, developing and empowering your people are all key ingredients necessary to win in today’s rapidly changing world. Halpin also stresses the importance of maintaining a strong network in and outside of the security industry. He says, “I owe a lot to others for taking an interest in me, listening, sharing ideas or perspectives, guidance and advice. Pay it forward, do the same for others who might benefit from mentoring and support when appropriate.”

Halpin is passionate about and frequently speaks on the topic of Digital Transformation. “Make no mistake about it, we are living during a disruptive time in history – technological innovation is exploding around us at a truly exponential pace and many are struggling to visualize or plan for what is coming; those who fail to do so will be disrupted,” he says. “I encourage folks to make this a priority in their organization, educate themselves on the concepts of Digital Transformation and adopt a Digital Mindset; analyze ‘how’ this explosion of technology will affect your organization, look at your systems designs, your business model, your organizational structure…are these designed for yesterday or are they ready for tomorrow? Digital Transformation is a journey and every journey begins with a single step.”

Despite the need to digitally transform and all the value technology brings, Halpin believes that people are still the greatest and most precious assets and urges that we never lose sight of that fact. “Our most important responsibility is the safety and wellbeing of our employees, clients and people who come in contact with our organizations, and by extension the data and information they’ve entrusted us with.”