Spotlight on Iyad Atieh

Iyad Atieh is the Chief Information Security Officer, at Alghanim Industries, where he leads cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and resilience across a large, diversified enterprise in the Middle East.

Iyad works closely with executive leadership and the board to align cybersecurity with business outcomes, digital transformation, and geopolitical risk considerations. He is passionate about translating complex cyber risks into clear, actionable insights for business leaders.

A fun fact, he enjoys long‑distance hiking and finds it a great way to reset and think through complex problems.

Learn more about the Middle East CISO Community.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

My career path combines hands-on experience in infrastructure and security technologies, where I worked across enterprise platforms, networks, and critical systems while progressively taking on security responsibilities. This hybrid background allowed me to design security programs that are practical, resilient, and closely aligned with underlying technology operations. Over time, I transitioned into senior leadership roles with broader accountability for enterprise risk, governance, and executive engagement, leading to my current role as Group CISO.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

One of my guiding leadership principles is fostering continuous improvement and innovation by encouraging teams to evolve how they work and embrace change, enabling sustainable and meaningful transformation.
 

What is the greatest challenge CISOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

One of the greatest challenges I face as a CISO is keeping pace with rapidly evolving threats and technologies — particularly cloud adoption, AI, and third‑party risk — while still enabling the business to move fast. I address this by focusing on resilience and pragmatic risk management, embedding security into architecture and operations rather than treating it as a control layer. Clear governance, strong executive alignment, and continuous improvement in people, process, and technology are key to sustaining this balance.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CISO?

The key to success for someone starting out in a CISO role is building strong alignment with the business while establishing credibility with both executives and technical teams. Early focus should be on understanding the organization’s risk profile, priorities, and culture, rather than leading with tools or controls. Listening, communicating clearly in business terms, and surrounding yourself with strong talent are critical to setting the right foundation.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I measure success as a leader by the resilience and maturity of the organization and teams I help build. This includes the ability to manage risk effectively, respond confidently to change or crisis, and continuously improve. Long‑term trust from executives and empowered, accountable teams are the strongest indicators of success for me.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

Community membership enables meaningful collaboration with C‑level peers, providing access to trusted insights, best practices, and peer‑led discussions. This collective exchange helps leaders stay ahead of emerging challenges while driving informed, strategic decisions for their organizations.

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.