Strategic advisor on IT and cybersecurity
Cristian is a business advisor, strategist and manager, specialized in large scale digital transformation and cybersecurity projects both in the private and public sector, a graduate of international relations studies in Bucharest holding a MBA from Northwood University, USA.
His career had a successful entrepreneurial focus for over 15 years in cybersecurity, becoming a professional in this field after implementing and consulting on complex projects from security base-lining, preemptive protection, remediation to resolution. He is a certified auditor in system’s security and risk management and the current interests outline cybersecurity strategy, intelligence and architecture in national critical infrastructure.
In 2016 he has taken on a more complex challenge, becoming the first Government CIO in Romania, part of a Technocrat Government, with responsibilities as State Secretary to coordinate and accelerate the national digital transformation initiatives, interoperability and cybersecurity within all government entities, to develop the enterprise and governmental cloud architecture and to align the technology projects, investments and resources with the objectives of the national strategy.
Throughout this public sector engagement, he has served in several additional roles such as the national critical infrastructure advisor to the Prime-Minister from 2017 to 2019.
In 2019 he joined Nuclearelectrica as CIO, a nuclear power generation organization, highly respected among international peers. He was responsible to develop a 4-years digital transformation strategy, lead ICT and digitalization initiatives, develop a modern and integrated technology architecture, capable of managing IT, OT, IoT and hybrid threats. He also submitted and won an EU-financed project to develop the first public sector Romanian ISAC (Information Sharing and Analysis Center) dedicated to improving cybersecurity in the energy sector.
In 2021 he re-joined the Government as an advisor to the minister of Finance, receiving a mandate to accelerate the digital transformation initiatives, interoperability and cybersecurity within MoF and to develop the MoF RRF/PNRR digitalization financing plan of +360mEUR. He was also in charge with the operationalization of the EU Cyber Center, the first EU Agency to be hosted in Romania.
He is currently a strategic advisor for large multinationals for digital and business process transformation, cybersecurity and public sector engagement. He is advising on RRF/PNRR and other financing options for tech projects.