CISO of the Year: The award for up-and-comers
We are looking for the best Chief Information Security Officers
Every year since 2022, CIS has honoured the best Chief Information Security Officer in the country. With the “CISO of the Year” award, we put your work, projects and ideas in the spotlight and thus promote the importance of information security throughout the country. Winners benefit from media presence – for new impulses and essential further developments.
How to participate?
You have successfully completed the implementation of an information security management system under challenging conditions, developed it further, realised the special integration of different management systems or implemented a successful, innovative security project.
It’s quite simple:
- Fill out and submit the registration form
- An independent jury of experts makes a pre-selection and invites the candidates to a jury interview
- Ceremonial award ceremony and presentation of the winners’ successful projects at the CIS Compliance Summit
It's worth taking part - the stage for your project
Presence for your project: All finalists will have the opportunity to present their successful projects at the CIS Summit. The finalists will be presented on the main stage in front of a high-calibre audience of experts.
More than just a title: The “CISO of the Year” not only receives recognition, but also a comprehensive communication package for maximum reach.
Further training included: The winner will receive an education voucher worth €2,000 for topic-specific further training from CIS Certification GmbH, which can be used for the entire team.
Part of an exclusive community: Networking with leading IT security experts and dialogue at eye level.
Do you have what it takes to be CISO of the Year? Then we look forward to receiving your submission.
The application phase for 2025 is already closed, but we look forward to receiving your application for the 2026 CISO of the Year competition soon.
7
7 awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and Special Award, have been presented since 2022.
2000
€ 2,000 CIS education voucher for the winner and their team
CISO of the Year 2024
- CISO of the Year: Richard Thron | Umdasch Group AG
To the video | To the reportÂ
- CISO of the Year: Fabian Cholewa | Software GmbH
to the video | to the report
Photo from left: Simon Tjoa (jury chairman), Richard Thron (Umdasch Group AG) and Fabian Cholewa (Software GmbH) – both “CISO of the Year 2024”, Harald Erkinger (Managing Director CIS – Certification & Information Security Services GmbH) at the award ceremony during the CIS Compliance Summit 2024 © Anna Rauchenberger
“CISOs often perform at the highest levels of innovation, thought leadership and pragmatism. The irony of the role is that it all too often becomes less visible the more successfully it is performed. That is why it is important to us to bring these experts and their successes to the fore once a year, to honour them and celebrate their deeds”,</blockquote
says Harald Erkinger, Managing Director of CIS – Certification & Information Security Services GmbH.
CISO of the Year 2023
- CISO of the Year: Bettina Thurnher | Gebrüder Weiss
To the report (German)
- CISO of the Year: Marcel Lehner | MM Group
To the video | To the report (German)
- Lifetime Achievement: Thomas Schober | Allianz Group
To the video | Â to the report (German)
Picture (from left): Simon Tjoa (jury chairman), Thomas Schober (Allianz Group), Bettina Thurnher (Gebrüder Weiss) and Marcel Lehner (MM Group) – both CISO of the Year 2023, Harald Erkinger (Managing Director CIS) at the award ceremony during the CIS Compliance Summit 2023 © Anna Rauchenberger
CISO of the Year 2022
- CISO of the Year: Peter Gerdenitsch | Raiffeisen Bank International AG
To the video 2022
- Special prize “International”: Sascha Czech | University Hospital Münster
- Finalist: Thomas Pfeiffer | LINZ NETZ GmbH
to the 2022 video
Picture (from left to right): Simon Tjoa, jury chairman; finalist Thomas Pfeiffer; Peter Gerdenitsch, CISO of the Year 2022; finalist Sascha Czech; Klaus Veselko, Managing Director CIS – Certification & Information Security Services GmbH at the CIS Compliance Summit 2022 © Anna Rauchenberger
