Jim Almerico, MBA, CISSP
Details
Fisher Investments
Vice President, Infrastructure Security
2019 :
SecureWorld
Advisory Council Member
2022 :
California State University, Chico
Cybersecurity Program Advisory Council Member
Hold full responsibility for the security of the company’s employees and intellectual property, managing various information technology and tools.
- Conduct security gap analyses and Risk assessments. Present security reports to the Board as well as executive management.
- Serve as a liaison to the FBI and Department of Defense (DoD) Cybersecurity teams.
- Built Security Program from scratch and the first Phishing Campaign Program, as well as creating a hybrid workforce security strategy, the Security Awareness Training Program, a rebuilt corporate Access Control framework, and systems to attain Export Control compliance.
- Brought External Penetration testing to its highest-level rating within 1 year (inherited it at a “Moderately Secure” External Penetration test rating level).
- Reduced annual AWS spend by $500K.
-Board Advisor.
2021 : 2023
PsiQuantum
Head of IT and Security
- Reorganized a fast-growing IT team to capitalize on individual skills and experience. Designed systems and workflows that increased efficiency and enabled the 15-member team to manage a 40% growth in company size.
- Headed a fast-paced transition, moving the global team to a work-from-home environment overnight due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ensured zero service interruptions, maintaining all SLAs, securing a 4.93/5 employee satisfaction rating, and leveraging Zoom, Autopilot, Zendesk, and Answer-bot in Slack for smooth operations.
- Directed IT integration for 2 acquisitions, ensuring due diligence to streamline processes pre- and post-merger.
- Analyzed technologies, navigated aggressive pricing estimates, and negotiated a cost-effective multi-year contract for a modern, scalable phone and video conferencing system.
- Played a key role in strengthening corporate security and compliance as a member of the GDPR Compliance Committee while leading audits that resulted in a 20% reduction in telecommunication costs.
- Spearheaded an initiative to obtain the company’s first ISO 270001 certification, meeting requirements through rigorous certification process while partnering with teams to ensure PCI, SOC1, SOX, and HIPAA compliance.
2018 : 2020
SurveyMonkey
Senior Director, Corporate IT and Security
About
As the Vice President of Infrastructure Security at Fisher Investments, I oversee the global IT operations and security for a leading investment firm with over $200 billion in assets under management. I have more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, Cloud, and IT Operations. I have lead many compliance initiatives including ISO 27001, CMMC, and SOC2.
I am passionate about delivering innovative and secure IT solutions that enable the business to achieve its goals and serve its clients. I am also committed to advancing the cybersecurity field through my involvement in various advisory boards and councils, such as SecureWorld and California State University, Chico. I hold a CISSP certification, as well as an MBA and a bachelor's degree in computer science.