IT Governance Strengthens Board to Oversee Fast-Growing Consultancy Business
Infosecurity Europe, London, April 22, 2008 – IT Governance, the one-stop shop for books, tools, training and consultancy for Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, has appointed Steve Watkins to its Board to oversee the rapid growth of its consultancy practice.
Over the past three years, Watkins has played an instrumental role in the development of IT Governance’s consultancy arm, which helps organisations to manage operational risks by achieving compliance and certification to best practice standards. In addition to its acknowledged expertise in information security, IT Governance is increasingly called upon to advise in areas including data protection, business continuity and the management of diverse risks within the supply chain.
In its consultancy, IT Governance emphasises the transfer of practical and proven skills to clients’ in-house teams, enabling them to sustain best practices for the long-term, while achieving significant economies over conventional consultancy relationships. Therefore, in addition to offering strategic advice and project coaching, IT Governance provides extensive training services for senior and junior members of client teams.
In his new position, Watkins will oversee the continued diversification of the consultancy practice, driving its services into new areas of risk management and compliance, while expanding its geographical footprint to take in an increasing proportion of international assignments.
Watkins, 38, is a highly respected trainer, consultant and author in the fields of IT Governance, Risk Management and Compliance. He has over 17 years’ experience of managing integrated management systems, including the maintenance of Information Security, Quality, Environmental and Investor in People certification. He has worked with a wide range of private sector companies, from multinationals to SMEs, as well as public sector organisations. In addition to being a trained ISO27001 and ISO9000 auditor, Watkins is a trained EFQM Assessor and holds diplomas in safety and financial management.
Watkins is Chair of the UK ISO/IEC27001 User Group and also sits on the Management Committee of the British Standards Society, where he chairs the Management Systems Special Interest Group.
Alan Calder, Chief Executive of IT Governance, comments, “Steve has played a vital role in shaping and delivering our consultancy work and has helped amass a client group that now includes major multinationals, mid-sized businesses, regulators and other public sector organisations. I am delighted to welcome him to the Board and am confident that under Steve’s leadership our training and consultancy services will become increasingly successful and sought after aspects of IT Governance’s offering.”
