UC Systemwide Chief Information Security Officer Jayesh Panchal

Van Williams, vice president of Information Technology Services and chief information officer, is pleased to announce the hiring of Jayesh Panchal as UC’s systemwide chief information security officer.

In this role, Panchal will be responsible for ensuring cybersecurity throughout the UC system by collaboratively developing and implementing a university-wide information security program and coordinating its operations across all UC locations. He will advise the UC Board of Regents, senior executives and senior management, including President Drake and chancellors, on security compliance, cyber risk, incident management and cyber resilience. Panchal will also represent UC on international and national cybersecurity initiatives and organizations, serving as a thought leader, engaging with colleagues nationwide and participating in conferences and other forums. He will report to Williams with a dotted line reporting relationship to EVP/COO Rachael Nava.

“I am pleased to welcome Jayesh to the ITS team,” says Williams. “His extensive experience in the global arenas of cybersecurity and technology will help us to protect our digital assets and offer security to UC students, faculty and staff as they work to fulfill the university’s missions of education, research and public service. Jayesh’s deep commitment to diversifying the technology field and building relationships across the industry will be a great asset to UC.”

Panchal comes to UCOP from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he has served as global chief information security officer since 2009. During his tenure at the IMF, Panchal led all aspects of information security and cyber risk management to enable the IMF to achieve its goals, safeguard its reputation and operations, and protect its assets globally. In addition to representing the IMF at United Nations’ cybersecurity functions, his accomplishments include leading an innovative multi-year cyber-risk-awareness program that delivered a 90% risk reduction in susceptibility to the IMF’s highest-risk threats. The IMF recognized him with a CIO Excellence Award and nominated him for its Diversity Innovation Awards. Prior to the IMF, Panchal served as a global Information Security Risk manager at Barclays and provided governance and oversight for e-commerce and security at Deutsche Bank. He contributes outside of work as a board trustee for the Washington Episcopal School and helps raise funds for the Children’s National Hospital Foundation as a board member for the White Hat Gala.

Throughout Panchal’s well-traveled life and globally focused career — he has lived and worked in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia — he has developed a strong interest in upholding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. While working at the IMF, he established a mentorship group for women in cybersecurity and contributed to workgroups focused on advancing workplace diversity.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Panchal holds a master’s degree in information security from Royal Holloway College at the University of London and a bachelor’s degree in information technology and Japanese from the University of Salford. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, playing tennis and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

About

View all post by