Heritage Bank appoints Mikhail Lopushanski as CISO

Australia-based Heritage Bank has appointed a new chief information security officer (CISO), Mikhail Lopushanski.

Heritage Bank appoints new CISO, Mikhail Lopushanski

Lopushanski, who will be based in Brisbane, will work to strengthen the bank’s IT, digital and data security defences.

He has more than 30 years worth of experience in strategic planning, governance, audit, risk and information security, working across Canada, the US and Australia.

Prior to joining Heritage Bank, Lopushanski spent 10 years as chief security officer at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock says Lopushanski’s knowledge of information security in the banking industry following his 10-year tenure at APRA will be a boost to the firm as it looks to “grow our information security capabilities in what is an ever-changing field”.

Speaking on his appointment, Lopushanski says: “Heritage has done a lot in regard to security, but it is an ongoing journey. We always need to be proactive in this space to protect our members.”

Heritage Bank is Australia’s largest mutual bank and one of the longest-running financial institutions in the country, having been founded in 1875 as Toowoomba Building Society.