The restaurant industry depends on digital systems that need strong security. Mobile ordering, loyalty programs and delivery apps have created more points of risk. This shift placed CISOs at the center of how major food chains operate. Below are some of the security leaders who guide the largest restaurant brands in the world.
Afia Phillips, CISO, Little Caesars Entertainment
Phillips leads security for one of the largest pizza chains. Her work supports a high-volume business with a strong digital ordering footprint.
Nathan Hunstable, CISO, CEC Entertainment
Hunstable oversees security for Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company. The brand relies on a mix of in-store systems and family-focused digital platforms.
Joe Suareo, CISO and VP Information Security, Restaurant Brands International
Suareo protects the technology environment behind Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. RBI’s global scale and rapid digital growth make strong security essential.
Elias Oxendine IV, VP and CISO, Yum Brands
Oxendine covers KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill. Yum’s large franchise network needs consistent controls across thousands of independent operators.
Mike Gordon, Senior VP and CISO, McDonald’s Corporation
Gordon plays a key role in McDonald’s global security strategy. His leadership helps protect digital ordering, payments and restaurant operations.
Greg Wood, SVP Technology Infrastructure and Engineering and Global CISO, Starbucks
Wood guides security at Starbucks after time at Disney, US Bank and JPMorgan Chase. Starbucks depends on a complex mix of retail, mobile ordering and global payments.
Ilija Vadjon, CISO, The Wendy’s Company
Vadjon became CISO in February 2025 after serving as Deputy CISO. He leads security for a brand that handles heavy drive-through, mobile and delivery traffic.
Stephen Bennett, Group CISO, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd
Bennett oversees security across an international network of stores that rely on real-time ordering and delivery systems.
These CISOs protect global brands that serve millions each day. Restaurant companies now operate more like digital retailers. They depend on point-of-sale systems, cloud platforms and customer data at scale. This shift increased their exposure to fraud, ransomware and supply chain risks.
Strong security leadership supports uptime in restaurants, keeps customer trust and protects revenue. As digital ordering grows, these CISOs will remain central to how the world’s biggest food chains operate.