Egypt’s digital and financial sectors are undergoing rapid transformation, with cybersecurity emerging as a top priority for both public institutions and private enterprises. From banking to telecommunications and government oversight, the country is building resilience against evolving cyber threats. Leading this charge are the CISOs who combine technical mastery with strategic insight, guiding organizations to protect critical infrastructure, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen digital trust across the nation.
The following CISOs are shaping Egypt’s cybersecurity landscape today:
Hisham Mohamed Aly — Egypt CISO, Emirates NBD Egypt
Hisham Mohamed Aly leads cybersecurity strategy at Emirates NBD Egypt, focusing on vulnerability assessment, PCI DSS compliance, asset hardening, encryption, and key management. A Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), he brings deep expertise from over 9 years at Emirates NBD, including roles as Information Security Risk Manager. Hisham also shares his knowledge as an instructor at the Egyptian Banking Institute and serves as a Cybersecurity Expert for the International Telecommunication Union. His experience spans SOC operations, SIEM, and internal audits across major Egyptian banks.
Osama M. Hijji — Group CISO, EFG Holding
Osama M. Hijji is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with 25 years of experience across banking, insurance, telecom, government, health, and military sectors. Skilled in governance, risk, compliance, offensive security, and IT/OT/IoT security, he oversees enterprise-wide cyber defense strategies at EFG Holding. Certified in CISM, PMP, ITIL, and CSI, Osama has implemented and audited numerous ISO standards, PCI-DSS projects, and complex enterprise security technologies. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, he bridges business and technical domains with strategic insight.
Rania ElRouby — CISO, Banque Misr
Rania ElRouby combines technical expertise with business acumen to strengthen Banque Misr’s cybersecurity posture. She specializes in information security consulting, solution design, strategic planning, and risk management. With strong client engagement skills, Rania ensures cybersecurity initiatives align with business objectives while fostering awareness and training programs across the organization. Her leadership emphasizes both protection and value creation through innovative security strategies.
Ahmed El Dessouky — Senior Vice President, Group Head of International Information Security, Mashreq
Ahmed El Dessouky brings extensive experience in banking and telecom cybersecurity, risk management, governance, and compliance. Holding a Computer Science degree from Cairo University, he leads international security operations at Mashreq, ensuring robust IT governance, ISO27001 alignment, and enterprise-wide protection of critical systems and data.
Wessam Maher — CISO, Sector Head, Suez Canal Bank
Wessam Maher is a cybersecurity strategist, consultant, and board advisor with over 18 years of experience. Recognized as one of the worldwide Top 10 information security professionals in 2022 and Arab CISO of the Year 2021, he excels in information security governance, risk assessment, ethical hacking, cloud security, cyber intelligence, and public awareness. Wessam bridges technical expertise with executive strategy and actively promotes security awareness in Arabic for non-professionals.
Mohamed Hegazy — CISO, Masria Digital Payments
Mohamed Hegazy specializes in securing financial services infrastructure, with a focus on EFT, PCI-DSS compliance, and fraud detection. With over a decade of experience, he combines software development knowledge with cybersecurity expertise to enhance company security frameworks. Mohamed’s work emphasizes quality, resilience, and operational excellence in the payments sector.
Dr. Ahmed Ali Abdel‑Hafez — Vice President, Cybersecurity Affairs, National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority
Dr. Ahmed Ali Abdel‑Hafez is a veteran cybersecurity leader with over 32 years of experience in telecommunication systems and cryptography. He established Egypt’s Cryptography Research Center, developed national encryption algorithms, and contributed to the Egyptian Supreme Cybersecurity Council. A published researcher and academic supervisor, Dr. Ahmed has advanced both Egypt’s cyber defense capabilities and cybersecurity education. He received the Second-Class Order of the Republic for his distinguished contributions to national security.
Michael Waheeb — CISO, Egyptian Banks Company
Michael Waheeb leads enterprise-wide cybersecurity for the Egyptian Banks Company, specializing in financial infrastructure protection, regulatory compliance, and data privacy. With 19 years of experience, he ensures adherence to PCI DSS, PCI PIN, ISO 27001, and CBE CSF standards, aligning cybersecurity initiatives with business goals and reinforcing stakeholder trust through secure digital transformation strategies.
Driving Egypt’s Cybersecurity Evolution
These leaders exemplify how Egypt is cultivating a resilient digital ecosystem, combining technical mastery, regulatory compliance, and strategic vision. Their work not only protects critical national infrastructure but also strengthens trust in Egypt’s financial, governmental, and technological sectors. As cyber threats continue to evolve, these CISOs are at the forefront, shaping the country’s digital security future.