Austria’s banking sector operates within one of Europe’s most mature regulatory environments, where cybersecurity is tightly coupled with operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and customer trust. Financial institutions must defend against increasingly sophisticated threats while maintaining uninterrupted services across complex digital ecosystems. The leaders below are responsible for securing Austria’s financial infrastructure, strengthening governance frameworks, and ensuring long-term institutional resilience.
Bernardo Horta — Group Chief Information Security Officer, Erste Group
Bernardo Horta serves as Group Chief Information Security Officer at Erste Group, overseeing cybersecurity strategy across one of Central and Eastern Europe’s largest banking networks. With more than two decades of experience, he has implemented enterprise-wide governance frameworks, strengthened cross-entity collaboration, and improved operational maturity. His leadership focuses on protecting critical financial systems while aligning cybersecurity with regulatory requirements and business growth.
Hans-Jörg Leirer — Head of Information Security and Data Protection, DolomitenBank Osttirol-Westkärnten eG
Hans-Jörg Leirer currently leads information security and data protection at DolomitenBank Osttirol-Westkärnten, overseeing governance, risk management, and regulatory alignment. He previously served as Chief Information Security Officer at DolomitenBank, Austrian Anadi Bank, and UNiQUARE Software Development, where he built and matured security programs. His career reflects deep experience securing banking environments and implementing structured cybersecurity frameworks across financial institutions.
Horst Fechtig — Chief Information Security Officer, Raiffeisenlandesbank Vorarlberg
Horst Fechtig serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Raiffeisenlandesbank Vorarlberg, where he leads cybersecurity strategy and risk management initiatives. His leadership emphasizes clear communication, structured governance, and practical implementation of security controls. With extensive experience across banking environments, he focuses on strengthening institutional resilience while ensuring security programs align with operational priorities and regulatory expectations.
Florian Chocholka — Chief Information Security Officer, Bank Gutmann
Florian Chocholka is Chief Information Security Officer at Bank Gutmann, where he oversees enterprise security strategy, vulnerability management, and governance. His career at the bank spans multiple technical and security leadership roles, providing deep institutional knowledge. He has played a central role in strengthening the bank’s Information Security Management System and advancing its cybersecurity maturity across critical financial operations.
Matthias Lampl — Chief Information Security Officer, HYPO NOE Landesbank für Niederösterreich und Wien AG
Matthias Lampl serves as Chief Information Security Officer at HYPO NOE Landesbank, where he leads enterprise cybersecurity strategy and risk management. He previously worked as Information Security Manager at Austrian Power Grid, gaining experience securing critical infrastructure. His leadership combines regulatory expertise and operational execution, supporting the bank’s efforts to maintain resilience in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Gerald Stockinger — Chief Information Security Officer, Bankhaus Spängler
Gerald Stockinger is Chief Information Security Officer at Bankhaus Spängler, responsible for cybersecurity strategy, risk oversight, and incident preparedness. He previously served as CISO at BNP Paribas and held cybersecurity leadership roles at Wüstenrot Gruppe. His experience spans security governance, threat monitoring, and resilience planning, helping financial institutions strengthen defenses against evolving cyber threats.
Christian Frey — Chief Information Security Officer, Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH
Christian Frey serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH, Austria’s federal development bank. He has led the institution’s cybersecurity program for more than a decade, overseeing governance, architecture, and regulatory compliance. His long tenure reflects sustained leadership in securing government-linked financial infrastructure and ensuring operational continuity across complex IT environments.
Volker Kubarth — Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
Volker Kubarth serves as Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Oesterreichische Kontrollbank, supporting enterprise cybersecurity strategy and governance. He previously held senior leadership roles at Radar Cyber Security and Unisys, focusing on service delivery, risk management, and operational security. His experience strengthens the institution’s ability to manage cybersecurity risk across critical financial services.
Felix Scheinhardt — Deputy Group Chief Information Security Officer, BAWAG Group
Felix Scheinhardt is Deputy Group Chief Information Security Officer at BAWAG Group, where he helps lead cybersecurity governance across a pan-European banking organization. His responsibilities include regulatory coordination, security strategy implementation, and strengthening organizational security culture. His background in cybersecurity auditing and consulting supports the bank’s efforts to maintain strong regulatory alignment and operational resilience.
Securing Austria’s Financial System Through Cybersecurity Leadership
Austria’s banking cybersecurity leaders play a critical role in protecting financial stability, customer trust, and institutional continuity. Their work extends beyond technical controls to include governance, regulatory alignment, and organizational resilience. As financial systems continue to evolve, their leadership ensures Austria’s banking sector remains secure, adaptive, and prepared for emerging cybersecurity challenges.
To explore how cybersecurity leadership extends beyond banking into broader financial infrastructure, see our feature on CISOs to Watch in Austria’s Financial Services Industry.