Cybersecurity in banking has evolved from a back-office function to a board-level priority. Dutch financial institutions are facing increasing regulatory complexity, heightened geopolitical risk, and more advanced threat actors. In this environment, security leadership is not just about controls and compliance; it is about vision, resilience, and enabling secure digital transformation.
This curated list highlights the top CISOs in the Netherlands banking sector, along with senior security leaders who may not always hold the formal CISO title but play an equally critical role in protecting financial institutions. Some have recently transitioned into new positions, yet their influence in the Dutch banking cybersecurity ecosystem remains significant.
Prof. dr. Martijn Dekker — Global Chief Information Security Officer, ABN AMRO Bank
Martijn Dekker has served as Global CISO at ABN AMRO for over a decade, leading the bank’s Corporate Information Security Office worldwide. He is responsible for shaping security strategy across the group, guiding secure cloud migrations, DevOps transformations, and enterprise-wide digital innovation initiatives. His leadership spans from high-level strategic definition to hands-on implementation and measurable delivery.
Beyond his executive role, Dekker is a professor, researcher, and advisor to boards and governments. He has been recognized multiple times in the Global CISO 100 and named among the Netherlands’ top IT influencers. His blend of academic rigor and executive execution makes him a defining voice among the top CISOs in the Netherlands banking.
Léon Janson — Chief Information Security Officer / Directeur Security, Privacy & Resilience, ASN Bank
Léon Janson brings decades of experience in IT risk and security leadership within financial services. At ASN Bank, he leads security, privacy, and resilience initiatives, implementing strategic risk programs that meet both internal and regulatory requirements. His pragmatic approach blends best practices with creative execution.
Janson has deep experience working with regulators such as the ECB and DNB, maintaining direct contact with executive leadership while steering agile and DevOps-driven security improvements. His consistent results-driven leadership style has earned him strong recognition in the Dutch financial security community.
Erik Schouten — Chief Information Security Officer, Triodos Bank
Erik Schouten has led information security at Triodos Bank since 2023, focusing on safeguarding digital operations in a values-driven banking environment. His work centers on strengthening cyber resilience, protecting customer data, and ensuring compliance in a rapidly digitizing financial ecosystem.
Under his leadership, security initiatives align closely with the bank’s broader mission and operational integrity goals. His steady, strategic approach reinforces the importance of cybersecurity as both a protective and enabling function within ethical banking.
John Hagreis — Information Security Lead, Bank Mendes Gans
John Hagreis brings more than 25 years of experience across infrastructure, storage, and application security within banking and telecommunications. At Bank Mendes Gans, he leads information security initiatives and risk management programs designed to protect critical financial systems.
His technical background in Unix environments and managed file transfer systems complements his strong focus on risk and compliance. As an experienced security professional with memberships in ISACA and ISC², he remains an important contributor to banking cybersecurity resilience.
The Future of Cybersecurity Leadership in Dutch Banking
The Netherlands continues to cultivate a strong bench of cybersecurity leaders who are shaping the future of financial resilience. Whether holding the formal CISO title or leading adjacent security and risk functions, these professionals demonstrate that effective cybersecurity is about strategy, collaboration, and forward-looking innovation.
For readers seeking a broader perspective beyond this feature, explore our comprehensive list of CISOs to watch to discover additional security executives driving transformation across global financial services.