French higher education institutions operate at the intersection of open knowledge, advanced research, international collaboration, and increasingly complex digital infrastructures. Universities and academic groups must protect sensitive research data, personal information, and critical teaching platforms while preserving academic freedom and openness. Cybersecurity leaders in this sector balance governance, resilience, and education, often across decentralized environments with diverse stakeholders. The following security leaders are shaping how cybersecurity is structured, communicated, and embedded across France’s higher education landscape.
David Cauvin — Chief Information Security Officer, Université de Rouen Normandie
David Cauvin leads cybersecurity strategy at Université de Rouen Normandie, where he oversees information security governance, risk management, vulnerability management, and security operations in a hybrid academic environment. With a background spanning public administration, defense, finance, and higher education, he brings a broad institutional perspective to security leadership. His work emphasizes structured information security management systems, incident readiness, and alignment with academic and research needs, while actively contributing to the regional cybersecurity ecosystem through his role with CLUSIR Normandie.
Antoine Grellier — Director of Information Systems Security, HEC Paris
Antoine Grellier is responsible for defining and executing the cybersecurity strategy of HEC Paris, including its international campus in Qatar. He focuses on protecting institutional data, ensuring business continuity, and enabling innovation within a globally recognized academic environment. His experience includes leading security programs in both higher education and hospital settings, with a strong emphasis on risk analysis, security operations, vulnerability management, and awareness initiatives. He plays a key role in aligning long-term cybersecurity roadmaps with the strategic objectives of an international academic institution.
Abdelmouhaimen Allouche — Chief Information Security Officer, EDHEC Business School
Abdelmouhaimen Allouche oversees information security at EDHEC Business School, where he is responsible for safeguarding academic, administrative, and research systems across a multi-campus environment. His background in infrastructure leadership and international IT operations informs a pragmatic approach to cybersecurity, balancing protection, availability, and user experience. His role focuses on governance, risk management, and integrating security into modern educational platforms that support students, faculty, and global academic partnerships.
Laurent Beunèche — Information Systems Security Manager, Université de Tours
Laurent Beunèche has led information security at Université de Tours for nearly two decades, bringing long-term continuity and institutional knowledge to the role. His work spans security governance, system administration, and awareness initiatives within a large public university environment. With deep technical roots and extensive experience in academic IT operations, he has played a central role in structuring and maintaining cybersecurity practices that support teaching, research, and administrative continuity over time.
Olivier Nerrand — Chief Information Security Officer, OMNES Education
Olivier Nerrand brings a pragmatic, risk-focused approach to cybersecurity leadership at OMNES Education. With decades of experience as both an IT leader and a judicial expert in information systems, he combines governance, audit expertise, and real-world risk assessment. His work emphasizes clear communication, education, and change management, helping academic institutions align digital transformation with effective cybersecurity controls while supporting faculty, legal teams, and communications stakeholders.
Sylvain Bouquet — Information Systems Security Manager, Campus France
Sylvain Bouquet leads cybersecurity for Campus France, an organization operating at the crossroads of education, international mobility, and public service. With over 20 years of IT experience, he combines technical depth with organizational governance to define and manage cybersecurity strategy. His approach prioritizes awareness, user adoption, and operational stability, ensuring that security measures support innovation and collaboration rather than hinder them in an international academic context.
Securing Knowledge, Research, and Academic Freedom
Cybersecurity in higher education demands a distinct leadership mindset. Unlike purely commercial or clinical environments, universities and academic organizations must secure open systems, collaborative research platforms, and diverse user populations without compromising accessibility. The leaders featured here demonstrate how governance, education, and technical rigor can coexist, ensuring that France’s higher education institutions remain resilient, trusted, and capable of supporting innovation in an increasingly digital academic world.