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Marlborough’s independent leadership delivered a major uplift in cyber maturity and resilience, significantly reducing business and operational risk while strengthening in-house capability
Posted Nov 6, 2025
Escalating cyber threats, with high profile breaches in the sector
Emphasis of Cyber as a technology issue, without adequate business engagement
Expanding reliance on digital products, heightened exposure
Coach/advisor to Global CDO
Led assessment of cyber risk, including business impact
Worked with CDO to increase board engagement & investment
Led transformation, injecting proven frameworks, pace & rigour
Strengthened in-house capability
75% reduction in cyber vulnerabilities
> 30% Increase in ‘Secure Score’, exceeding benchmarks
Regulatory confidence strengthened (CAA Assure compliance)
Zero compromise, avoiding costly breaches
Marlborough was initially engaged in 2019 to provide senior Digital Advisory to one of Europe’s leading airlines, operating over 200 aircraft and serving more than 60 million passengers a year. At the same time, the cyber threat landscape was escalating rapidly, with attacks becoming more frequent, sophisticated and costly. The airline’s growing reliance on digital operations meant the integrity and security of its data had become critical to business growth and operational viability.
Consistent with our approach to supporting leaders across sectors, Marlborough acted as a trusted sounding board to the Global Chief Digital Officer (CDO), through his initial observations on joining the Airline, with Cyber Security risk surfacing as a key area for attention.
A Business focused Cyber Security Risk Assessment incorporating independent cross-functional observations & recommendations on the airline’s Cyber Security capabilities and effectiveness and support for the subsequent Board Update.
Refining awareness of Commercial, Operational, Data, Regulatory and Third-Party Business Risk and necessary mitigations.
Brought to life Business Risk by understanding business impact, including potential losses from compromise or interruption and summarising Business Consequences (including Financial & Reputational).
Subsequent transformation managed as business & customer outcome focused (as opposed to process or tech centric as practiced by ’Big 4’ and others).
Marlborough deployed a senior team, including those with board experience (over 1000 staff, € ½ Billion Budget) alongside Marlborough deep Cyber Security capabilities.
Key interventions included constructively challenging/building the case for a step change in Cyber Investment levels and positioning Cyber as a business risk, through surfacing scenarios on business impact and consequences.
Board papers and presentations, written with Global CDO to inform decisions, with very positive board feedback and support for recommendations, including significantly increased investment in cyber defenses.
Injecting positive energy, Marlborough tools and pragmatic techniques to get things done smartly & optimally.
Focused on achieving results/outcomes.
Leveraging the significant breadth and depth of Marlborough's experience spanning Business/Digital/ Technology disciplines and deep subject matter capabilities (including Cyber Security) using positive style to Win ‘Hearts & Minds’ and bring stakeholders with us on the journey.
Development & refinement of Cyber Improvement Roadmap.
Frameworks including Agile and UK NCSC CAF.
Injection of meaningful Metrics & Tracking/ Dashboard.
Enhanced Threat Intelligence.
Web content filtering & End Point Intrusion Detection and Response across 1200 devices and 400 production servers.
Intrusion detection and SIEM (Security Incident and Event Management) 24x7 monitoring.
Network Access Control to reduce risk of unpatched / unauthorised devices accessing the network.
Third Party Cyber Audits and subsequent improvements to proactively raise the bar with suppliers.
Marlborough invested in sharing experience & enhancing cyber capabilities (technical, best practice as well as business partnering/ consulting skills).
Key to developing permanent talent, and subsequent progression and effectiveness.
Marlborough also provided excellent Cyber Subject Matter Expertise, to work cost effectively alongside permanent team members to deliver the transformation in parallel with knowledge transfer.
Under the very entrepreneurial leadership of the CEO, the airline achieved significant and rapid growth, now flying from/to over 190 airports in Europe and beyond, incorporating over 800 routes.
In support of the airline’s business growth strategy and greater reliance on technology (e.g. Electronic Flight Bags, Paperless Cockpits), Marlborough's Digital Advisory & Cyber Security Capabilities continued to add value from our initial engagement in 2019, continuously into 2025.
Board Member & Non-Exec
Achievements included;
"Marlborough injects very smart thinking, a wealth of experience with outstanding results. I recommend them very highly"
Global Chief Digital Officer (CDO)