FS-ISAC has appointed Valerie Abend (pictured) as Chief Executive Officer effective September 3, 2025. This is part of a succession plan established following Steven Silberstein announcing his plans to retire in September 2024.
Abend previously served as Accenture’s Global Financial Services Security Lead, advising senior executives on managing cyber risk, spearheading enterprise and sector-wide security and resilience strategies, and guiding the development of public-private partnerships and cybersecurity policy. With more than 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, she is a global authority on the opportunities and challenges facing FS-ISAC’s 5000+ member financial firms as well as successful strategies for navigating the complexities of today’s operating environment.
“We are thrilled to have such a dynamic successor in Valerie, a trusted leader in our community with both the breadth and depth of experience needed to lead FS-ISAC into the future,” said Kristopher Fador, Board Chair of FS-ISAC and Chief Information Security Officer at Bank of America. “We thank Steve for his countless contributions to the organisation and sector over the last six years. We look forward to his continued guidance throughout this transition and as an advisor to our organisation moving forward.”
“I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to lead FS-ISAC and grateful to Steve for his counsel through this transition,” Valerie Abend said. “As we look ahead, FS-ISAC is uniquely positioned to advance the financial sector’s security and resilience in the face of growing cyber threats and complex geopolitical and technology change. I look forward to working with our members, partners, and stakeholders around the world in support of this critical mission.”
