Meet Our Leadership Team
ICASI member companies are committed to contributing their resources and expertise to advancing security on the Internet. The ICASI leadership team includes industry thought leaders from member companies.
ICASI Board Members
 

Linda Betz, MS, CIPP
President

Now Director of IT Policy and Information Security in the Office of the CIO, Linda Betz has been with IBM for over 25 years. Linda and her team are responsible for setting the company's internal security strategy, leading security initiatives that protect IBM's IT infrastructure and driving the infrastructure to be more autonomic. Linda owns IBM's IT Security Corporate Instructions and Standards and is responsible for their annual review. Her team works with Business Units to set the security direction and ensure compliance. Linda is responsible for leading the corporate Privacy Center of Expertise, assisting business units with privacy questions and issues, and improving process and tools around privacy. Linda is also the business owner in the CIO for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity, advocating the strategy and changes needed in this area for IBM.
Linda has a B.S. degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from SUNY Albany and an M.S. in Computer Science from Marist College. She has a Master's Certificate from George Washington University in Project Management and is a certified Project Management Professional. Linda is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP).
"It is important for IBM to collaborate with some of the top technology companies to try to increase the security protections for both IBM's clients and ourselves internally. This is why IBM supports ICASI with 100 percent enthusiasm. We're passionate about providing sustainable businesses for our clients and we recognize the need to collaborate with the world's security leaders to do that successfully. During the last few years, common Internet security threats have evolved from wide-reaching worms and viruses to more targeted, stealth attacks specifically for theft of work and personal data. By supporting ICASI, IBM provides not only an aggressive, proactive and preventative approach to security, but we also have a defined defensive strategy in place in the event of the most unthinkable security breaches."
Linda Betz, Director, IT Policy and Information Security, International Business Machines
Avishai Avivi
Director
Avishai Avivi, Senior Director of the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) Technologies Group at Juniper Networks has more than 15 years of experience in the field of information security. At Juniper, he manages the company’s research and development of DPI technologies and applications.  Prior to serving in his current role, Avivi was with NetScreen Technologies, until the company’s acquisition by Juniper in May 2004.  He started his career in the Israeli Defense Forces where he designed and implemented a comprehensive information security policy for the largest army unit in Israel. He later held management roles for a number of technology companies, including OneSecure and Check Point Software.  Avivi holds a B.A. degree in Computer Science from Queens College, New York.

"Juniper has long recognized the need for a trust-based collaborative means within which we could operate in the event of multi-vendor network security vulnerabilities. As the security threat landscape continues to evolve rapidly and becomes increasingly sophisticated, our customers rely on us to create a responsive and trusted environment that detects and mitigates threats. Embarking on ICASI is another step in our commitment to deliver high-performance networking and world-class security for our customers."
Avishai Avivi, Sr. Director, DPI Technologies Group, Juniper Networks
Russell Smoak
Director, Technical Services, Cisco
Russ Smoak is Director of Security Research and Operations at Cisco. Russ is responsible for multiple security programs focused on product vulnerability disclosure, Intrusion Prevention System signature development, and penetration testing as well as security vulnerability research. In addition, Russ and his team collaborate globally across all business functions within Cisco to ensure delivery of timely and actionable security-focused content to Cisco customers and partners through portals such as IntelliShield and Cisco Security Center.
Russ and his teams actively participate in the security community and many industry forums, conferences and events. Russ is a 15-year veteran of Cisco and has built a unique portfolio of experience within Cisco through successful positions in Engineering, Customer Advocacy, and Sales.

"Over the last several years, we have seen examples of collaboration on both sides of the security equation. Our industry has rallied together to address challenges presented by vulnerabilities and malicious activity, and at the same time our adversaries have matured their operations and increased the potency of the threats they introduce into the wild. While our industry has certainly learned to respond, if we are going to change the security landscape in our favor it's important that we evolve our ability to collaborate in order to move from transactional response to proactive defense. ICASI clearly demonstrates the willingness of technology vendors to provide a collaborative response to challenges facing the Internet ecosystem."
Russell Smoak, Director Technical Services, Cisco
Malcolm Harkins, MBA
Treasurer
As General Manager, Intel Information Risk and Security, Malcolm Harkins is responsible for Intel's IT infrastructure and application security, data privacy and protection, Sarbanes Oxley, and overall IT controls and compliance activities. His overall mission within Intel is to drive the adoption and continued operation of controls to mitigate information risks to acceptable business levels. Malcolm has been with Intel since 1992 and has had responsibility for Information Security since 2002. Prior roles include positions in finance, procurement and operations; Program Manager for IT benchmarking and Sarbanes Oxley systems compliance efforts; and profit and loss manager for Intel's Flash Product Group.
Malcolm has an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of California at Davis and a BA in economics from the University of California at Irvine. He is an active and accomplished speaker and whitepaper author and has spoken at the United Nations conference on communications and computing on Internet security, privacy, and Internet administration reform. He and his team have participated in a number of Department of Homeland Security related exercises and events.

"It is critical that the technology industry strengthen its ability to combat the ever-changing nature of the global cyber threat landscape. ICASI is an ideal opportunity for a trusted dialogue within the vendor community to affect a positive change in cyber security and response. Intel's involvement in ICASI reinforces our commitment to ensuring the security of computing environments and rapid response to security events globally."
Malcom Harkin, General Manager, Information Risk and Security Information Technology Group, Intel
George Stathakopoulos
Secretary
George Stathakopoulos is General Manager of Microsoft Product Security for the Security Engineering and Communications Group, part of the Trustworthy Computing Group at Microsoft Corporation. He directs four teams that collectively help make Microsoft® products and services more secure and help protect the company's customers from online threats. The four teams are: the Microsoft Security Response Center; the Security and Privacy Product Policy team; the Secure Windows Initiative; and the Security Community team. George began focusing on security in 1996 and has helped several Microsoft product groups respond to security issues and enhance product security.

"The Internet has transformed the way many of us live. Social networking represents the new town square; blogging has turned citizens into journalists; and e-commerce sites have spurred global competition in the marketplace. But as the Internet has become more integral to our daily lives, many people believe that online security and privacy are at unacceptable levels. To truly improve online security and privacy, the industry must come together through dialogue, collaboration and consensus, and we believe ICASI is a crucial step in that direction."
George Stathakopoulos, General Manager, Product Security, Microsoft Corporation
Janne Uusilehto
Nokia recruited Janne Uusilehto in 1998. His current position is the Head of Nokia Product Security for which he is globally responsible for Nokia product security development. His team is responsible for Product Security, and product security-related education, awareness and process improvement tasks.
Janne has a long experience in ICT industry, having begun his career during his studies in 1982 as an independent software developer and consultant for small businesses. He began working with security-related tasks as an IT Support and Electronic Banking Specialist; this took place in several Finnish banks, most recently at Nordea (then Merita-Nordbanken) as a global Cash Management Specialist responsible for telecommunications areas of cash management software. Among other duties, Janne was a member of the Merita-Nordbanken Cash Management Services team who initiated Internet sales portals in Finland in mid 1990s.
Janne is also a member of several internal Nokia security-related management boards. He is Nokia's main representative to Trusted Computing Group, Chairman of TCG Mobile WG, Chairman of DIGITALEUROPE Mobile Security Issue group. Janne is also Nokia's main representative and board member to SAFECode Forum.

"For many the mobile phone is an essential part of our every day life. The next transformation will come when the mobile phone provides truly personalized and useful services that help you get the most out of life. For Nokia, security is an essential part of all phases of the mobile communications development process. Mobile security places various requirements globally on networks, platforms, servers, hardware, software, systems and procedures and Nokia is committed to continuously develop its products and services."
Janne Uusilehto, Head of Nokia Product Security, Nokia