The New York Times reports on the resignation, effective immediately, of Target CIO Beth M. Jacob, who "is the first high-level executive to depart after a series of computer hacking episodes that may have also affected more than half a dozen other retailers in recent months."
The Times writes that "while it is unclear how involved Ms. Jacob was in day-to-day protection, online security officials at the company ultimately reported to her. Target has declined to provide details on her training, but according to the Target website, Ms. Jacob does not appear to have a computer science background. She holds a degree in retail merchandising and a master’s in business administration. She first joined Target in 1984 as an assistant buyer, left the company for a time and then returned in 2002 to run its call centers. She had been vice president of Target Technology Services and chief information officer since 2008."
CEO Gregg Steinhafel said that an interim CIO would be named while a search for an external candidate is conducted - unusual for Target, a company that has preferred to promote internal candidates. And, he promised an overhaul of the company's security procedures. The company said that it would hire a new individual to focus on web security, a job that previously had been shared by several executives.
“While we are still in the process of an ongoing investigation, we recognize that the information security environment is evolving rapidly,” Steinhafel said.
The Times writes that "while it is unclear how involved Ms. Jacob was in day-to-day protection, online security officials at the company ultimately reported to her. Target has declined to provide details on her training, but according to the Target website, Ms. Jacob does not appear to have a computer science background. She holds a degree in retail merchandising and a master’s in business administration. She first joined Target in 1984 as an assistant buyer, left the company for a time and then returned in 2002 to run its call centers. She had been vice president of Target Technology Services and chief information officer since 2008."
CEO Gregg Steinhafel said that an interim CIO would be named while a search for an external candidate is conducted - unusual for Target, a company that has preferred to promote internal candidates. And, he promised an overhaul of the company's security procedures. The company said that it would hire a new individual to focus on web security, a job that previously had been shared by several executives.
“While we are still in the process of an ongoing investigation, we recognize that the information security environment is evolving rapidly,” Steinhafel said.
- KC's View:
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No question about it. Every company is going to have to raise its game in this area, because the technological advances will be made faster and more successfully by the bad guys. It is going to require the best possible people, constant investment, and a focus on innovative thinking that stays ahead of the curve, as opposed to just keeping up.
