Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 33 | Page 99

GET TO KNOW... On the lighter side of things, we ask the industry experts what makes them tick. . . . Sébastien Pavie, Regional Director META, Enterprise and Cybersecurity, at Gemalto What would you describe as your most memorable achievement? Almost nine years ago now, I convinced the senior management of my company at the time to open an office in Dubai to look after the Middle East and Africa market from within the region as opposed to remotely. We made this move at a time which was very early days for the type of solutions we offered and the region was still suffering from the financial crisis. As a result, we were able to exceed all expectations from the first year with a very significant overachievement. What first made you think of a career in technology? In the year 2000, I came back from Jordan to France at the time of the Internet bubble. After getting experience in the music and advertising industries in France, followed by the diplomatic world in Jordan, I decided I wanted to work in a highly innovative industry. The Internet buzz got me interested to look at IT, but I then found something even more cutting edge as I was searching for career opportunities. There was this IT vendor starting a new division called Internet www.intelligentcio.com Security, I got the job and stayed with IT security ever since. What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position? I would say my style of management has “ I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN SPECIALISATION AS A STRENGTH AND I CERTAINLY WORK IN AN INDUSTRY WHICH REQUIRES THAT. INTELLIGENTCIO 99