Mostafa (Mosti) Hassanin
Executive | Investor
Board Member & Advisor
Mostafa is an award-winning Security & Trust leader, lecturer, advisor, and investor with 14+ years of experience building and scaling security for digital platforms, marketplaces, and critical infrastructure.He has built security capabilities for leading Swiss digital platforms and contributed to banking and financial security standards, and led their deployment across 20+ banks, and holds degrees from Oxford, INSEAD, and Loughborough. Through academia, advisory work, public speaking, and national initiatives, he actively contributes to shaping the ecosystem.My focus is on strengthening digital trust and cyber resilience by embedding security into platforms, products, and strategy—while building teams turning security to a lasting capability.
Experience
Leading Security, Trust & Safety across 16+ digital marketplaces serving millions of users, including Ricardo, Tutti, Anibis, Homegate, and AutoScout24.Built and scaled security capabilities and resilience across major digital platforms, embedding security into product development, infrastructure, and strategy.Earlier in my career, I held senior security leadership roles at TX Markets, Ricardo, and Avaloq, where I built and scaled security for large-scale digital platforms and critical infrastructure. I led programs, initiatives, teams, and built modern security organizations and practices from application security to product security.In the banking sector, I designed and deployed security architectures, technical standards, and security frameworks adopted by 20+ banks, while also consulting for 10+ national and international financial institutions.In addition, I contribute to the ecosystem through education, advisory work, and national initiatives. I lecture at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and lectured at the Swiss Cyber Institute, serve on the Cybersecurity Committee at digitalswitzerland, act as an ICT Expert for the Canton of Zug, and advise and serve on boards of technology and cybersecurity companies. I also speak at conferences, and contribute blogs and publications.Education
• B.Sc. Computer Science — Loughborough University
• M.Sc. Software & Systems Security — Oxford University
• Executive MBA — INSEAD
• Board Diploma — IMD
Writing
Cyber Attacks: The TX Security Guild Point of View (EN) (Aug, 2021).4 Things a Company Should Consider to Increase the Cyber Security of Their Employees and Customers (EN) (Oct, 2022).Bug Bounty Programs: The Evolution of Security Testing (EN) (March, 2023).Don’t Get Hooked: Understanding Phishing and Why It Matters (EN) (March, 2023).Cybersecurity 101: What Does It Encompass? (EN) (Feb, 2024).Demystifying Cybersecurity Threats: An Overview (EN) (April, 2024).Top Cybersecurity Strategies and cloud security misconceptions (EN) (June, 2024).Netzwoche Personal Interview (DE) (Nov, 2024).What's expected from IT Vendors? (DE) (Nov, 2024).What shaped the Swiss IT threat landscape in March? (DE) (April, 2025).Identity is the infrastructure for trust (EN) (June, 2025).How AI Is Transforming Cybersecurity: A Conversation with SMG’s CISO (EN) (Oct, 2025).Adaptive Security: Inside Online Marketplaces Fraud Prevention (EN) (Nov, 2025).Interview mit Mostafa Hassanin, SMG Group CISO/CSO (DE/EN/FR) (Feb, 2026).Warum KI Chance ist – nicht Bedrohung (DE) (April, 2026).
Appearances
IDM DACH | Mar '24, FrankfurtCloudflare Immerse | Apr '24, MunichIMD Resilience Circle | May '24, LausanneInformation Security Network DACH | Jun '24, MunichRe-think IAM | Jun '24, ZurichAWS Media & Entertainment Day | Jun '24, ZurichAWS CISO Circle | Oct '24, ZurichCloudflare Immerse | Nov '24, ZurichGlobal Cyber Conference | Nov '24, ZurichHamburger IT-Strategietage | Feb '25, HamburgThe Connectivity Cloud Podcast — Episode #1 | Mar '25, Online. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeIdentity Week Europe | Jun '25, AmsterdamRe-think IAM | Jun '25, ZurichSchellenberg Wittmer Keynote | Jan '26, ZurichSMG Cybersecurity Day | Feb '26, ZurichTrust & Safety Summit | Mar '26, LondonIdentity Week Europe | Jun '26, Amsterdam
Academia
Teaching• Lecturer — University of St. Gallen (HSG) | 2025–Present
CAS Cyber Security für Führungskräfte (Cyber Security for Leaders)• Lecturer — Swiss Cyber Institute | 2025
Preparing students for the Federal Diploma (Cybersecurity Specialist)• Reviewer — IT-Security Award @ Competence Center for Applied Security Technology (CAST) | 2017ResearchResearch Assistant — University of Basel | 2012–2013
Researched & built client-side encryption for cloud storage (incl. a UX stream), leading to the launch of Swiss Secure Data Room.Publications2024: CipherTrace: Automatic Detection of Ciphers from Execution Traces to Neutralize Ransomware
Journal of Cybersecurity (Oxford University Press)2020: CipherTrace: Automatic Detection of Ciphers from Execution Traces
Master’s Thesis — University of Oxford
Mostafa (Mosti) Hassanin
Executive | Investor
Board Member & Advisor
Mostafa ist ein ausgezeichneter Security- und Trust-Leader, Dozent, Berater und Investor mit 14+ Jahren Erfahrung im Aufbau und in der Skalierung von Sicherheit für digitale Plattformen, Marktplätze und kritische Infrastruktur.Er hat Sicherheitsfähigkeiten für führende Schweizer Digitalplattformen aufgebaut und zur Entwicklung von Sicherheitsstandards im Banken- und Finanzsektor beigetragen sowie deren Einführung bei 20+ Banken geleitet. Er hat Abschlüsse von Oxford, INSEAD und Loughborough. Durch Lehre, Beratung, Vorträge und nationale Initiativen trägt er aktiv dazu bei, das Ökosystem mitzugestalten.Mein Fokus liegt darauf, Vertrauen und Cyber-Resilienz zu stärken, indem Sicherheit in Plattformen, Produkte und Strategie integriert wird, und Teams aufgebaut werden, die Sicherheit zu einer nachhaltigen Fähigkeit machen.
erfahrung
Leitung von Security, Trust & Safety über 16+ digitale Marktplätze mit Millionen von Nutzerinnen und Nutzern, darunter Ricardo, Tutti, Anibis, Homegate und AutoScout24.Aufbau und Skalierung von Sicherheitsfähigkeiten und Resilienz über grosse digitale Plattformen hinweg. Dabei wurde Sicherheit fest in Produktentwicklung, Infrastruktur und Strategie integriert.Früher in meiner Karriere hatte ich leitende Sicherheitsrollen bei TX Markets, Ricardo und Avaloq. Dort baute ich Sicherheitsprogramme für grosse digitale Plattformen und kritische Infrastruktur auf und entwickelte sie weiter. Ich leitete Programme, Initiativen und Teams und baute moderne Sicherheitsorganisationen und -praktiken auf – von Application Security bis Product Security.Im Bankensektor entwickelte und implementierte ich Sicherheitsarchitekturen, technische Standards und Sicherheitsframeworks, die von 20+ Banken übernommen wurden. Zusätzlich beriet ich 10+ nationale und internationale Finanzinstitutionen.Zusätzlich engagiere ich mich im Ökosystem durch Bildung, Beratung und nationale Initiativen. Ich unterrichte an der Universität St. Gallen (HSG) und habe am Swiss Cyber Institute unterrichtet. Ich bin Mitglied des Cybersecurity Committee bei digitalswitzerland, ICT-Experte für den Kanton Zug und berate Technologie- und Cybersecurity-Unternehmen sowie Verwaltungsräte. Ausserdem spreche ich an Konferenzen und veröffentliche Blogs und Fachbeiträge.Education
• B.Sc. Computer Science — Loughborough University
• M.Sc. Software & Systems Security — Oxford University
• Executive MBA — INSEAD
• Board Diploma — IMD
Beiträge
Cyber Attacks: The TX Security Guild Point of View (EN) (Aug, 2021).4 Things a Company Should Consider to Increase the Cyber Security of Their Employees and Customers (EN) (Oct, 2022).Bug Bounty Programs: The Evolution of Security Testing (EN) (March, 2023).Don’t Get Hooked: Understanding Phishing and Why It Matters (EN) (March, 2023).Cybersecurity 101: What Does It Encompass? (EN) (Feb, 2024).Demystifying Cybersecurity Threats: An Overview (EN) (April, 2024).Top Cybersecurity Strategies and cloud security misconceptions (EN) (June, 2024).Netzwoche Personal Interview (DE) (Nov, 2024).What's expected from IT Vendors? (DE) (Nov, 2024).What shaped the Swiss IT threat landscape in March? (DE) (April, 2025).Identity is the infrastructure for trust (EN) (June, 2025).How AI Is Transforming Cybersecurity: A Conversation with SMG’s CISO (EN) (Oct, 2025).Adaptive Security: Inside Online Marketplaces Fraud Prevention (EN) (Nov, 2025).Interview mit Mostafa Hassanin, SMG Group CISO/CSO (DE/EN/FR) (Feb, 2026).Warum KI Chance ist – nicht Bedrohung (DE) (April, 2026).
Auftritte
IDM DACH | Mar '24, FrankfurtCloudflare Immerse | Apr '24, MunichIMD Resilience Circle | May '24, LausanneInformation Security Network DACH | Jun '24, MunichRe-think IAM | Jun '24, ZurichAWS Media & Entertainment Day | Jun '24, ZurichAWS CISO Circle | Oct '24, ZurichCloudflare Immerse | Nov '24, ZurichGlobal Cyber Conference | Nov '24, ZurichHamburger IT-Strategietage | Feb '25, HamburgThe Connectivity Cloud Podcast — Episode #1 | Mar '25, Online. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeIdentity Week Europe | Jun '25, AmsterdamRe-think IAM | Jun '25, ZurichSchellenberg Wittmer Keynote | Jan '26, ZurichSMG Cybersecurity Day | Feb '26, ZurichTrust & Safety Summit | Mar '26, LondonIdentity Week Europe | Jun '26, Amsterdam
Akademie
Lehre• Lecturer — University of St. Gallen (HSG) | 2025–Present
CAS Cyber Security für Führungskräfte (Cyber Security for Leaders)• Lecturer — Swiss Cyber Institute | 2025
Preparing students for the Federal Diploma (Cybersecurity Specialist)• Reviewer — IT-Security Award @ Competence Center for Applied Security Technology (CAST) | 2017ForschungResearch Assistant — University of Basel | 2012–2013
Researched & built client-side encryption for cloud storage (incl. a UX stream), leading to the launch of Swiss Secure Data Room.Publikationen2024: CipherTrace: Automatic Detection of Ciphers from Execution Traces to Neutralize Ransomware
Journal of Cybersecurity (Oxford University Press)2020: CipherTrace: Automatic Detection of Ciphers from Execution Traces
Master’s Thesis — University of Oxford