The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (WMCRC) is delighted to announce their second board member as Debbie O’Shea, Group Chief Information Officer for National Express Group.

Debbie has been with National Express for nearly six years, having first joined as UK IT Director before being promoted to her current role in 2017; she has accountability for technology strategy and delivery across the Group.

Debbie has extensive experience in the retail sector where she spent most of her career in various senior technology roles prior to joining National Express. As Group IT Director for HMV she was responsible for technology across HMV brands in the UK, Canada and Japan as well as Waterstones Booksellers. Before that, Debbie spent ten years with the Kingfisher Group heading up Strategic Programme Management, IT Solutions and Development Teams.

WMCRC Director Alison Hurst responded to the appointment saying: “We are so pleased that Debbie has chosen to join our Board. To have someone with such vast international experience in technology and senior leadership can only benefit the WMCRC and our members. We are delighted that the smaller businesses we support in the region will be able to benefit from the depth of international knowledge and experience of the team at National Express. Transport is such a significant sector for us all, including of course its wider supply chain and so the appointment of National Express with its very relevant and current experience is doubly important to us”.

National Express Group is a leading transport provider delivering services in the UK, Continental Europe, North Africa, North America and the Middle East. It operates services in eight countries around the world and employs 51,000 worldwide. The Group operates regional and long-haul coach services, student transportation, urban bus services, charter services and rail services in Germany.

Debbie O’Shea commented: “The threat from cyber attack continues to grow and is a real challenge for business. The WMCRC has a key role to play in raising awareness of threats and in providing solutions to protect business. I am delighted to support this important work as a Board member and to share the best practice we have developed across National Express.

The WMCRC Board plays a key role in providing governance, direction and oversight of the progress the WMCRC is making.

Businesses can join the WMCRC through a range of membership packages to access guidance, tools and affordable services to help better protect themselves against the threat of cyber crime.