Welcome to our interview with Luke, the Cyber Security Director at the FT. In this conversation, Luke shares his remarkable journey within the FT, from a web developer to his current role leading the cybersecurity team.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current role?

 Hello, I'm Luke, and my current role is Cyber Security Director at the FT. My responsibilities include overseeing the work of our cybersecurity team and collaborating with various business units to enhance their security measures.

What was your first role at FT, and what motivated you to join?

 I began my journey at a small software company called Assanka, which had only six employees and a dog! The FT was our largest client, and a year after I joined, we were acquired and became known as "FT Labs."

 How have you navigated your career within FT in terms of team transitions or role changes?

I've had the opportunity to work across various technology teams at the FT. My roles have ranged from working on mobile apps, authentication systems, publishing platforms, to monitoring tools. I've also held different positions, including web developer, integration engineer, technical architect, principal engineer, and my current role in cyber security.

What motivated you to seek promotions or changes within your career at FT?

I've always been drawn to fresh challenges and have kept an eye on developments across various technical teams at the FT. Times of change often present exciting new opportunities, whether due to team members moving on or the formation of entirely new teams.

How has FT supported your career development?

The FT excels in providing internal staff with new opportunities. When a role opens up, the first consideration is usually whether there's an internal candidate who could be a good fit. This approach fosters growth and development from within the organisation.

 You recently embarked on a three month secondment to Nikkei in Tokyo. Can you share your experiences and key takeaways? and how has this experience benefited both FT and Nikkei?

It was really interesting to see the difference between our organisations, including both culture and structure, when it comes to technology and cyber security.  Nikkei has a lot of technologists spread across various business departments and they rely a lot on third party agencies too.  So their processes tend to be quite rigid to keep all these different areas aligned.  The FT, on the other hand, has a more centralised technology team, with more fluid processes.  It was great to be able to compare both approaches first hand and learn from each other.  And, of course, getting to know the cyber security team out there means we’ve now got much better communication between Nikkei and the FT when it comes to security insights.

What FT project are you most excited about now?

I’m currently working on a project around Vulnerability Management.  It mightn’t sound like the most exhilarating thing to work on, but I really like the mix of understanding technology and its relationship to real-world usage. 

In your experience, how have the Financial Times' values of curiosity and integrity shaped your approach to your work?

For me, it’s important not to take received wisdom at face-value.  Asking “why?” to something that has gone unquestioned is a really useful tool.  Sometimes, it helps build my understanding of a particular rule or principle.  But other times, I discover an assumption that is no longer applicable, which allows me to tackle a problem from a completely different angle.

What advice would you give to others considering similar career moves within FT?

Don't fixate on existing organisational structures. Keep an eye on potential changes in your area of interest. Some of the most exciting roles are those that are brand new, where you get to help define what that new role entails.

Luke's journey at the FT is a testament to the organisation's commitment to nurturing talent and offering diverse opportunities for career growth. His story illustrates the value of staying open to change and being proactive in seeking new challenges to drive personal and professional development.

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