The American Bankers Association (ABA) named Paul Benda as senior vice president for operational risk and cybersecurity.
In the newly expanded role, Benda will focus on helping banks of all sizes reduce physical and cyber fraud as well as other risks to daily operations. He also will be advocating for policies that enhance overall industry resiliency. Additionally, Benda will expand ABA’s anti-fraud efforts and industry offerings in the risk space while also advising senior leadership on steps to reduce risks to ABA’s own operations.
Benda and his team also will collaborate with ABA’s Office of Member Engagement to identify and create products and services that will help banks defend against various and evolving risks that threaten their operations and security.
“Throughout this unprecedented health crisis, Paul has worked tirelessly to provide timely, factual and relevant information to banks across the country on how to navigate the many threats associated with the pandemic,” Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO, said in a release. “His professional and military experience have been invaluable. This expanded role will allow Paul to do even more to help the banking industry efficiently manage risks moving forward.”
The new senior vice president first joined the association in 2018 to oversee physical and cybersecurity risks. Recently, Benda has led ABA’s COVID-19 response by providing real-time information to banks to help them prioritize the health and safety of employees and customers while also allowing the banking system to operate without disruption. In this role, he also served as ABA’s lead coordinator with federal agencies, trade associations, and state bankers associations to ensure the country’s banks have the information and resources they need to manage risks associated with the pandemic.
Prior to joining the ABA, Benda served in multiple roles at the Department of Homeland Security, including chief of staff at Science and Technology, senior counselor to the undersecretary and acting deputy undersecretary in the department’s Science and Technology Directorate, and director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency. His resume also includes positions at the Department of Defense and Booz Allen Hamilton. Benda also served in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of captain.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work with my ABA colleagues to help banks of all sizes manage the many operational risks they face,” Benda said. “Whether it’s a cyber threat, new fraud tactics or another pandemic, our members know they can count on ABA to help guide them in a dangerous world.”