Nicola Nicol joins BCG as a partner in its cyber risk practice

Former Melbourne-based PwC cybersecurity partner Nicola Nicol has joined Boston Consulting Group as a partner and managing director, and will lead BCG’s digital risk and cybersecurity business for Australia and New Zealand. Since departing PwC last month, Nicol has also been appointed to the Corporate Advisory Panel of cybersecurity tech firm Red Piranha.

Nicol joined PwC as a partner in 2018, prior to which she served for six years as an executive director with JPMorgan Chase in New York, where she led the cybersecurity and technology control function for banking technology.

Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds in London, the latter where was head of audit for security and fraud globally.

“I’m excited to work with a team who bring together global strategic perspectives with deep digital risk and cybersecurity expertise,” Nicol said of her appointment on LinkedIn. “As the rate of digital adoption and digital risk events continue to increase, leading organisations will proactively manage their digital risk to drive business value and ensure their businesses can handle disruption.”

Nicol also stated that she was grateful for the opportunity to continue to show a path for women in technology and women in security, and previously served as the chair of Women in CyberSecurity’s (WiCyS) Australia affiliate, a non profit organisation which works to promote the presence and advancement of women, non-binary and Indigenous Australians within the cybersecurity industry.

Nicol follows in the footsteps of BCG’s Melbourne-based global cybersecurity leader Paul O'Rourke, who joined the management consultancy from PwC toward the end of 2020. Since then, BCG has been adding to its a team of talent brought in from other members of the Big Four, including principal Vijay Pasupathinathan and senior consultant Luke Flanagan from Deloitte.

Meanwhile, Nicol has also recently been appointed to the Corporate Advisory Panel of Australian cybersecurity tech firm Red Piranha, alongside former Accenture ASEAN cyber defence lead David Plisek, with the pair cited for their 40 years of combined experience. In the role, they will support Red Pirhana’s executive team to address industry challenges and highlight product growth opportunities.