Varun Desai

Varun is a Senior Manager in Ernst & Young's Technology Consulting practice, based in Auckland, with over 10 years of dedicated experience in Cybersecurity, specializing in Identity and Access Management (IAM). With a comprehensive understanding of IAM systems, privileged account security, processes, and controls, Varun excels in guiding clients through end-to-end projects, from strategy development to implementation.

In his role at EY, Varun leverages his extensive education and experience to deploy industry best practices across all aspects of identity access management within enterprises. His proficiency extends to collaborating with clients across diverse industries, providing strategic insights, analysis, planning, architecture, design, implementation, and ongoing support for identity management systems.

Before joining EY, Varun held a leadership position with PwC India, where he spearheaded digital identity capabilities within the cyber practice. His responsibilities included leading identity and access management tech deliveries, supporting pipelines, driving revenue growth, resource management, and establishing alliances with multiple IAM technology vendors. Varun's leadership has been instrumental in successfully overseeing large-scale IAM engagements across various global regions, including India, Middle East, Canada, Africa, Americas, and APAC.

A seasoned professional with extensive experience in the field of Identity Access Management (IAM), He has successfully built and led IAM practices for PwC in India, developed and implemented a robust go-to-market (GTM) strategy for domestic and global client. His expertise lies in developing and implementing IAM strategies, prioritizing investments, and aligning security capabilities with organizational initiatives.

Key Accomplishments:

· Worked as a Delivery Manager and Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support Identity Access Management (IAM) initiatives across three distinct workstreams: IAM Governance Uplift, Privileged Access Management (PAM) Assessment, and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) design. Currently serving as a Delivery Manager to facilitate the deployment of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) specifically SailPoint IdentityNow, at a leading bank in New Zealand.

· Worked as a technical SME to support the Product Owner with the PAM (CyberArk) roadmap and BAU activities at leading New Zealand multi-national publicly traded dairy.

· Established and led the IAM practice for PwC, achieving accelerated profitable revenue growth (4x) through the introduction and monetization of high-value IAM software products and service offerings.

· Developed and executed IAM solutions, applying best practice configurations for various systems, including databases, web services, cloud systems, and other application support environments.

· Worked as a Delivery Manager and Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support Identity Access Management (IAM) initiatives across three distinct workstreams: IAM Governance Uplift, Privileged Access Management (PAM) Assessment, and Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) design. Currently serving as a Delivery Manager to facilitate the deployment of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) specifically SailPoint IdentityNow, at a leading bank in New Zealand.

· Worked as a technical SME to support the Product Owner with the PAM (CyberArk) roadmap and BAU activities at leading New Zealand multi-national publicly traded dairy.

· Leading engagement as an Account Manager and Technical SME at one of the largest banks in New Zealand.

· Led several engagements as an Engagement Manager and Technical SME for SailPoint IIQ/IDN in Canada.

· Orchestrated the architecture and led the deployment of a distributed CyberArk Vault across 5 different sites for OT, IT, and Telecom devices at the largest national rail in Canada.

· Successfully served as the Architect and Technical SME for CyberArk deployments at major Canadian retail giant (Canadian Tires) and the electric utility provider, enhancing security measures.

· Led the design and implementation of CyberArk deployment for the SWIFT environment at a leading bank in New Zealand, ensuring the security of critical financial operations.

· Managed the world's 2nd largest CyberArk PIM operations in India, overseeing key functions, including 5 instances of CyberArk PAM, BA-VA, and compliance, ensuring high-quality service delivery.

· Acted as the Architect and Project Lead for the redeployment and expansion of CyberArk at a leading bank in Indonesia, covering assessment, roadmap, design, and implementation phases.

· Successfully designed and implemented ARCOS for various customers in India, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, totaling 25+ implementations and 70+ proof-of-concept, technical, and functional demonstrations.

· Conducted assessment and gap analysis for an existing Lieberman RED PAM implementation, leading to the expansion of the solution for a leading insurance company in the USA with deployment across 9 different locations.

· Planned, designed, and installed PAM implementation (BeyondTrust) for a private conglomerate in the USA.

· Designed and implemented PAM (TPAM) with ITMS, IAM, and MFA for a payment processing company in the USA, enhancing security measures for critical financial transactions.

· Established strategic relations with key technology vendors to influence changes in future product releases and fostered collaboration for continuous improvement initiatives.

His role extends beyond technical expertise to include strategic leadership, project management, and client engagement. He is committed to continuous improvement, mentoring talent, and establishing strong relationships with key technology vendors. As an IAM thought leader, he brings a wealth of experience in delivering operational excellence and ensuring customer success in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

• Financial Services
• Insurance
• Consumer / Manufacturing
• Public Sector
• Healthcare & Aviation
• ITES & Telecom
• Pharma & Life Sciences
• Utilities

• IIM - New Associate Director Program
• CyberArk
• SailPoint
• BeyondTrust
• Arcon
• CA PAM

New Zealand Accreditation Employee Work Visa (AEWV)