Beyond the Breach: Lessons from the World’s Most Infamous Ransoms.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 18:00 GMT
The Libertine at the Royal Exchange, London, UK

When Freddy Heineken was kidnapped, his captors didn’t just want money—they wanted to exploit the friction between a global brand, the law, and a family under fire. Modern ransomware operates on this exact same psychological fault line.

  • Join Andrzej Kawalec, Global Head of Cybersecurity at Vodafone Business, for a sharp analysis of how extortion has evolved from handcuffs to code.

  • Drawing on years of leading global security teams, Andrzej provides an executive’s view of the frontline.

  • He will explore the transition from traditional kidnap-and-ransom to the high-velocity world of cyber-extortion, sharing how leaders can build organizations resilient enough to survive the ultimate high-pressure demand.
Guest Speakers
Andrzej_Kawalec
Andrzej Kawalec
Global Head of Cybersecurity, Vodafone Business

Andrzej Kawalec is a distinguished cybersecurity visionary and global Head of Cybersecurity at Vodafone Business, where he leads the strategic design and delivery of cutting-edge security solutions that protect over 300 million users globally. With a career spanning over 25 years at the forefront of digital innovation, Andrzej has held senior leadership roles at HP, Compaq, EDS, and Optiv, shaping the future of cyber resilience and digital trust.

Gunter Ollmann, leadership headshot
Gunter Ollmann
CTO, Cobalt

As Cobalt’s CTO, Gunter leverages decades of global expertise to pioneer cutting-edge information security. A veteran innovator with multiple patents, he has led high-performing teams and launched advanced solutions for startups and market leaders across 80 countries. A recognized thought leader, his insights frequently appear in major global media outlets.

Meet Your Host
https://www.cobalt.io/

Cobalt is modernizing the traditional pentest model with its human-led, AI-powered Offensive Security Platform.1 By providing on-demand access to elite security talent, Cobalt helps organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities at the speed of modern development.

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