First Farmers hires Information Security Officer

Ernest Anye
Ernest Anye

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation (OTC Pink: FFMH), the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, announced last week that Ernest Anye, DIT, CISSP, has joined the bank as its Information Security Officer.

“We are pleased to announce that Ernest Anye joined our bank in the newly created role of Information Security Officer,” stated Brian K. Williams, First Farmers’ Chairman and CEO.

“His extensive experience in information technology and cybersecurity will enhance our information security strategies in conjunction with our Information Technology team, bank regulators and other industry-relevant security standards. In this new role, he is responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining information security measures to safeguard the bank’s corporate and customer information.  In addition, he is charged with strengthening our ability to manage the ever-evolving cyber security risks that are targeted at financial institutions.”

Anye holds a Doctorate in Information Technology and is Certified in Information Systems Security (CISSP).

His experience includes IT security controls, software development, IT compliance, risk assessment and telecommunications.  He has a solid record of implementing robust strategies to drive enhanced process improvement, expertise in network and systems security, risk management, incident response, disaster recovery and vulnerability assessment.

Prior to joining First Farmers, Anye led initiatives for information security, risk analysis, incident response and vulnerability assessment for University of Missouri Healthcare. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Information Technology at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Anye is a graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He received his Doctor of Information Technology and Master of Science in Information Technology from Walden University.

He is a member of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) and Information Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation is the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, a community bank serving the Middle Tennessee area through 22 offices in seven Middle Tennessee counties. For more information about First Farmers, visit myfirstfarmers.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: First Farmers hires Information Security Officer