Spotlight on Jim Petrassi

Jim Petrassi is the Chief Technology and Information Security Officer at Health Care Service Corporation. He oversees business data solutions, infrastructure operations, and safeguarding information and systems from threats. With over 30 years of experience, Jim’s career has spanned from programming to architecture to strategic and leadership consulting, playing a key role in transforming business and IT operations processes. 

A fun fact about Jim: In the Spring of 2026, Jim completed a goal from his bucket list by traveling to Japan for two weeks.

Learn more about the Chicago CISO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

With a strong consulting background, I took on the CTO role at HCSC in 2015. Once my leadership reached across Intelligent Automation, Infrastructure, Product Engineering, Business Data Solutions, Architecture and Digital, I was asked by the Board to be the CISO to bring together the business system and technical teams to align Information Security with the business.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Assume good intent in others. 
 

What is the greatest challenge CISOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Keeping up with the speed of changes in the healthcare business and IT, which is driven by AI.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CISO?

Study and give yourself an understanding of the business and how it works. Equally and just as important, is to take the time and invest in relationships while you do this. 
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

By the success of the business. 
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

The community is an opportunity to meet and exchange valuable ideas outside of my role every day.
 

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.