Chicago, Illinois, USA: Nitin Raina, the Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Thoughtworks, has been recognised as the 2025 Chicago CISO of the Year in the mid-cap category, which includes companies generating less than $4 billion in annual revenue.
The award, presented by the Chicago CISO of the Year Program, honours cybersecurity leaders who have made outstanding contributions to their companies, the security industry, and the broader community.
Raina earned this distinction for his leadership in positioning cybersecurity as a strategic enabler of business growth at Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy known for its expertise in engineering, design, and AI.
Thoughtworks’ Chief Operating Officer, Amit Choudhary, congratulated Raina, saying, “This recognition is well-deserved and reflects Nitin’s vision and commitment to driving security innovation.”
Under Raina’s guidance, Thoughtworks launched several widely acclaimed initiatives, such as the Business-Centric Security Maturity Model and the Security Champions Program, both of which foster a strong culture of shared responsibility and promote “security by design” practices across global operations.
Reacting to the honour, Raina expressed gratitude to his team, stating, “I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition and proud to share it with my incredible global team.” He also shared his excitement on LinkedIn, writing, “Grateful beyond words to be named the 2025 Chicago Midcap CISO of the Year! This truly belongs to the amazing people I work alongside.”
Over his 25-year career in information technology, risk management, and cybersecurity, Raina has become known for aligning complex security frameworks with broader business strategies. His leadership has already earned Thoughtworks the 2024 CSO Award and secured finalist positions in several other top industry honours.
Raina holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from the College of Engineering Pune and a postgraduate qualification in information technology.
The Chicago CISO of the Year Award, established by AITP Chicago, SIM-Chicago, and the Executive Club of Chicago, recognises leaders who advance cybersecurity excellence both within their organisations and across the community.
