When the lights go out: Navigating leadership in the face of cyber threats

30 October 2025

Cyber-attacks have shifted from being an IT headache to a board-level existential threat. In today’s hyper-connected economy, a single breach can ripple through global supply chains, trigger regulatory investigations and wipe billions off market valuations. Marks & Spencer’s e-commerce was offline for 46 days, losing it £300 million in operating profit and a billion pounds in market cap. Jaguar Land Rover’s production lines ground to a halt, with revenue losses estimated at £2.2 billion. The message for boards is clear: cyber risks are no longer a technical issue – they are a strategic priority with financial and operational consequences.

This briefing has been co-authored by Jonathan Kewley, Partner and Co-Chair of Global Tech Group and Lucy Cole, Lawyer at Clifford Chance and Charles Waples, Principal, Head of Interim Legal Services Practice at Odgers Interim.

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