Martinicky: Security More Important Than Ever in Tough Times

John Martinicky, the long-standing director of global security with Navistar International, has seen recessions come and go. But the security director says the need for risk management always remains

By Joan Goodchild, Senior Editor

March 27, 2009 — CSO —

John Martinicky has seen good years and bad years in his time with Navistar International, a Warrenville, Ill.-based manufacturer of heavy trucks and engines. Martinicky has been with the company more than 30 years, and has served in the security department since 1982. He was recently named a 2009 Compass Award winner by CSO.

Today, as the director of global security for Navistar, Martinicky oversees the company's entire portfolio of security operations. He spoke with CSO about how the program has evolved over the years, and why it is more important now than ever before.

You've been with Navistar for more than 30 years. What were your first years like as a security practitioner in the company? And how has security evolved in the company over time?
I entered the security department with an understanding of the company and the business. I really wasn't a security practitioner nor did I have any background in that. But during the first few weeks, what I discovered was there wasn't a good understanding of what security did. My primary responsibilities were investigative and because of my business experience, I was more effective in doing investigations. That enabled me to be effective as I worked on different cases.

Through the years, the company evolved. We went through some difficult times in the late 70's and early 80's. It really gave me an opportunity to put together a very long-term strategy and plan of what I thought global security should be. It started with initially developing some policies and a road map to what I consider totally inclusive security. We weren't just about guards and investigations and systems. We were a part of the business component as far as reducing risk. That also includes information protection, computer security, security awareness for employees, continuous training and education of our security team and security managers, developing a real program that helps the company and the security be effective in terms of compliance initiatives.

I also identified some programs where we could help our customers and our dealers. I developed the first dealer security program. We worked with our warranty group so that when customers had trucks going, we could put an alert into the warranty system. Any time a customer showed up to buy a part, we required dealers to provide VIN numbers. If that number was flagged in the system, it allowed us to take some recovery action.

In 2002, we began our metrics program. We measure everything from what the guards do, to our system performance, to our provider/partner performance, and use that to show the value of what security does.

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