After nearly 15 years at PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), Jeremy King, Regional VP, EMEA, retires this month. In this blog, we interviewed Jeremy about his career at the Council and in the payments industry, the most rewarding aspects of his career, and the most significant changes he has witnessed over time in securing payment data.
Tell us about your educational and professional background. What factors influenced your decision to join this industry?
Jeremy King: The school I attended in the UK bought its first computer in 1980 when I was in the sixth form, Year 12, as it is now. I thought it was simply amazing. So, I went on to study Electronics and Electrical Engineering. 
When I graduated from college in 1984, I joined Marconi Electronic Devices Limited (MEDL) as a product engineer. MEDL was a semiconductor manufacturer when the UK had a semiconductor industry. I spent 14 years at MEDL/GEC Plessey Semiconductors, became the Failure Analysis Engineer, then Assistant QA Manager, and finally Production Manager before leaving to join the exciting future of bank cards with chips in them.
In 1998, I joined a company called Mondex International and spent two years working on consumer-to-business chip cards. This introduced me to the world of payments and payment security.
I moved to Mastercard in 2001 to help develop the new Mastercard Card Production Logical Security Standard, the Over the Air Personalization Standard, and the Mastercard CAST Standard for chip security, before moving on to develop Mastercard’s POS PED Standard that was absorbed into the first PCI POS PED Standard in 2005.
By 2010, it was clear that PCI SSC was making headway in Europe, but they needed permanent support in the region. So, I applied, was successful, and joined the Council that year and the rest, as they say, is history.
You were part of the original payment brand team who developed the first standards for the Council in 2004 and witnessed the official formation of the Council in 2006. What was that like and how has the Council – and the industry - changed since then?
Jeremy King: It was very exciting to be at the start of something promising that was going to improve payment security. Working on the first POS PED Standard for the Council was very special. I had no idea at the time that one standard would eventually become 15 standards, and that those standards would be adopted by thousands of payment security organizations globally.
The improvements in payment security have only been achieved by the hard work and dedication of thousands of people around the world. I was just lucky enough to be there at the start and have the support of so many amazing people. The challenge, of course, is that payment security never stops, it just continues to evolve.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career with the Council?
Jeremy King: By far, the most rewarding aspect has been working with wonderful people, both at the Council and in our global community. I have had the most fantastic career over the years, giving me the opportunity to meet people all over the world. Because of these amazing people, we have made a difference when it comes to improving payment security, and that is something we can all be proud of. I have watched our Participating Organization (PO) community grow, and off the back of that, our Board of Advisors (BOA). I have seen the Council establish the Global Executive Assessor Roundtable (GEAR) and a Regional Engagement Board (REB) in Brazil, but most of all, I have always loved the annual Community Meetings. It is the one time of year that our industry comes together to network, learn, discuss all aspects of payment security, and have some fun.
Were you given any advice during your career that has stuck with you over the years? What advice would you give to other people about how to succeed in the payment industry?
Jeremy King: I remember a colleague from early in my career saying to me: “Just remember, you wanted this, and you chose this. Nobody made you do it.” He was saying that when things get hard, remember this was the job you wanted. And it is great advice as it gives you that boost to solve the issues and move forward. At least, it worked for me. The other key piece of advice is to make sure you have trusted friends and mentors who you can turn to. This is an amazingly dynamic industry and none of us can achieve payment security all on our own. The Council is constantly evolving to meet the needs of industry, from emerging threats to new technologies, and now there is a great opportunity for the next generation to take up the baton and move things forward.
What are you looking forward to most in your retirement?
Jeremy King: I’m looking forward to spending time relaxing with my wife Julie, and my two grown sons, Matthew and Thomas. There is still so much of the UK that I have yet to explore, so I will be looking forward to doing more of that. The UK has some of the best beaches in the world, if not always the weather to match. I will have more time to work on my golf swing, and of course, more time to spend cycling and avoiding the sheep.
On behalf of everyone at PCI SSC, we want to thank Jeremy for his significant contributions to the Council over the past 15 years; for all his hard work and dedication to helping the Council grow into the organization it is today; for his valued expertise and commitment; and for the partnerships forged over the years. We wish you all the best in your retirement.
