BCI Board Nominee Spotlight: Rajesh Pillai MBCI
Full name: Rajesh Pillai
Membership grade: MBCI
Country of residence: India
Professional role: Country Security Operations Manager (CSOM)
About the nominee
Capt Rajesh Pillai (Retd), MBCI, currently serves as the Country Security Operations Manager for Microsoft India, overseeing physical security across critical infrastructure in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
With over two and a half decades of experience spanning military service, corporate security, and resilience leadership, Rajesh brings a unique blend of operational rigor and strategic foresight.
A long-standing MBCI and active contributor to the BCI community, he has served as a judge for the BCI Awards for three consecutive years and played a pivotal role in regional chapter activities. His recent leadership during geopolitical disruptions in India and proactive influence towards protests across Microsoft data centers, including the development of flash reports and lockdown protocols for A-class data centers, exemplifies his commitment to resilience under pressure.
Motivated by a desire to elevate resilience practices globally, he seeks to bring a practitioner’s perspective, regional insights, and a collaborative spirit to the Board. His governance experience as Treasurer of ASIS India and nomination to its ASIS Regional Board further underscores his readiness to contribute meaningfully to BCI’s strategic direction.
Any prior board governance experience?
I currently serve as the Treasurer of the ASIS India (2 consecutive years), Bangalore Chapter, a role that involves financial oversight, strategic planning, and coordination of chapter activities, including the successful execution of the ASIS South Asia Conference in July 2025.
Furthermore, I have been nominated for a position on the ASIS Regional Board, where I have expressed a clear commitment to advancing the security profession and contributing to governance at a regional level.
His active involvement with professional bodies such as ACFE and ISACA, combined with his credentials as an MBCI, reflect a strong foundation in governance, risk, and compliance disciplines.
Why serve on the BCI Board?
Rajesh Pillai’s aspiration to serve on the BCI Global Board stems from a deep-rooted commitment to advancing resilience as a strategic imperative across industries and geographies.
As Country Security Operations Manager for Microsoft India, Rajesh has led critical initiatives in physical security, crisis response, and continuity planning for hyperscale data centres, including the development of lockdown protocols and emergency preparedness frameworks.
His role as a mentor to multiple security professionals in India as well as being an awards judge for BCI consecutively for 3 years reflects his dedication to professional standards and capacity building.
Rajesh is motivated by the opportunity to bring a practitioner’s lens to the Board—one shaped by frontline experience, regional insights from APAC, and a collaborative ethos honed through his governance role as Treasurer of ASIS India.
He is passionate about shaping BCI’s strategic direction to be more inclusive, agile, and globally responsive, especially in emerging markets where resilience maturity is evolving.
His vision includes fostering cross-sector partnerships, enhancing member engagement, and amplifying the voice of continuity professionals in board-level decision-making. Rajesh sees board service not just as a leadership opportunity, but as a platform to inspire, influence, and elevate the resilience profession worldwide.
What skills and experience do you bring to the board?
Capt. Rajesh Pillai (Retd), MBCI, brings over 25 years of multidisciplinary leadership across the Armed Forces and corporate security, with deep expertise in business continuity, crisis management, and operational resilience.
As the Country Security Operations Manager for Microsoft India, he oversees physical security across hyperscale data centres, leading strategic initiatives in high-risk environments and managing multimillion-dollar budgets and vendor ecosystems. His governance experience includes serving as Treasurer of ASIS India and being nominated to its Regional Board.
Rajesh is an Awards Judge at BCI for 3 consecutive years, reflecting his commitment to professional standards and strategic skilling. His experience spans ISO 22301, ISO 31000, Six Sigma, and enterprise risk management.
Rajesh’s ability to navigate complex geopolitical scenarios, foster cross-functional collaboration, and drive stakeholder engagement—evident in initiatives like Security Awareness Day and AI skilling programs for youth—positions him as a valuable asset to the BCI Board. His strategic mindset, financial acumen, and global perspective will support effective decision-making and enhance BCI’s impact across regions.
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