In the world of MedTech, innovation does not happen in isolation. It relies on deeply interconnected digital ecosystems that span research and development, manufacturing, clinical environments and global corporate operations. For Olympus, a global medical technology company with 30,000 employees operating across multiple regions and regulatory environments, cybersecurity has become a foundational enabler of trust, resilience and patient safety.
At the centre of this transformation is Ryan Larsen, Global Head of IT Security at Olympus, whose role sits at the intersection of technology, leadership and mission-driven purpose. His mandate is clear: ensure that Olympus’ global digital and operational environments remain secure, reliable, and able to support innovation at scale.
“In practical terms, I’m responsible for the cyber defence and digital resilience of Olympus as a global MedTech company,” Ryan explains. “That means ensuring our systems, data and people are protected so innovation can move quickly, safely and with trust across R&D, manufacturing and corporate operations worldwide.”
Cybersecurity as a Business Enabler
From the outset, Ryan has been clear that cybersecurity at Olympus is not about control for its own sake. Instead, it is about enabling the business to fulfil its purpose.
“Ultimately, I see my role as enabling the business to deliver life-changing MedTech securely and reliably,” he says. Operating at a global scale brings both opportunity and complexity. The company’s footprint spans numerous countries, cultures and regulatory frameworks, requiring strong alignment and accountability across a diverse technology landscape. Yet this diversity has also become a strength.”
A Cyber Journey Focused on “Brilliance and the Basics”
When Ryan joined Olympus two years ago, he encountered a cybersecurity function rich in talent and effort but fragmented across regions and legacy environments. “Our challenge wasn’t a lack of capability,” he explains. “It was that execution was distributed across too many seams. We needed stronger global coherence.”
Rather than attempting sweeping, complex changes, Ryan focused on what he calls “brilliance and the basics”. The idea was simple but powerful: build strong global foundations, improve visibility across the IT estate, and operate as a unified global capability rather than a collection of regional silos.
“We focused on improving visibility and transparency about the total IT tech estate to a degree,” he explains. “We overhauled how we operate, moving toward a verticalised global capability that delivers into regions while functioning as one team.”
This shift required not only technical change, but cultural transformation. Ryan’s leadership approach is rooted in servant leadership: empowering teams, creating unity of effort, and building momentum through shared purpose.
“My focus is very much on empowering people,” he enthuses. “Creating alignment and momentum behind every programme so we can deliver outcomes with speed and clarity.”