Incoming information chief to oversee infrastructure, cyber security and engineering at major bank
Westpac has appointed Richard Heeley (pictured right) as its new chief information officer (CIO), with the role set to commence later this year.
Heeley is currently CIO for banking and financial services at Macquarie Group, where he has held the position since 2016. Prior to that, he served as IT transformation director at Nationwide Building Society in the UK from 2010 to 2014, and also held technology and programme management roles at Barclays and JPMorgan Chase.
In his new role, Heeley will oversee Westpac's infrastructure, cyber security and engineering functions. He will work alongside the bank's UNITE, data, digital and AI teams, led by Peter Herbert and Andrew McMullan.
According to Westpac chief executive Anthony Miller (pictured right), Heeley's appointment was intended to advance the bank's technology agenda.
"Richard is a proven technology leader who understands how to lead large-scale digital transformation in retail banking," he said. "He's helped build and lead a successful digital bank and we look forward to welcoming him to Westpac.
"Richard has deep experience building and running critical platforms at scale, and he knows what it takes to simplify systems, improve resilience and deliver a first-class digital banking experience for customers. He will lead the next phase of Westpac's technology transformation, building on recent progress to modernise core systems, lift resilience and strengthen the bank's cyber and technology capabilities."
Since taking over as chief executive in December 2024, Miller has moved quickly to reshape the bank's leadership. Several senior executives have been recruited from rival institutions, including Commonwealth Bank's Paul Fowler (head of business banking) and Andrew McMullan (chief data, digital and AI officer), as well as Nathan Goonan (chief financial officer) from NAB. Heeley is the second Macquarie Bank executive to recently join Westpac's ranks, following Luis Uguina, formerly Macquarie's chief digital officer.
Heeley said he saw clear potential in the bank's existing foundations. "Westpac has strong foundations and a clear plan to simplify and modernise the bank," he commented. "My priority is taking an already great customer offering and making it the best digital banking experience in the market. I'm excited to be joining."
Heeley will succeed Scott Collary, who is due to retire later this year.
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