Group CIO - Financial Services

About the Client

As an industry leader with a proven history of success, our client is now growing its technology vision is looking to hire a Group CIO.

About the role

The Chief Information Officer is responsible for setting and delivering the group’s multi‑year technology strategy across core banking, digital channels, data, cloud and cybersecurity, ensuring alignment with growth, risk and regulatory priorities while modernizing legacy platforms into an API‑first, cloud‑enabled, data‑driven architecture. The role leads enterprise AI and data initiatives by defining the transformation vision and roadmap, prioritizing high‑value use cases, building the necessary data and cybersecurity foundations, and establishing robust data governance covering model risk, ethics, explainability and compliance. The CIO also owns the organisation’s cybersecurity posture, working with external partners to strengthen defenses, manage technology and third‑party risk, safeguard resilience and business continuity, and ensure ongoing compliance with banking and data protection requirements amid increasingly sophisticated, AI‑enabled threats. In parallel, the CIO operates as a strategic business leader, converting technology strategy into P&L and risk outcomes, engaging credibly with regulators and auditors, and shaping a high‑performing, product‑centric technology organisation and culture that balances innovation with disciplined risk management across engineering, data and security teams.

 

The Successful Candidate

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field
• Relevant professional certifications are advantageous (e.g., cloud, security, or AI-related), as are executive programmes in digital transformation or financial services.
• 15+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, with at least 5–7 years at group level in the FSI or investment domain
• Proven CIO / Deputy CIO / Head of Technology experience for a scalable business, ideally with Board / ExCo exposure
• Delivered enterprise-wide digital transformation, including legacy modernization, cloud and data platform build-out
• Led AI and data initiatives in regulated FSI, covering both business use cases and responsible AI governance
• Deep knowledge of cybersecurity, technology risk and FSI regulation, with direct regulator / auditor engagement
• Strategic technology leader with strong commercial acumen, linking technology decisions to P&L and risk
• Strong grasp of AI, data and analytics applied to FSI products and operations
• Robust understanding of cyber frameworks, cloud security and resilience, able to challenge and steer security teams.
• Excellent stakeholder and influencing skills at Board / ExCo level across business, risk and operations
• Proven ability to attract, develop and retain top engineering, data and security talent, shaping a high‑performance culture
• Strong command of English and Chinese