Mark Gay new ME Bank CIO

ME Bank has appointed Mark Gay as its new CIO as the bank nears completion of its $70 million technology transformation program.

Gay starts on 27 January and is replacing Kathryn Hawkins, who is leaving this month.

He will be responsible for completing and capitalising on the transformation program, which the bank said in September last year would help it double personal and business customer numbers from 280,000 to at least 500,000 in three to four years.

He will also oversee all IT infrastructure and the bank agile innovation capabilities, the bank said.

Gay recently worked with GE Capital Group as director of Fastworks Lean and Strategic Program Delivery, where he standardised IT processes across global teams.

From 2009 to 2012, he was GE’s Australian-based CTO, responsible for IT strategy, enterprise architecture and infrastructure, where he led a $150 million transformation program.

Jamie McPhee, CEO at ME Bank, said in a statement that Gay’s appointment was important given the bank’s aspiration to become a leading digital bank.

“Technology will determine which banks succeed in the 21st century. Our transformation program is a major enabler for growth, increasing our capacity and improving our operational efficiency – our ability to compete,” he said.

“Mark has a unique opportunity to realise the opportunities transformation provides, setting the course for exponential growth in future years.”

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