Westpac appoints Richard Heeley as Chief Information Officer – The Digital Banker
Westpac has appointed Richard Heeley as its new Chief Information Officer, bringing in the experienced technology executive from Macquarie Group to lead the bank’s next phase of digital transformation as it accelerates its multibillion-dollar technology modernisation programme.
Heeley, who currently serves as Chief Information Officer for Banking and Financial Services at Macquarie Group, will join Westpac later this year. He will assume responsibility for the bank’s technology infrastructure, engineering and cyber security functions, working alongside the UNITE, Data, Digital and AI teams led by Peter Herbert and Andrew McMullan.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Westpac as the bank pushes ahead with Project Unite, a four-year technology simplification programme estimated to cost around A$3 billion. The initiative aims to streamline the bank’s complex technology landscape, modernise core systems and improve operational resilience, with spending for the 2026 financial year expected to reach between A$850 million and A$950 million.
Heeley succeeds Scott Collary, who is retiring later this year after helping steer the programme since its launch in 2024. His departure followed the earlier exit of Chief Technology Officer David Walker, leaving vacancies in two of Westpac’s most senior technology leadership positions and prompting industry observers to question whether the transformation programme could maintain its momentum.
Analysts have argued that filling the CIO role swiftly was essential as Project Unite enters a critical stage, particularly as the bank works to deliver one of the largest technology overhauls in its history. Based on the bank’s latest financial results, the project was already reported to be running several months behind schedule.
Westpac Chief Executive Anthony Miller said Heeley’s appointment brings the leadership needed to continue the bank’s transformation. He described Heeley as a proven technology leader with extensive experience delivering large-scale digital change across retail banking and highlighted his track record of building critical banking platforms at scale.
According to Miller, Heeley will play a central role in simplifying Westpac’s technology architecture, strengthening cyber resilience and enhancing the digital banking experience for customers while continuing the modernisation of the bank’s core systems.
Heeley has led technology for Macquarie’s Banking and Financial Services division since 2016, overseeing retail, business and wealth banking technology. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing the group’s real-time, cloud-native banking platform.
Before joining Macquarie, he led a core banking transformation programme at Nationwide Building Society in the United Kingdom and previously held senior technology and programme management roles at Barclays and JPMorgan Chase.
His appointment also reflects the growing competition for senior technology talent across Australia’s banking sector. Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and National Australia Bank have all reshaped their technology leadership teams over the past year as they accelerate investments in artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and digital banking capabilities. Westpac itself has strengthened its technology bench through a series of senior hires, including Andrew McMullan as Chief Data, Digital and AI Officer, Chief AI Officer Dan Jermyn and Chief Analytics Officer Vicki Wood.
Commenting on his appointment, Heeley said his immediate priority would be to build on Westpac’s progress and further enhance its digital capabilities.
“Westpac has strong foundations and a clear plan to simplify and modernise the bank,” he said. “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.”
Westpac’s troubles
Westpac faced growing pressure to swiftly appoint a new chief information officer following the departure of Scott Collary, with analysts warning that the lender cannot afford further disruption as its flagship technology overhaul enters a pivotal stage.
Collary’s resignation follows the recent exit of chief technology officer David Walker, leaving Westpac without two of its most senior technology leaders at a time when it is undertaking Project Unite, a multi-year programme designed to simplify and modernise the bank’s technology infrastructure.
Although responsibility for delivering Project Unite now sits with chief transformation officer Peter Herbert after chief executive Anthony Miller reshuffled executive responsibilities, Collary had played a central role in the initiative since its launch in 2024. The transformation is expected to cost around $3 billion over four years, with spending in the 2026 financial year forecast at between $850 million and $950 million, above earlier market expectations.
The leadership changes come amid intense competition for senior technology executives across Australia’s banking sector. Collary is the second Australian CIO to step down in recent months after Commonwealth Bank announced the departure of Gavin Munroe, while ANZ has also reshaped its technology leadership under chief executive Nuno Matos, appointing former HSBC executive Donald Patra as chief information officer.
Banks are increasingly competing for executives with expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and large-scale technology transformation. Westpac has been particularly active in strengthening its AI capabilities, recruiting Andrew McMullan as chief data, digital and AI officer, former Commonwealth Bank executive Dan Jermyn as chief AI officer, and Vicki Wood as chief analytics officer. National Australia Bank has also expanded its technology leadership, appointing Pete Steel to oversee digital, data and AI, alongside new chief AI officer Mahya Knox.
Despite the recent executive departures, Westpac continues to build out its broader technology team, recently hiring Luis Uguina from Macquarie to lead digital, data and AI for its consumer division, while Jessica Gleeson joined the bank’s business banking arm from NAB to oversee data, digital and AI initiatives.
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