Head, Business Innovation

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Innovation Management

• Develop, communicate, and implement the overarching Business Innovation Strategy across all business units.
  
• Establish and lead a centralised "Digital Enablement Department" (or IT Support Department) to provide proactive, strategic technology support that empowers employee productivity and drives internal digital transformation.
• Identify, evaluate, and champion new technologies, business models, and market opportunities to create competitive advantages.
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement throughout the organisation.

AI Strategy and Operationalisation

• Lead the end-to-end execution of the A.I. Strategy, from conceptualisation and pilot projects to full-scale implementation.
  
• Identify high-impact use cases for AI and Machine Learning across the company’s products, services, and internal operations.
• Collaborate with product development, engineering, and data science teams to build and deploy AI-driven solutions.
• Establish governance, ethics, and performance metrics for all AI initiatives.

Technology Infrastructure and Operations

• Oversee the management, strategy, and operational excellence of the company’s Data Centres, ensuring they are secure, scalable, and efficient.
• Drive the evolution of our infrastructure to support next-generation services, including cloud, edge computing, and IoT.
• Ensure the highest levels of availability, performance, and security for all critical infrastructure.

Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Alignment

• Act as the primary liaison and strategic partner for company’s innovation hubs, fintechs, and technology partners.
• Manage the pipeline of collaboration, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals and facilitating the smooth transition of innovative ideas from lab to market.
• Build and nurture a robust external network to keep the company at the forefront of technological trends.

Team Leadership and Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of innovation managers, technology specialists, and data centre operations staff.
• Create clear career paths and development plans for team members, fostering a talent pipeline for the future.

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• An MBA or master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in technology leadership, with at least 5 years in a role directly responsible for innovation, digital transformation, or RCD.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful business innovation or digital transformation strategies.
• Deep, hands-on experience with AI/ML concepts and a proven record of operationalising AI strategies in a corporate environment.
• Strong expertise in managing critical technology infrastructure, including Data Centres and enterprise IT support functions.
• Demonstrated experience in managing strategic partnerships and ecosystem collaborations.
• Excellent financial and business acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and demonstrating ROI on innovation projects.
• Strategic Visionary: Ability to see the big picture and translate future trends into actionable business strategies.
• Influential Leadership: Exceptional ability to influence and inspire both technical teams and senior executives.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong business sense with the ability to align technology initiatives with commercial outcomes.
• Excellent Communicator: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Agile C Adaptive: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can navigate ambiguity effectively.
• Collaborative Partner: A natural bridge-builder who can work effectively across different departments and with external partners.