Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Catilas Resources Limited (HR Outsourcing. Recruitment. Advisory.) is recruiting on behalf of our client, a leading Investment Banking Group headquartered in Lagos, for the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO).

About the role

The CIO will define and execute the Group's enterprise technology, digital, data, analytics and AI strategy. Technology here is expected to drive revenue, client experience, cost efficiency, regulatory compliance and cyber resilience, and every naira of technology spend must show measurable business value.

The role reports to the Divisional Head, Technology, Operations & Admin, and leads the Infrastructure, Enterprise Applications and Database/Business Intelligence teams.

This is a senior management role.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and architecture

• Translate the Group's business strategy into a technology, digital, data and AI roadmap that supports return on equity, cost-to-income improvement, client engagement and risk resilience.
• Own enterprise architecture standards (business, data, application, technology) and the target-state roadmap.
• Lead cloud strategy (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), modernisation and rationalisation of the technology estate.

Digital, data and AI

• Partner with business units to improve digital adoption, client onboarding turnaround time, transaction success rates and service availability.
• Own the responsible AI strategy: use-case prioritisation, model governance, AI risk, data privacy, explainability and regulatory alignment.
• Build enterprise data governance, data quality and lineage, and analytics capability for client segmentation, risk analytics, profitability, treasury insights and operational efficiency.
• Lead controlled experimentation with fintechs, open APIs and emerging technologies within the Group's risk appetite.

Technology risk, cyber and resilience

• Oversee the IT governance and security programme: policy, threat management, incident response and security architecture.
• Ensure compliance with CBN and SEC requirements, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and standards such as ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and ISO 20000.
• Chair or co-chair the Technology Risk Committee; maintain risk registers, key risk indicators and control testing.
• Ensure disaster recovery, business continuity, backup testing and high availability across networks, data centres and cloud.

Operations and platforms

• Own the IT operating model, service portfolio and ITSM processes (incident, problem, change, asset, configuration).
• Oversee the lifecycle of core enterprise applications (ERP, CRM, HCM, finance, collaboration) and banking platforms; standardise integration through APIs and eventing.

Financial, vendor and people leadership

• Own the technology budget (opex and capex), unit-cost transparency and ROI; deliver quarterly technology value reports to management.
• Build business cases and track benefits for all major initiatives.
• Lead vendor strategy, RFPs, contracts, SLAs and third-party risk management.
• Build a high-performing technology team through workforce planning, succession and coaching.
• Serve as strategic partner to the Management Committee and business leaders, with clear reporting on performance, risk, major incidents and investments.

How success will be measured

• Tier-1 platform availability of 99% or higher
• 10% year-on-year reduction in critical incidents and in mean time to detect and resolve
• Critical vulnerabilities patched within 7 days; zero audit findings older than 180 days
• 85% or more of the project portfolio delivered on time and on budget; 90% or more of planned benefits realised
• Data quality improved 20% year on year across critical domains, with analytics and AI use cases live and delivering measured value
• Attrition in critical technology skills below 10%

Requirements

Minimum requirements (all must be met)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or a related field.
• At least 15 years of progressive technology experience, including at least 8 years in banking, capital markets, asset management or payments.
• At least 5 years at management level (CIO, CTO, Head of IT, or direct deputy) leading multi-disciplinary teams in a regulated financial institution.
• Proven delivery of at least one large-scale programme end to end: core-system modernisation, cloud migration, cybersecurity uplift or enterprise data programme.
• Ownership of a technology budget of at least ₦500 million a year and management of complex vendor ecosystems.
• At least one current professional certification: ITIL 4, COBIT 2019, TOGAF, CGEIT, CISM, CISSP, CISA or CRISC.
• At least one current AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or AI/data science management certification.
• Sound knowledge of CBN and SEC technology requirements and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
• Experience leading technology change using Agile and DevSecOps approaches.
• Experience presenting to a Board or Board committee, and leading a regulatory IT examination or remediation.
• Eligible to work in Nigeria.

Strongly preferred

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or a related field, or an MBA.
• Experience leading enterprise data, analytics or AI programmes, including AI governance, model risk and responsible AI adoption.
• Experience delivering digital channels, client onboarding, API platforms and data-driven client engagement.
• Strong understanding of investment banking, treasury, corporate banking and payments.

Benefits

What our client offers

• A senior management seat in a leading Investment Banking Group, with direct exposure to the Management Committee.
• The mandate and budget to modernise technology, data and AI across the Group.
• A competitive senior-management package: performance bonus, pension, health insurance and leave.
• A hybrid working model.

Catilas Resources Limited and our client are equal-opportunity employers. Candidates are assessed on merit.