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Placing a Head of Digital Banking Architecture for a Tier-1 Bank, Case Study

As we know, many Tier-1 banks struggle to modernise, due to them being trapped by rigid legacy systems and a lack of niche technical talent.

As a result, finding leaders who truly understand both high-stakes compliance and agile cloud technology is notoriously difficult.

That is why for this Tier-1 bank, Mark Loucas stepped in with a global search, mapping talent across our pool of people in London, Singapore, and Berlin.

By leveraging our specialist network, we then bypassed the usual talent pools to find a leader with the perfect combination of corporate maturity and startup agility to help our client fill their space.

Let’s find out how we accomplished this.

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Project Overview

1. Sector – Tier-1 International Retail Banking

2. The Role – Head of Digital Banking Architecture

3. Location – London (Global Search)

4. Service – Executive Search & Talent Mapping

The Context

Our client, a Tier-1 International Retail Bank with a legacy spanning decades, reached a key inflexion point.

For them to remain competitive against a new wave of agile “Challenger Banks” and changing consumer expectations, they embarked on a multi-year digital transformation journey.

Central to this, though, was the migration of their entire core banking infrastructure – moving from siloed, on-premise legacy systems to a scalable, cloud-native ecosystem that they needed a leader to help them through.

The Challenge, in finding their "Unicorn" Profile

The search for a Head of Digital Banking Architecture presented a unique challenge here.

The ideal candidate needed a rare “bilingual” skill set in a few areas, such as:

Technical Modernity

Here, they needed deep, hands-on experience with AWS / Azure cloud architecture, microservices, and an API-first banking mindset.

Institutional Knowledge

They also needed to have a good understanding of the rigorous compliance, risk frameworks, and “Red tape” inherent in a Tier-1 regulated environment at the same time.

Due to this, in a hyper-competitive candidate market, individuals who possess the agility of a Fintech startup but the gravitas to navigate a global corporate boardroom are actually exceptionally rare.

Here, traditional recruitment methods had failed to identify a candidate who could bridge this cultural and technical divide well enough.

Our Fintech Recruitment Approach

However, here at Mark Loucas, our Fintech recruiters instead deployed a more targeted, multi-territory executive search strategy to help to get around a skill set lax in their prior search regions.

For instance, here we moved beyond job boards, focusing instead on Passive Talent Mapping across three global financial hubs, including:

1. London

2. Singapore

3. Berlin

Competitor Mapping

We then identified specific “Challenger” institutions that had recently successfully scaled their operations.

From this, we then targeted the architects behind these moves directly – individuals who had already solved the problems our client was just beginning to face – to see if their work balance still suited them.

Cultural Assessment

We then did not just vet these people for technical prowess.

For example, instead, we interviewed for “corporate maturity.”

As here we needed to make sure that the candidate would not be frustrated by the slower pace of a Tier-1 bank, but would instead act as a patient, persuasive catalyst for change for them instead.

Global Reach

Then, by leveraging our international network, we were able to present a diverse range of candidates with varying perspectives on global banking regulations (including requirements the client was looking for, such as GDPR, PSD2, and MAS).

The Result

Despite the complexity of the brief, our deep vertical specialisation allowed us to move with pace.

Within just four weeks, our consultants here at Mark Loucas presented a shortlist of three highly qualified, pre-vetted candidates, all of whom met the “unicorn” criteria the client was looking for.

The Hire

The successful candidate was a former CTO from a prominent European Neobank who had previously spent their early career in traditional finance, and who ticked all the boxes the client was looking for.

The Impact

Within the first 12 months, the new Head of Architecture successfully steered the first phase of the cloud migration.

This architectural shift allowed the bank to then reduce its “Time-to-Market” for new digital products by 30%, which in turn helped to transform the bank from a legacy follower into one of the digital leaders in the region as a result.

Key Takeaways for Financial Leaders

Specialism Matters, and when a role sits at the intersection of Banking and Technology, you need a recruiter who understands both languages.

Here, the best talent is not always in your backyard, and a global search is often required for transformative leadership roles.

Partner with Mark Loucas

Are you looking to modernise your leadership team?

Whether you are a Tier-1 institution or a high-growth Fintech, we have the network, the team, and the niche expertise to help you find your next transformative hire, which we are confident of.

Why Choose Mark Loucas

Faster Hiring Process

We speed up hiring by quickly presenting pre-vetted candidates, reducing the time and effort needed to fill key positions.

Industry Expertise and Specialised Knowledge

Our agency has deep industry expertise, understanding the specific skills needed for payments roles, ensuring precise candidate matching.

Access to a Niche Talent Pool

We have access to a niche talent pool, providing top candidates with payments industry experience who are often hard to find elsewhere.

Understanding of Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

Our agency understands industry regulations, ensuring candidates meet both technical and compliance needs, crucial for the payments sector.

Who Is Mark Loucas

We specialise in data and Fintech recruitment, and our team understands the industry inside and out.

So much so that our experienced Fintech recruitment team has years of expertise in recruiting top talent for data and analytics roles, and we have a proven track record of successfully placing candidates in leading companies.

Why Choose Mark Loucas as Your Digital Banking Recruiter?

As you can see here at Mark Loucas, we are committed to connecting you with the best talent in the Fintech industry. So, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your hiring goals.

We are here to help. So, let us help you build a team that drives your business forward. For more information or to discuss your recruitment needs, contact us today.

Our Recruitment Process

We also start by understanding your needs, whether you are a job seeker or an employer.

Search and Match

Using our extensive network and industry knowledge, we then find the best matches for you.

Ongoing Support

Even after placement, we continue to offer support to ensure your long-term success.

Interviews and Selection

Next, we will be happy to assist in arranging interviews and providing feedback to both parties to ensure they are the best fit.

Explore Our Job Opportunities

Next, we will be happy to assist in arranging interviews and providing feedback to both parties to ensure they are the best fit.

Data and Analytics Recruitment and Jobs

We offer a wide range of data and analytics jobs, including roles such as Data Scientist, Data Analyst, and Data Engineer.

These job opportunities span various Fintech industries, from financial services to the public sector, ensuring that we have the perfect fit for your skill set.

Specialised Roles in Data and Analytics

Our analytics recruitment team also specialises in placing candidates in pivotal roles such as Data Architect, Insight Analyst, Reporting Analyst, and Marketing Analyst as well.

We also cater to niche areas like Machine Learning, cryptocurrencies, Data Platforms, and Big Data, ensuring you find the perfect match for your technical skills and expertise.

Data Science Jobs and Data Analyst Roles

If you are looking for data science or data analyst jobs, our recruitment agency also has them.

We provide detailed job descriptions and support for roles such as Junior Data Analyst, Senior Data Analyst, and Business Data Analyst.

While we also have positions in Business Analysis and Data Management, including Data Governance and Data Integrity roles within the Fintech industry.

Job Alerts and Market Insights

We will also keep you updated with the latest job opportunities in data and analytics, and we can provide you with market insights and trends to keep you informed about the high demand for data professionals and the evolving job market.

Our focus is always on customer service, ensuring that you receive the best support and guidance throughout your job search with us.

Join Our Network

So, are you ready to take the next step?

Whether you are an employer looking to build a top-notch team or a candidate seeking new opportunities, Mark Loucas is here to help you.