Westpac CIO on permanent siesta
Another bank technology boss has decided the time is right to call it quits, with Westpac Corporate Centre CIO Alison Bichsel retiring after 11 years at the bank.
Bichsel headed technology operations in the Corporate Centre, which includes finance, human resources and group risk, for the last four years. The position is one of about five divisional CIO roles that report to Westpac group CIO Simon McNamara.
Her departure follows the high-profile retirement announcements of St George CIO John Loebenstein and ANZ technology boss Mike Grime in the last 40 days.
Bichsel retired last month, according to Westpac.
ZDNet Australia understands Bichsel's immediate plans for retirement include trekking through Spain.
Assuming the Corporate Centre CIO position is Bob Kershaw. He served as head of IT risk and compliance in his three years at the bank.
Kershaw's responsibilities have included managing Westpac's Basel II and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance programs. He has also "had a significant influence in bringing about additional investment in datacentre and disaster recovery services", a Westpac spokesperson said.
Kershaw was appointed to the position on 26 February, the spokesperson added.