ASB Bank Appoints Group General Manager, Technology & Operations
ASB BANK has appointed Clayton Wakefield to the role of Group General Manager, Technology and Operations, which encompasses the ASB BANK and ASB group of companies.
Mr Wakefield has an extensive background in information technology. He joins ASB BANK from the University of Auckland where he was Director of Information Technology. Prior to that he held a similar IT leadership role as Telecom's General Manager Online.
During his time at the University of Auckland Mr Wakefield successfully launched the University's online enrolment programme and will maintain an advisory role with the academic institution.
In his nine years at Telecom, he helped transform the organisation through his involvement with many large technology projects in the 1990s and development of its online direction.
ASB BANK has pioneered electronic banking in New Zealand and Mr Wakefield says he is pleased to now be working with the leading online bank in the country.
"My immediate focus in this role will be maintaining the "one step ahead" philosophy that ASB BANK maintains, with appropriate emphasis on the internet banking products. I will be looking to consolidate ASB's leadership position in this field and will be considering the future strategies and priorities of ASB's technology range to do so."
Mr Wakefield is responsible for the 350 staff dedicated to ASB BANK's information technology area. He will also manage its electronic banking and Internet banking, and drive the group's e-commerce strategy.
The former computer programmer graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor in Computer science "well before computers were commonplace", he said.
His career has remained in the IT industry since, including work in London and Edinburgh where he added financial services leadership to his repertoire.
He know lives in Auckland with his wife and three children, and enjoys golf and fishing when time permits.
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Released on behalf of ASB BANK by Network Communications.