MLC Wealth today announced the appointment of Darren McKenzie as Chief Technology and Operations Officer, effective March 2020.

Mr McKenzie joins MLC from RSA Insurance, where he was Chief Operating Officer UK and International for four years.

Chief Executive Officer of MLC Wealth, Geoff Lloyd, said the appointment of Mr McKenzie further adds to the diversity of skills and experience on the MLC Wealth leadership team. Mr McKenzie will report to both NAB Group Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Patrick Wright, and Mr Lloyd in the period until MLC’s legal separation from NAB.

“Darren is a highly accomplished executive with more than 20 years’ experience defining and delivering strategic transformation across technology and operations in financial services organisations.

“He is well regarded as a strong leader with an ability to create long-term customer-focused solutions to complex business challenges,” Mr Lloyd said.

“As we continue to prepare for separation, Darren’s deep experience across technology and operations will enable us to deliver strong capability to support the business. We look forward to him joining us in March.

“I am creating a dynamic and high performing team to lead the business through its next phase of evolution,” added Mr Lloyd.

The announcement comes after an extensive internal and external search and follows a series of executive appointments to the MLC Wealth leadership team. These include Andrew Morgan (Chief Commercial Services Officer and Chief Financial Officer), Anthony Lane (Chief Operating Officer), Mark Baxter (Chief Risk Officer), Kylie Smith (Chief Communications, Digital & Marketing Officer), Shenaz Waples (previously Khan) (Chief Human Resources Officer), Garry Mulcahy (Asset Management), Tim Steele (Retirement & Investment Solutions), and Darren Stevens (Platforms).

BIOGRAPHY

Darren McKenzie – Chief Technology and Operations Officer

Mr McKenzie has spent the past four years at RSA Insurance where he was Chief Operating Officer UK & International. As a member of the UK and International Executive Team, he was accountable for Technology and Operations across the UK and International businesses including the design and execution of a large-scale transformation program. Prior to that he spent six years (2009-2015) as Chief Information Officer at Banco Santander for their consumer banking businesses, based in Frankfurt. Darren led Santander’s German banking platform transformation. He was also Chief Information Officer for Alliance & Leicester for three years (2006-2009), and Director of IT Operations at Egg for five years (2000-2005).