SVP, Head of Technology - NeoVentures.CIBG - WDS - Neo Ventures.Corporate & Investment Banking Group

Job Purpose

Venture Building Technology Strategy, Framework & Architecture

• Design the NeoVentures Venture building framework
• Create a venture-building factory model which can deliver scalable solutions
• Define the technology vision and roadmap for NeoVentures and its portfolio companies.
• Establish reference architectures for fintech integration with banking systems.
• Ensure alignment with Mashreq’s enterprise architecture, cloud strategy, data standards, and cybersecurity policies.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, cloud-native platforms, APIs, data & analytics, cybersecurity, payments tech, regtech).

Portfolio Technology Oversight

• Own the technology roadmap for NeoVentures product portfolio, aligned with commercial and investment priorities.
• Act as technology advisor to portfolio companies’ founders and CTOs.
• Participate in technical due diligence for new investments (architecture, scalability, security, IP, tech debt).
• Support portfolio companies in:
• + Scaling platforms securely
• + Improving cloud efficiency and resilience
• + Meeting security, data privacy, and compliance requirements
• Help startups prepare for enterprise onboarding, pilots, and commercial deployments with the banks

Innovation & Venture Enablement

• Partner with investment teams to assess technology-driven differentiation and defensibility.
• Lead PoCs, pilots, and sandboxes between the bank and portfolio companies.
• Drive open banking, API ecosystems, and platform partnerships.
• Identify build-vs-buy-vs-partner opportunities aligned with the NeoVentures strategic priorities.

Engineering & Platform Leadership

• Build and lead the NeoVentures internal technology capabilities (venture platforms, data analytics, core services, and components).
• Build a high-performance team geared towards using the AI-first design strategy
• Oversee vendor selection, platform development, and cloud infrastructure.
• Establish best practices in DevSecOps, CI/CD, and agile delivery.

Product & Platform Commercialization

• Lead the end-to-end technology strategy for converting internal bank solutions into commercial-grade products.
• Oversee product architecture, modernization, cloud enablement, and API-first design to ensure external market readiness.
• Establish multi-tenant, scalable, and secure platforms that can serve external clients independently of bank core systems.
• Drive time-to-market acceleration while maintaining regulatory and operational rigor.

Security, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to banking regulations, data privacy laws, and cybersecurity standards
• Define secure onboarding frameworks for startups engaging with the bank.
• Oversee risk assessments, penetration testing, and third-party technology evaluations.

Innovation & Venture Enablement

• Partner with investment teams to assess technology-driven differentiation and defensibility.
• Lead PoCs, pilots, and sandboxes between the bank and portfolio companies.
• Drive open banking, API ecosystems, and platform partnerships.
• Identify build-vs-buy-vs-partner opportunities aligned with the NeoVentures strategic priorities.

Engineering & Platform Leadership

• Build and lead the NeoVentures internal technology capabilities (venture platforms, data analytics, core services and components).
• Build a high-performance team geared towards using the AI-first design strategy
• Oversee vendor selection, platform development, and cloud infrastructure.
• Establish best practices in DevSecOps, CI/CD, and agile delivery.

Product & Platform Commercialization

• Lead the end-to-end technology strategy for converting internal bank solutions into commercial-grade products.
• Oversee product architecture, modernization, cloud enablement, and API-first design to ensure external market readiness.
• Establish multi-tenant, scalable, and secure platforms that can serve external clients independently of bank core systems.
• Drive time-to-market acceleration while maintaining regulatory and operational rigor.

Security, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to banking regulations, data privacy laws, and cybersecurity standards
• Define secure onboarding frameworks for startups engaging with the bank.
• Oversee risk assessments, penetration testing, and third-party technology evaluations.

Operating Environment

• Act as the primary technology expert with:
• + Investment committee
• + Regulators and auditors (as needed)
• + Startup founders and technology partners
• + Bank Tech and Security teams
• Represent NeoVentures in industry forums, fintech ecosystems, and innovation networks.
• Effectively work with peers and team members from bank technology workstreams and influence outcomes
• Adhere to program management, information controls, and security frameworks/procedures, including the change and incident management process
• Ensure management is informed of risks, issues, project/activity status, and team accomplishments.
• Brief teams on important initiatives, operational, and organizational updates.
• Recognize team achievements and share success, promoting high-performing teams
• Achieve the appropriate balance between onshore and offshore capabilities

Problem Solving

• Balance conflicting requirements and needs of team members and project stakeholders for optimal outcome.
• Full compliance with the relevant standards and processes.
• Provide cost-effective, business-friendly, and quality technology products which should ensure scalability and stability
• Provide innovative products to address Business needs
• Audit, Security, and Regulatory Compliance Knowledge
• Information Security Operations and Incident Management
• Budgetary and Vendor Negotiation/Management
• People Management/Interpersonal issues and staff motivation

Decision Making & Responsibility

• Lead onshore and offshore team members for the optimum results and effectiveness
• Design and architecture reviews for the products builds
• Manage engineering teams for the best outcome for the products and organization
• Proactively work towards the best-in-class customer experience

Education

• Bachelor’s in computer science, Engineering, or related field
• MBA or executive education in finance/strategy/innovation is a plus

Experience

• 20+ years in technology leadership roles
• Proven experience in banking, fintech, or regulated financial services
• Hands-on experience with:
• + API-first and microservices architectures
• + Data platforms, AI/ML, cybersecurity
• + Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Experience engaging with regulators, risk, and compliance teams
• Experience in handling large projects, preferably in the digital space

Core Competencies

• Strategic technology leadership
• Deep understanding of banking systems and fintech architecture
• Strong commercial and investment mindset
• Executive communication and stakeholder management
• Strong organizational and team-building qualities.

Personal Attributes

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-changing environments
• Strong mentor and coach to founders and technical leaders
• High integrity and risk-aware decision-maker
• Entrepreneurial mindset with enterprise discipline