A leading investment management firm created a new role: Head of Technology Risk. With the organisation undergoing significant change, the position was designed to provide oversight and challenge around technology risk, working closely with the technology cohort and legal and compliance teams. Operating as a “1.5 line of defence,” the role required someone able to bridge governance, regulatory expectations, and pragmatic technology understanding.
Because the role did not previously exist, the client was open in their brief. The search demanded candidates with experience in highly regulated environments—ideally financial services, though other sectors were considered with comparable read across. Mapping the role against existing positions proved difficult given its unique remit, so a rigorous search was essential.
McLean identified a candidate with a strong banking and consulting background, combined with a solid grasp of technology risk. Their ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and translate complex risk issues into actionable strategies impressed the client. The appointment provided immediate credibility and structure to the firm’s evolving risk framework, ensuring technology risk was managed with both strategic oversight and practical execution.
