Citi hires new Singapore-based COO from Deutsche Bank

Citi has hired Sarah Garvey from Deutsche Bank as its Singapore-based COO for data and analytics, APAC and EMEA.

She previously spent three years as chief of staff to Deutsche’s global head of data centre services, and to its APAC head of group technology infrastructure. She focused on executing the German firm’s “technology strategy and transformation roadmap”, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Garvey worked for Standard Chartered in Singapore between 2010 and 2017, latterly as head of technology for corporate affairs, brand and marketing, experience. Prior to that she was Stan Chart’s head of product engineering, UX/employee experience.

Citi is not the only financial institution in Asia to appoint people into senior data roles in recent months. As we reported in September, HSBC took on Annette Neeson from Commonwealth Bank as chief data officer for Hong Kong. Last month, Cristal Hui, HSBC’s chief data officer for APAC global banking and markets, joined AIA as head of data governance and analytics for Hong Kong and Macau.

Data professionals in Hong Kong and Singapore who are “technically strong yet have the ability to hire and manage a team remain in constant demand by financial institutions and tech firms alike”, Don Zhao, associate director of technology at Space Executive, told us earlier this year. “Now that data and algorithms continue to drive banks’ strategies in areas like automation and detecting fraudulent activities, there will be continued growth and demand for this skill set,” he adds.

Garvey’s new firm, Citi, has sizable technology operations in Singapore and currently has 76 local tech vacancies on its careers site. Her hire follows the appointment in September of Singapore-based Stacey Lacy to head of operations and technology for Asia Pacific. Lacy, who was previously in charge of tech and ops at Citi’s Asian private bank, is now arguably one of the most influential women with a technology remit in Asian banking.

Image: unsplash

Have a confidential story, tip, or comment you’d like to share? Email: smortlock@efinancialcareers.com or Telegram: @simonmortlock. You can also follow me on LinkedIn.