Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are pushing higher on Wednesday after the bank announced a new senior technology appointment.
At the time of writing, the Westpac share price is up 1.24% to an intraday high of $35.92.
That will be welcome news for shareholders after a softer start to the year. Westpac shares are still down around 7% since the start of 2026, although they remain about 4% higher than this time last year.
Today's update comes as Westpac continues to put more focus on technology, digital banking, and cybersecurity.
Here's what the company told the market.
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Westpac hires Macquarie CIO
In a statement to the ASX, Westpac said it has appointed Richard Heeley as its new Chief Information Officer.
Heeley is currently Chief Information Officer for Banking and Financial Services at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). Westpac's latest tech move is giving shareholders something to like.
He will start at Westpac later this year and replace outgoing Chief Information Officer Scott Collary, who is retiring.
The appointment means Westpac is bringing in an executive with experience running large-scale technology programs across the banking and financial services sectors.
Before Macquarie, Heeley worked at Nationwide Building Society in the UK, as well as Barclays and JPMorgan Chase.
Westpac said Heeley will oversee infrastructure, cybersecurity, and engineering. He will also work closely with the bank's UNITE, Data, Digital, and AI teams.
Westpac keeps investing in tech
Westpac has been trying to make its business simpler, faster, and more digital.
The bank's latest appointment fits into that plan, especially as technology has become a major focus across the financial sector.
Banks are spending heavily on digital services, cybersecurity, and older systems that need to be cleaned up. While it is expensive work, it does help improve customer service, reduce complexity, and support better efficiency over time.
Westpac CEO Anthony Miller said Heeley understands large-scale digital transformation in retail banking and will lead the next phase of the bank's technology transformation.
The bank has also been working to modernise its core systems, improve resilience, and strengthen its cyber and technology capabilities.
A notable move from Macquarie
The appointment is also worth watching because Heeley is coming across from Macquarie, which has had a much stronger run on the market this year.
Macquarie shares are taking a breather on Wednesday, down 0.05% to $249.28. The stock is still up around 22% since the start of 2026.
Westpac hasn't had the same momentum, with its shares still lower for the year. But the appointment shows the bank is still investing in digital banking and the systems that underpin the business.
