African financial services group, Old Mutual, has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation journey to modernize its operations and better serve its retail and corporate customers across 14 countries. Old Mutual has substantially diminished its on-premises data center footprint by transitioning its technology infrastructure, such as its life insurance and wealth management systems, to Amazon Web Services. This modernization effort, according to Group CIO May Govender, has laid the foundation for the company’s ongoing transformation and enabled the pursuit of cutting-edge solutions to meet business challenges.
Govender, who joined Old Mutual in 2021 as Deputy CIO and was later appointed Group CIO in 2023, has played a pivotal role in driving this transformation. With a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Henley Business College, Govender's career spans over 22 years in the IT industry, including roles in financial services, banking, and telecommunications. She has led various technology domains and implemented transformational programs in both multinational organizations and digital startups. Govender emphasizes the urgency of Old Mutual’s transformation, highlighting the necessity of rapidly phasing out legacy infrastructure while evolving the customer experience to align with contemporary expectations shaped by industry leaders like Google and Netflix.
