Senior tech hires: Storebrand, Canada Life, Voya IM

The first week of May proved to be another eventful one in the world of financial heads of technology.

Financial tech hires continue at pace, and the growing incentives in the sector are luring in more veteran tech talent than ever. From Nordic asset management to UK insurance, we’re rounding up the most interesting tech hires and moves  over the past week.

Storebrand Asset Management

Norway-based asset manager, Storebrand, has hired Stig Torsbakken as its new Chief information security officer (CISO). Torsbakken joins the Lysaker-headquartered, NOK1000bn firm in the first week of May, after spending five years at Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Norges Bank Investment Management.

He latterly served as the head of security engineering services, after being promoted in 2017 from head of security operations. Prior to this, Torsbakken spent six years at cyber-security specialist, Nets Norway, starting as a technical manager, security operations and later progressing to head of information security operations.

Canada Life

Paul Russell, the former chief group architect of Aviva, has joined the UK arm of Winnipeg, Manitoba-based insurer Canada Life. Russell made the switch in late April, after a stint working on his start-up, Upside Saving, between July 2020 and March 2022. Upside bills itself as “intelligent cashback as an API, enabling fintechs and everyday apps to provide their users with frictionless cashback.”

Prior to this, Russell had a six-year tenure at Aviva In various security roles, latterly as chief architect. At Aviva, he also held the titles head of cloud technology and head of integration, API and security at various points. His career has also included security architecture roles at Legal & General, Luminus and Norwich Union (now an Aviva company).

Voya Investment Management

New York-based investment firm, Voya, has tapped Wells Fargo for its new CTO. Tatyana Kibrik joined the asset manager in late April, after two and a half years at Wells’ asset management arm.

She joined Wells in September 2019, after a seven-year term at Citi, which culminated in Kibrik heading up digital innovation and e-trading backstop controls within the capital markets function. Prior to this, she headed up prime brokerage tech at the global investment bank. Kibrik has also held senior roles in alternative investment tech at Credit Suisse, as well as risk management and reference data at Lehman Brothers.

Santander Consumer USA

US consumer loan specialist, Santander Consumer, has brought on Raj Parthasarathy as chief information officer. In his new role, Parathasarathy will lead consumer credit originations, digital and enterprise data services portfolio, teams and technology. He joined the company in late April  from loan provider Ally, where he was latterly head of technology for auto consumer credit.

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