Chief Innovation Officer

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and strategic (CIO) to lead the next phase of growth for a leading payments and financial technology company in Southeast Asia. This role blends the strengths of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a Chief Product Officer (CPO), with an additional emphasis on strategy and long-term vision. The CIO will be responsible for shaping the company’s innovation agenda, driving product strategy, and building scalable technology platforms that position the business at the forefront of fintech innovation. The role requires a strategic thinker and business partner who can translate future market trends and customer needs into bold yet practical solutions, while inspiring teams to deliver with excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term innovation, technology, and product strategy aligned with business growth.
• Act as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive team, shaping company direction with future-focused insights.
• Lead the product vision and roadmap, leveraging customer and market insights to launch transformative offerings.
• Oversee secure, scalable platforms; champion adoption of emerging technologies; ensure strong cybersecurity and compliance.
• Inspire and lead cross-functional teams across multiple countries, fostering agility, accountability, and innovation.
• Build partnerships with fintechs, technology providers, and regulators to strengthen market leadership and unlock new opportunities.

Requirements

• Proven track record in a CIO, CTO, CPO, CDO or senior technology/product strategy leadership role within fintech, payments, or financial services.
• 10+ years of leadership experience spanning technology execution, product innovation, and corporate strategy.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, vision setting, and influencing at the C-suite/board level.
• Regional exposure in Southeast Asia with experience managing large, multi-country teams.
• Deep expertise in product strategy, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
• Bilingual in Mandarin and English, with exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to scale products from concept to commercialization, balancing innovation, compliance, and business impact.