Executive Head of Data

Are you ready to lead the future of data, analytics, and AI? This is your opportunity to shape strategy, build innovation, and unlock new revenue streams for one of the most dynamic divisions in the Group.

Why This Role Matters

The Executive Head of Data is the architect of intelligence for the Merchant Division. You’ll design and execute a data strategy that powers growth, establish a Data Center of Excellence, and embed AI-driven insights into every corner of the business. Your mission? Turn data into value, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

What You’ll Do

✅ Data Strategy Leadership

• Craft a fit-for-purpose roadmap aligned to Merchant and Group priorities.
• Define modern architectures, governance frameworks, and compliance standards (POPIA, PCI-DSS).

✅ Build a Centralized Data CoE

• Unite Data Engineering, Analytics, AI/ML, Governance, and MLOps under one roof.
• Deliver a single source of truth for operational, customer, and transactional data.

✅ Support All Merchant Division Functional Areas
Provide analytics, insights, and data products to improve performance across:

• Sales & Relationship Management
• Operations & Service Delivery
• Finance & Risk
• Product & Innovation
• Customer Experience
• Compliance & Audit
• Revenue Assurance
• Marketing & Growth

Deliver value through:

• Predictive insights
• Segmentation models
• Demand forecasting
• Merchant performance dashboards
• Operational intelligence
• Automated insights and alerts

✅ Collaborate with the Group Data Office

• Align Merchant Division initiatives to the the business Group Data Strategy, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Participate in Group Data Office forums, councils, and architecture sessions.
• Ensure shared definitions, metadata, lineage, governance processes, and architecture patterns.
• Support enterprise-wide data initiatives and integrate merchant data into group platforms.

✅ Enable Analytics-as-a-Service

• Create predictive models, dashboards, and insights layers for internal teams and external partners.
• Drive continuous intelligence delivery and merchant reporting excellence.

✅ Monetize Data

• Develop commercial data products: benchmarking, market intelligence, fraud scoring, and more.
• Partner with Product & Commercial teams to launch scalable, secure offerings.

✅ Lead AI & Machine Learning Innovation

• Deploy models for forecasting, churn prediction, fraud detection, and recommendation engines.
• Build full MLOps lifecycle capability and stay ahead with generative AI readiness.

✅ CRM Intelligence Integration

• Embed predictive scoring and insights into Salesforce for smarter merchant management.
• Drive sales conversion, retention, and customer experience through data-driven CRM.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Your success will be measured by:

• Data Strategy Execution: Delivery of roadmap milestones and governance adoption.
• CoE Performance: Single source of truth, reduced inconsistencies, and standardized dashboards.
• Functional Impact: Improved decision-making, stakeholder satisfaction, and adoption of insights.
• Group Alignment: Compliance with enterprise standards and collaboration on group initiatives.
• Analytics-as-a-Service: Deployment and impact of analytics assets and efficiency gains.
• Data Monetization: Revenue from data products and merchant adoption.
• AI & ML Capability: Predictive models deployed and operational impact (fraud/churn reduction).
• CRM Intelligence: Increased sales conversion, reduced churn, and CRM-driven insights adoption.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical Expertise

• Data strategy, architecture & governance
• Cloud data engineering (Snowflake, AWS, Azure, GCP)
• BI & analytics, AI/ML, CRM analytics & Salesforce integration
• Data monetization and regulatory compliance (POPIA, PCI-DSS)

Business & Leadership Skills

• Ability to turn data into business value
• Strategic & commercial acumen
• Executive-level influence and storytelling
• Cross-functional leadership and change management

Leadership Behaviours

• Visionary and forward-thinking
• High learning agility
• Ability to influence without authority
• Strong team development and coaching
• Data-driven mindset with disciplined execution

 

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s in data science, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, or similar (master’s preferred).
• 10+ years in senior data leadership roles.
• Expertise in data strategy, architecture, AI/ML, cloud platforms (Snowflake, AWS, Azure).
• Strong commercial acumen and executive influence.
• A visionary leader who turns data into business value.
• Experience in fintech, banking, payments, or merchant services strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build data platforms, CoEs, and advanced analytics programs.
• Experience with Salesforce and CRM intelligence integration.