News Corp Australia has named a successor to Julian Delany, who recently moved to New York as the parent company’s global chief technology officer.
Nandor Locher’s CV is impressive – with previous tech roles in air transport, retail and insurance – but the former freelance software engineer will not get to start with News Australia until March.
News says that as chief digital & technology officer, he will lead the media company’s technology, data and digital roadmap, developing innovative client solutions across UX, data and content capabilities. His priorities include platform modernisation, accelerating product speed-to-market, ongoing integration of AI to enhance business processes, and scaling personalisation and growth initiatives.
With a background including roles at IAG, Woolworths, Qantas and Virgin Australia, Locher was integral to modernising digital experiences and personalisation at IAG.
During almost two years with Woolworths Group as general manager for digital ecosystem & transformation, his focus included creating connected and personalised customer experiences. He is credited with evolving and scaling the WooliesX operating model and improved agile maturity of teams.
After nine years with Virgin Australia – and previously Virgin Blue subsidiary V Australia – he moved across to rival Jetstar in 2013, and then its parent, Qantas in 2017 taking responsibility for its $4 billion e-commerce and online sales, increasing conversion, market share, channel shift and ancillary products.
He also worked as a project manager for IBM in Switzerland, including helping implementing the ‘schools in the Net’ initiative with the Swiss government to equip all schools with IT equipment and internet access.