Old Mutual Wealth has appointed Richard Seton-Rogers as executive for technology transformation, with the position taking effect in February 2026. This strategic hire forms a key part of the organisation’s efforts to accelerate its digital agenda and reinforce long-term technological capabilities within South Africa’s competitive wealth management sector. The appointment positions Seton-Rogers to report directly to Farhad Sader, the managing director, while joining the executive committee.
In this capacity, Seton-Rogers will oversee the alignment of digital platforms, infrastructure upgrades, and innovation projects with the group’s overarching business objectives. Emphasis will be placed on enhancing experiences for both clients and financial advisers, ensuring that technology supports seamless interactions and responsive services in an environment where digital expectations continue to rise rapidly. According to Business Day, such moves reflect broader industry trends where South African financial institutions are investing heavily in technology to remain relevant amid increasing competition from fintech disruptors and evolving regulatory demands.
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The wealth management landscape in South Africa has grown significantly in recent years, with total assets under management across the industry surpassing R3 trillion in 2024 and projected to expand further as middle-class savings and retirement planning gain momentum. Old Mutual Wealth, a major player in this space, manages a substantial portion of high-net-worth and retail client portfolios, making robust technological infrastructure essential for delivering personalised advice, efficient portfolio management, and secure digital channels. The appointment underscores the company’s recognition that scalable technology is critical for sustaining growth in a market where clients increasingly demand mobile-first solutions and real-time insights.
Seton-Rogers arrives with more than twenty years of specialised experience in enterprise technology and data strategy across the financial services sector. His most recent role involved leading delivery operations at FNZ South Africa, where he managed extensive platform consolidation efforts, digitisation programmes, and coordination among diverse teams to deliver large-scale projects. This background in handling complex transformations equips him well to tackle the challenges of integrating legacy systems with modern digital frameworks.
Prior to that position, he served as group chief information officer at PSG Financial Services, steering a comprehensive digital overhaul that modernised operations and improved service delivery across the group. Earlier in his career, he held senior technology leadership roles at Standard Bank Group, directing information technology for foreign exchange and equities trading across several African markets, as well as at UBS Investment Bank and Barclays Capital in London, focusing on global markets technology. This international and domestic expertise provides a strong foundation for addressing the unique requirements of the South African wealth market.
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Seton-Rogers holds a degree in computer engineering and computer science from Damelin, complementing his practical achievements with a solid technical grounding. His track record in driving enterprise-wide change positions him to contribute meaningfully to Old Mutual Wealth’s ambition of building a future-ready digital ecosystem.
The hire comes at a pivotal time for the wealth management industry, where digital adoption is accelerating due to regulatory shifts, such as enhancements to the Treating Customers Fairly framework, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in financial planning. With South Africa’s financial sector increasingly focused on cybersecurity, data analytics, and seamless adviser-client connectivity, Seton-Rogers’ role is expected to help Old Mutual Wealth maintain a competitive edge while meeting heightened standards for innovation and reliability.