Property finance firm appoints successor to retiring CIO
Thinktank Property Finance’s chief information officer, James Henshaw (pictured above left), has announced his retirement after more than three decades in the banking and finance industry.
Henshaw, a seasoned executive with extensive expertise in financial information technology, played a key role in transforming Thinktank’s technology operations during his five-year tenure, having led the company’s digital transformation, shifting from manual operations to a fully integrated, cloud-based technology system.
Henshaw will be succeeded by Charmaine van der Merwe (pictured above right), a long-time colleague, who thanked Henshaw for his mentorship.
“Stepping into his shoes is both an honour and a challenge, but I’m excited about the journey ahead,” said van der Merwe. “I look forward to continuing to champion diversity within our technology teams.”
Prior to joining Thinktank – recognised by MPA as a Top Mortgage Employer – Henshaw held senior management roles at Advance Bank, HSBC, and Pepper Money. He oversaw the integration of the Australian and New Zealand residential mortgage portfolio acquired from GE Capital, which was the largest independent whole loan acquisition in Australian financial services at the time.
“James’ contribution to Thinktank has been instrumental in steering us to where we are today,” said Thinktank chief executive Jonathan Street. “His leadership has positioned us well for the future, and we are incredibly grateful for his impact on the business.”
Reflecting on his career, Henshaw said it had been the most rewarding chapter of his professional life, adding that he was proud of what they had accomplished at Thinktank.
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