Assumed one would have strong core architecture skills at the minimum to become head of technology, but looking at Saul background he has for long been an accountant and project management. Probably never coded in his life. It beats me how he got that position. Anybody care to comment?
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What an id–t. C-level folks need business experience.
Good IT execs don't want to work for a bank.
They want to work for an actual tech company with stock options that will be worth something.
@yjv+16MFRqI0 "CTO left" If you're talking about Chrapaty, that's pretty much her MO the last several jobs. Go somewhere, rah-rah cheerleader for 2-3 years, then leave. I don't think that dysfunctional org even accomplished much of anything she was pushing as "best thing since sliced bread" while she was around.
@ifv+16MFRqI0 Zuckerberg is not a tech giant, he's an advertising giant. Just like Gates was a businessman with passable technical acumen.
come on! we live in a world where college drop outs are tech giants. why are we talking about Saul's accounting background. it doesn't really matter.
@glw+16MFRqI0 Yes and no.
Does he need to be a programmer/engineer? Absolutely not.
Does he need a basic understanding of the technologies he's responsible for? Absolutely yes.
Saul hired by previous CIO? Maybe that is why CTO left too.
As worried as everyone here is, i am guessing he may be feeling worse, or at least those closer to the top are.
It cracks me up that people believe the head of IT for a company this sizes needs to have coding ability and experience.
At SVB’s level it’s purely about strategy, leadership, managing people/teams and cutting cost.
Coding and technical expertise isn’t required for any of that.
OK, Saul has a top level executive job because he's mastered the skills of influence, manipulation and persuasion. Not defending his technical skills or lack of; he just has to vbe smart enough to identify and hire people with the right experties – and he's running the risk that he'll be manipulated or outmaneuvered by the next ambitious executive. You don't climb the corporate ladder without being a skilled office poltician (or "con artist" for those more cynical).
Scott Dillon got canned because he f'ed up and it became known when Shoreview went down and BCP processes failed to keep the bank operating as intended. That was a sin beyond forgiveness.
SVB being an accountant makes sense when you think about the fact that technology was moved back under finance due to it being purely a cost center. It's all about tracking how expensive the technology organization is, and removing as much of the cost as possible now. SVB is perfect for that, and being exceptionally ignorant of technology will make it easier for him to be dispassionate about cuts. He'll have no bias based on familiarity with technology concepts.
Once he's done with cuts, expect an Avid type maneuver where he's transitioned into the next area to be filleted into "efficiency".
@pbn, are you SVB? Attacking? We are just stating our opinion as we see someone trying to run an area that has no hands-on technical experience whatsoever. He is a good talker using those good buzz words. Charming perhaps - to some people. A visionary - no way! A person with new and fresh innovative ideas - no way! He is a short-timer who is bringing the JPM business model to WF and attempting to implement it. That is it. He was hired, because no one else wanted the job and he is being overpaid - as well as the CRO, who is trying to sell her 5.5 million dollar condo right now. Let's call a spade a spade? We are.
Please list the ways SVB has been effective.
He has a degree in accounting and that is literally the only accounting “background” he has. He has many years of application development and technology management experience.
At those levels people do NOT code. I have met efficient high-level execs that have told me they have not opened a spreadsheet in 10 years.
Get it out of your head that you have to code to he in management.
@dpc+16MFRqI0 Dillon was a horrible leader and got canned b/c he could run tech worth beans.
re: original question. Looks like Saul has been running tech organizations for a long time. His degree doesn't mean anything with respect to being able to manage tech or not. He's essentially running a business - a tech services business.
Saul was hired by the previous ACTING CEO... That should be your first clue... I am certain Charlie will replace both Saul and the CISO in due time.
There is always the temptation to take out frustrations, caused by uncertain employment future at WF, on people who one seems responsible for one's demise.
Attacking Saul in this manner is unreasonable and silly.
Saul has been very professional, respectful, and very effective since his arrival at WF.
Let's call a spade a spade.
Because of the large budget, he needs and accounting background. Do you know that we have a finance group that handles all of that and they lay it all out in simple plain English for Saul for him to react to? Also, there are whole ecosystems driven by the business for how the project money is spent. And again with finance and project management involved.
He has excellent fashion sense.
Keep in mind that Saul is responsible for a very large budget so having an accounting background is probably very appropriate for person in his position. He is also responsible for the ultimate success of many IT projects, so project management is also appropriate. Remember, the head of IT is an administrator, not a coder.
@dpc, they also need to get rid of the branch tellers calling themselves Software/Engineering Managers and running software development teams/projects. It is truly unreal.
Is Saul and upgrade over the disgraced Scott Dillion? Or was Dillion ok, he just didn’t get OC/CEO support to actually fund and run tech the way that is required. I think both are in over their heads. Time to bring in an actual legit tech visionary to run technology , WFC has a larger tech shop than the big tech companies, why don’t we find the same talent to run it.
@yxg, I don't doubt it. The CRO is good friends with SVB.
Same thing goes on in Risk.. especially enterprise testing.. top leadership has no idea what they are doing..
Yeah, he knows how to fake it really well. Someone at that level needs to have some understanding of what he is talking about. I don't think he does. It would be good if he had a technical background. And I am saying it would be good if he had coded and/or designed systems before. That doesn't mean he needs to be able to code now, but it would be beneficial if he had some sort of hands on experience with what he is talking about. It is amazing to me all the really good "fakers" there are at WF.
On a side note... I really can't stand how he takes his nerdy glasses on and off and how he always makes it a point to take a sip of his coffee. He is annoying to say the least.
I don't know his background but do know that to manage people at his level, you do not need to know or be able to perform each and every aspect of their jobs. Only the lowest level managers, and maybe one level above, should be able to step in and perform the job when an employee is absent.