Commonwealth Superannuation’s CTIO on aligning core systems, leadership, and strategy for digital excellence

In an interview at CIO Edge, Andrew Matuszczak, Chief Transformation and Information Officer at Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, shares his approach to digital transformation, emphasising the need for genuine, impactful changes rather than superficial updates.

He highlights that board members are often overwhelmed with tech jargon and trends, making it crucial to focus on addressing real organisational needs.

A common pitfall he observes is investing in flashy front-end solutions without improving underlying systems, which he likens to “putting lipstick on a pig”.

For effective transformation, it’s important to address core issues and ensure the entire organisation aligns with and supports the journey, starting from the boardroom to the executive level.

Andrew also discusses the importance of gaining buy-in from both the CEO and executive team.

He stresses the need for a governance model that fosters collaboration and prioritisation, ensuring that transformation efforts align with organisational goals and do not become sidelined by competing interests.

His experience shows that transformation requires strong leadership to make bold decisions, such as restructuring teams and merging roles, to achieve the desired outcomes.

Additionally, understanding the organisation’s pace and readiness for change is critical to executing a successful transformation.

Looking ahead, Andrew anticipates that the role of technology leaders will evolve from focusing on operations and coding to adding strategic value and leveraging AI and automation.

He envisions a shift towards integrating existing solutions rather than reinventing the wheel, with an emphasis on customer-centric approaches.

As technology advances, roles will increasingly concentrate on optimising business outcomes through intelligent use of available tools and services, rather than managing infrastructure.

This shift will require adapting to new methodologies and thinking more broadly about how technology can enhance overall customer experience.

Key takeaways:

• Prioritise foundational transformation over cosmetic changes: Successful digital transformation requires addressing core infrastructure issues (the “pig”) before improving customer-facing experiences (the “lipstick”). Focusing only on front-end enhancements without fixing back-end systems will ultimately lead to poor customer satisfaction.
• Align leadership and governance for transformation success: Getting buy-in from the board, CEO, and executives is essential. Establish governance models that encourage collaboration and transparency across teams, ensuring that transformation efforts are aligned with the organisation’s pace and priorities.
• Adapt to organisational needs and pace: Transformation initiatives must be aligned with the regulatory environment, compliance requirements, and the pace at which the organisation can execute. Understanding these factors helps drive strategic decision-making and ensures sustainable, effective transformation outcomes.