CIO50 Australia 2024: Marcelo Dantas, Automic Group

Name: Marcelo Dantas
Title: Chief Information Officer
Company: The Automic Group
Commenced role:  May 2017
Reporting line:  CEO
Member of the executive team: Yes
Technology Function: 45, with 8 direct reports
 
Over the past two years, Marcelo Dantas and his team have transformed how Automic operates.
 
The core achievement was the expansion of Automic’s cloud-native registry system, originally focused solely on listed registry management, to encompass funds registry, employee share plans, board management, and investor analytics.
 
This unified architecture is the backbone for high availability, scalability, resilience, transaction management, authentication, authorisation, and security controls across all services.
 
The single platform also enabled Automic to create a unique solution for dual access exchanged-traded funds (ETFs), where a single class can be listed and unlisted simultaneously, allowing investors to switch from one model to another in real-time.
 
“This capability eliminates the need to replicate or send data across multiple platforms and providers, significantly improving security, data integrity and efficiency of the operating model,” says Dantas.
 
According to Dantas, the complex operation involved meticulous capacity and throughput planning, mass data cleansing and the importation of data for 1.6 million holders and over 20 million transactions, executed in both a test environment and production.
 
Deep understandings
 
Dantas is one of the first employees charged with accelerating Automic’s technology journey and has been the driving force behind the company’s digital transformation.
 
His deep understanding of technology and market dynamics has been pivotal to Automic’s success and has improved operational efficiency, reduced complexity, and enhanced client satisfaction.
 
Rather than acquiring or developing a new system, Dantas and his team leveraged the existing architecture. This approach facilitated rapid expansion, allowing the platform to deliver a seamless, integrated solution that enhanced user experience without the need for multiple, disparate systems.
 
The system was designed with flexibility, scalability, and security at its core. This foresight enabled Automic to extend its platform efficiently, avoiding the pitfalls of rework and duplication that often plague other organisations.
 
“The unified system allowed for real-time, accurate data delivery, improving the overall user experience for clients and their employees,” says Dantas. “The unique aspect of this innovation is its ability to incorporate multiple services into a single platform without compromising on performance or security.”
 
According to Dantas, this approach has streamlined operations, reduced complexity, and delivered substantial value to Automic.
 
“Clients benefit from a more cohesive experience, while the company enjoys improved operational efficiency and reduced costs associated with maintaining multiple systems,” he says.
 
Technology as an enabler
 
Dantas is a firm believer that technology is an enabler of business, ensuring it supports broader company goals rather than operating in isolation. He is adept at identifying dependencies between technology goals and those of other areas, such as operations, people and culture, and finance.
 
He advocates for shared objectives and collaborative efforts to meet these goals, believing that when executives work together, both technological advancements and superior service are achieved, benefiting the entire organisation and its customers.
 
Transparency is another key aspect of Marcelo’s leadership, and he provides comprehensive reports to the CEO that cover development progress, information security improvements, incidents, new risks, client migrations, and help desk statistics.
 
“This report is also used to inform the board, ensuring alignment across the organisation and celebrating collective achievements,” he says.
 
Dantas’ ability to align technology with business goals, coupled with his commitment to transparency, has not only enhanced the company’s performance but also strengthened the influence of the technology function within the organisation
 
Ensuring team members feel valued
 
Dantas is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive culture within the IT team, where every role, whether entry-level or senior, is recognised as crucial to the team’s success.
He actively ensures that each team member feels valued, not just as contributors to tasks, but as integral parts of the organisation’s achievements.
 
His leadership style promotes open communication, where everyone’s input is encouraged and respected, creating a sense of ownership and belonging that drives collective success.
 
“I believe that innovation cannot occur without risk, and by removing the fear of blame, he empowers his team to take risks, experiment, and drive technological advancements. Marcelo is also known for his approachability and availability,” he says.
 
Dantas ensures that there are no barriers between himself and any team member, making himself accessible, particularly during high-pressure situations like weekend client migrations.
 
He actively works to minimise the time his team needs to spend working on weekends by offering faster solutions, managing stakeholders, and assisting with decisions to save them time and reduce stress.
 
“I often emphasise the importance of continual improvement, stating that even small enhancements each week contribute to the team’s overall growth and success,” Dantas says.
 
He believes that the team should be constantly learning and getting better, which drives the culture of continuous improvement.
 
Under Dantas’ leadership, the technology team has achieved the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) in the business, which speaks volumes about the inclusive and supportive culture he has cultivated.
 
Advocating for AI
 
In addition, Marcelo is a strong advocate for AI adoption and has been actively integrating AI tools across the entire development lifecycle from requirements gathering and coding to code reviews and test planning.
 
“AI’s role is to enhance and enrich the development process, serving as a valuable tool to support human creativity and decision making, rather than replace it,” he says.