Niresh Rajah, Danske Bank Group Chief Data Officer, Joins CDO Magazine Global Editorial Board

(EMEA) We are pleased to welcome Niresh Rajah to CDO Magazine’s Global Editorial Board. Rajah, a seasoned professional in the world of finance and data management, is Group Chief Data Officer (CDO) at Danske Bank. In this pivotal role, he shoulders a comprehensive array of responsibilities, making him a key figure within the organization.

As Group CDO, Rajah is entrusted with overseeing critical aspects of data management, analytics, data platform development, architectural strategy, data science initiatives, and data privacy compliance. His expertise and leadership play a vital role in shaping Danske Bank's data-centric operations and ensuring the bank's adherence to data regulations and best practices.

Before joining Danske Bank, Rajah made significant contributions as the Deputy Chief Data Officer at Barclays UK. During this time, he led the regulatory change division, where he skillfully managed a team of 200 professionals. His influence extended beyond this role, as he held membership in the Business Banking Executive Committee and the Chief Data Office Executive Committee. Moreover, he served as the Chair of the BUK Regulatory Forum and Deputy Chair of the BUK Data Management Council, further cementing his status as a strategic leader within the organization.

Rajah also played a prominent role on the steering committee alongside the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England, focusing on Digital Regulatory Reporting—an arena critical to the financial sector's ongoing compliance and innovation.

Furthermore, Rajah has been at the forefront of Barclays' venture into Regulatory Technology (Reg-Tech). With a profound commitment to streamlining regulatory operations, he has successfully established and managed efficient and automated regulatory frameworks, including those for FATCA, GDPR, and KYC compliance, both onshore and offshore.

Rajah's comprehensive understanding of regulatory matters extended to the development of the Regulatory Framework for Barclays UK and Barclays Corporate, where he also held the position of Chair of the Regulatory Committee.

Beyond regulatory matters, Rajah's influence extended to fostering innovation within the organization. He spearheaded the establishment of an Innovation Team spanning the UK and India, focusing on data analytics and data science to tackle intricate challenges, including the integration of internal and external data sources.

Throughout his distinguished career, Rajah has exhibited his ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes, lending his expertise to renowned entities such as Barclays, Lloyds Bank, BP, Shell, De Beers, Deutsche Bank, Unilever, Marks & Spencer, RSA, Abbey National, Kuwait Petroleum, Saudi Aramco, and even the London 2012 Olympics. His leadership and project management prowess have allowed him to lead initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America, showcasing his global perspective and expertise in the field of data management and regulatory compliance.

As global thought leaders, CDO Magazine’s Editorial Board of top executives share their expert opinions and innovations in data and analytics. The board ensures that we champion the best companies, leaders, and insights that accelerate our community’s success. Members may serve as editorial writers, reviewers, content developers, and conference speakers.

The CDO Magazine community welcomes Niresh Rajah to our growing Global Editorial Board membership.