Pepperstone has appointed Nigel Fernandes as Chief Technology Officer, effective October 1, 2026, as the global online trading provider strengthens its technology infrastructure and expands its proprietary capabilities.
In his new role, Fernandes will oversee Pepperstone’s global engineering, architecture, security and data functions, reporting directly to Group CEO Tamas Szabo. He will be based at the company’s headquarters in Melbourne.
The appointment comes as Pepperstone increases its focus on AI-native engineering, proprietary technology, crypto infrastructure and institutional-grade systems, reflecting the growing importance of technology across the global brokerage and trading industry.
Fernandes brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience across financial services, retail, media and enterprise software. Before joining Pepperstone, he served as Senior Vice President and Executive General Manager of Engineering at Xero, where he led teams responsible for areas including cloud platforms, customer identity and data infrastructure.
His previous experience also includes senior positions at Publicis Sapient, Coles Group, SEEK and Envato, giving him a broad background in large-scale technology operations and digital product development.
Pepperstone said Fernandes will play a key role in strengthening the company’s technology foundation as it looks to deliver faster, more reliable and increasingly personalised services to clients across global markets.
The appointment follows Pepperstone’s continued expansion beyond its traditional FX and CFD operations, including its move into spot cryptocurrency trading in Australia and wider investment in digital assets and proprietary infrastructure.
The move highlights the increasing role of technology leadership in the brokerage sector as firms invest in automation, digital assets, security and scalable trading infrastructure to support international growth.
