The practice

Simon MacDonald is a banking and enterprise transformation executive with more than 25 years of experience across digital banking, platform integration, enterprise architecture, regulated change, operating-model design and large-scale delivery. His work spans the UK, Australia and Asia, including leadership at Lloyds Banking Group and advisory work across banks, fintechs and financial infrastructure.

At Lloyds Banking Group, he led the Group's Open Banking and PSD2 programme, mobilising a 400-person internal team across business, technology, data, operations, risk and control. The principal regulatory implementation was delivered on time and within budget, with an enduring operating model established for the bank. Earlier, he led the digital integration workstream for the Lloyds TSB and HBOS merger. His roles have been Board- and ExCo-facing since 2009, and he has sat on transformation boards responsible for determining portfolio shape and initiative composition.

Simon founded SCI-CO to provide independent, senior-led support where business strategy, technology, data, operations, risk and control need to become one executable agenda. The work spans banking transformation, core modernisation, AI-enabled operating models, platform strategy, architecture, governance, digital assets and new rails. Engagements range from executive decision support to specialist implementation and integration where critical choices need to hold through delivery.

He is also co-founder and CEO of Henova, an AI-native health company built around personal health data, evidence-based guidance and regulated trust. Building Henova provides a practical perspective on what changes when AI is designed into a product and operating model from the outset.

Through SCI-CO Insights, Simon shares practical perspectives on the operating-model, architecture and control implications of banking transformation, AI and new rails.