Reserve Bank CIO's resignation a ‘personal decision’

Scott Fisher, the chief information officer and head of digital services of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, has resigned. 

When asked about the reasons for the resignation, a spokesperson for the central bank told BusinessDesk it was Fisher’s “personal decision” and Fisher will leave in July. 

“Arrangements are in place while we progress recruitment plans,” the spokesperson said. 

Fisher was appointed to the role in January 2019 having been acting CIO since October 2018.

The RBNZ suffered a data breach in December, which became publicly known on Jan 10 of this year. 

Two vulnerabilities in software from third party file sharing provider Accellion exposed private customer data of several international organisations including the RBNZ. 

A KPMG review into the breach commissioned by the RBNZ found it had been using the Accellion software for more than its intended purposes, against internal guidelines. 

BusinessDesk reported in January that the central bank declined to upgrade to a more secure file sharing product from third party provider Accellion in 2017, before Fisher joined the RBNZ.

Despite his role as CIO and head of digital services, Fisher did not front the central bank’s public response to the breach, with governor Adrian Orr issuing press statements, videos, and appearing before a parliament select committee.

At the committee hearing in February, Orr was joined by RBNZ head of business operations Patrick Hoerler, who was also questioned. 

Hoerler left his role in April, with John McDermott, not to be confused with the RBNZ's former chief economist, currently acting head of business operations.