Pepperstone Appoints CTO Following Australian Crypto Exchange Launch

Melbourne-based retail broker Pepperstone has appointed Nigel Fernandes as Chief Technology Officer, effective 1 October 2026. Fernandes will lead the company's global technology operations, reporting to Pepperstone Group CEO Tamas Szabo from the firm's headquarters in Melbourne.

The appointment comes as Pepperstone looks to strengthen its technology stack following its expansion into spot crypto in Australia. In February 2026, the broker launched a dedicated crypto exchange offering Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, USDC and USDT against the Australian dollar, widening its business beyond traditional FX and CFD trading.

Focus on In-House Technology

In his new role, Fernandes will oversee engineering, architecture, security and data functions supporting Pepperstone's broader business. The broker said the hire is part of a technology strategy spanning crypto, artificial intelligence and institutional-grade infrastructure, with plans to broaden its fintech offering and develop more of its own technology.

Fernandes joins from Xero, where he served as SVP and Executive General Manager of Engineering, leading a global engineering organisation covering cloud platforms, customer identity and data. With more than 20 years of technology leadership experience across financial services, retail, media and enterprise software, he previously held senior positions at Publicis Sapient, Coles Group, SEEK and Envato.

Commenting on his appointment, Fernandes said his focus would be on "investing in the technology we own" and building an AI-native engineering foundation to support faster, more reliable access to trading tools. Szabo added that technology is "core to everything we do" as Pepperstone evolves into a broader fintech ecosystem, and noted the company aims to provide access to crypto and new markets while developing a more personalised client experience.

The appointment adds a dedicated technology leadership role as Pepperstone continues to extend beyond its traditional online trading business. Fernandes will take responsibility for the technology functions supporting that expansion from October.