I’m a CIO, IT Executive and Innovator

Joe Locandro

My Story

Experienced, Global, Digital Transformation Executive. Implementing disruptive technology & innovation nation-wide and globally.

I bring a wealth of knowledge gathered through over 25 years of experience to successful digital transformations, innovations, and technology strategies. As a Chief Information Officer and IT executive, I have advanced strategic thought leadership in technology development and initiatives with driven business outcomes around the world.

I have led the change as CIO in various industries and environments internationally, particularly throughout Mainland China, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. I have been recognized with CIO and innovation awards, including Hong Kong CIO of the Year, Computerworld CIO of the Year, IDC Asia Innovation Award, MIS Asia Best IT Governance, and more.

My innovative approach and in-depth experience is used to solve complex problems for various industries including energy, air travel, building and construction, entertainment, and oil. In each case, I have transformed the companies I have worked with, succeeding in improving their efficiency and responsiveness, and building the culture for long-lasting results.

My knowledge and experience is much sought after by government, industry, and university IT advisory boards. I have also served as a Board Member and Council Member of Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA) and completed the Australian Institute of Directors course. I am also a member of the Australian Institute of Directors.

My experience is backed by extensive tertiary education. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing from Monash University. In addition to this, I graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in Strategic Application of Information Technology.

Case Studies

Increasing efficiency, scalability and business capability. Making innovative moves in disruptive technology. Joe’s media features include:

Experience

Joe Locandro is a seasoned executive with diverse experience in technology and digital transformations.

2022 - PRESENT
Fletcher Building
Chief Information Officer

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Joe Locandro is a visionary leader who is driving the digital transformation of the Fletcher Group.

With his extensive industry experience and digital expertise, Joe is leading the transformation of the construction, manufacturing, and material distribution industry. He leads a team committed to consolidating dozens of disparate company systems into a sophisticated, cloud-based B2B e-commerce system leveraging the latest data and analytics technologies, including AI. These integrated digital platforms will optimize operational efficiency and unlock new opportunities for growth.

The Trans-Tasman ERP he’s implementing will provide unparalleled insights into the supply chain and customer integration. The result of which will be a unified solution architecture that streamlines pricing information and replaces the outdated backbone with a fully integrated system.

His forward-thinking approach to technology and innovation is driving the advanced business analytics, predictive AI algorithms, and machine learning capabilities enabling businesses to make smarter and faster decisions.

2018 – 2021
Australian Energy Market Operator
Chief Digital & Business Transformation Officer

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In his impactful role, Joe Locandro collaborated closely with the CEO and Board to design and execute Multi-year Digital Strategy and Transformation Programs, which delivered remarkable results. His initiatives led to significant cost savings, with unit and operational costs slashed by 12-25%. By increasing the provision speed of technology, he also managed to reduce the time-to-market by 12-80%.

Locandro’s innovative thinking extended beyond just cost and time efficiencies. He spearheaded a revolution in the Australian National Energy Grid Simulator (Digital Twin), achieving a groundbreaking 98% reduction in real-time simulation speed. This breakthrough bolstered the national grid operator’s ability to respond to critical events, safeguarding a reliable power supply for the nation.

Moreover, Locandro’s programs prioritized streamlining grid certification processing, resulting in a staggering 95% reduction in the time it took from months to just days. Additionally, he successfully implemented a new Data Platform that enabled advanced analysis of big data and transactional systems. This implementation led to a remarkable 77% reduction in the time it took to deliver long-term forecasting scenarios.

Furthermore, Locandro’s transformative efforts extended to the realm of employee engagement. His People Culture Transformation Programme yielded an impressive 18% increase in employee engagement over a three-year period. Through his digital transformation initiatives, Locandro succeeded in fostering a more efficient, effective, and engaged workforce.

2016 – 2018
Emirates
Vice President Business Technology Services

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In his role as an IT Executive at Emirates, Joe Locandro spearheaded the development of comprehensive IT roadmaps and strategies for the airline’s critical business units, delivering impressive results.

His initiatives led to a remarkable 23% reduction in IT spend, while simultaneously improving effectiveness, streamlining operations, and enhancing the overall customer experience. Locandro’s strategic vision also played a key role in achieving a greater online booking share, solidifying Emirates’ position as a leader in the airline industry.

Furthermore, through his expertise in optimizing and consolidating business technology portfolios, Locandro successfully reduced operational IT costs by 9%. Importantly, these cost-saving measures were implemented without compromising the quality of services provided. In fact, Locandro was able to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining the airline’s high standards of service.

Overall, Joe Locandro’s contributions to Emirates’ IT strategy were instrumental in creating a leaner and more effective IT infrastructure. The improvements resulting from his efforts significantly enhanced the airline’s operations, increased revenue, and ultimately strengthened its position in the market.

Locandro’s strategic leadership and expertise in IT played a vital role in driving Emirates’ success in the dynamic and competitive airline industry.

2012 – 2016
Cathay Pacific Airways
Executive Director IT – CIO

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In his leadership role, Joe Locandro played a pivotal role in driving the development of agile development and organizational changes, leading to a series of impressive achievements for Cathay Pacific.

Under Locandro’s guidance, the focus on streamlining operations resulted in a notable 20% reduction in online services delivery costs, while simultaneously enhancing the customer experience by speeding up delivery times by 25%. Additionally, his strategic initiatives successfully reduced employee churn by 30%, fostering a more stable and engaged workforce.


Locandro’s commitment to innovation was exemplified by the establishment of the Cathay Pacific Innovation Centre. This dedicated center focused on exploring new and emerging technologies to enhance the airline’s operations. Through this initiative, Locandro and his team developed an “electronic flight bag” and other applications that increased pilot productivity, reduced manual maintenance costs, and improved overall efficiency.

 Furthermore, Locandro’s leadership spearheaded the redesign of the Cathay website, resulting in a more intuitive and user-friendly platform. By employing advanced customer targeting and analytics, his team achieved a remarkable 15% increase in sales. Additionally, improved analytics contributed to an impressive US$13 million annual reduction in fuel costs.

 Demonstrating a commitment to efficiency and cost reduction, Locandro initiated the creation of a virtual global call centre network. This innovative approach allowed for follow-the-sun operations with 60% fewer call centres, leading to enhanced customer service and streamlined operations. Additionally, his establishment of an internal tiger team significantly reduced the time and cost of opening and closing new passenger and cargo ports by 30% and 50%, respectively.

Overall, Joe Locandro’s leadership was instrumental in driving a comprehensive digital transformation program at Cathay Pacific. His strategic initiatives resulted in a leaner and more agile organization, delivering better value for customers while effectively reducing costs and increasing revenue. Locandro’s visionary approach and dedication to driving digital transformation have positioned Cathay Pacific for continued success in a rapidly evolving industry.

2004 - 2012
CLP (China Light & Power)
Director Group IT - CIO

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In his role as a strategic CIO at CLP Group, Joe Locandro spearheaded the development and implementation of 3-year strategic IT plans for CLP Group, CLP Asia, and CLP Hong Kong, with a focus on driving growth through M&A activities and aligning new business development plans.

Under Locandro’s strategic leadership, the implemented plans delivered impressive results. One notable achievement was the realization of a 20% savings in total Group IT spend through standardization, leading to improved efficiency and reduced costs. Additionally, Locandro’s efforts enabled a 15% faster M&A IT integration, allowing CLP Group to accelerate its growth plans while maintaining operational excellence.

Furthermore, Locandro’s optimization strategies targeted CLP Group’s IT infrastructure, successfully reducing the Asset/Opex ratio from 10% to 4%. By leveraging a range of infrastructure renewal strategies, his team achieved a remarkable 25% reduction in long-term operating costs while enhancing business capability in the medium term.

In parallel, Locandro’s customer engagement initiatives yielded significant results. By implementing a CRM system, e-channel website, and field force automation, CLP Group improved customer engagement and raised brand awareness. These efforts resulted in improved customer satisfaction, increased engagement levels, and enhanced brand recognition for CLP.

Overall, Joe Locandro’s leadership and strategic technology expertise were instrumental in driving substantial growth and transformational change at CLP Group. His initiatives not only enhanced operational efficiency and reduced costs but also significantly improved customer engagement, positioning CLP Group as a leader in the energy sector. Locandro’s visionary approach and commitment to strategic IT planning played a key role in the organization’s success and continued growth.

2002 – 2004
Yallourn Energy
Chief Information Officer (CIO)

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As the CIO for Yallourn Energy and Auspower, Joe Locandro took on the task of streamlining their IT capabilities following their privatisation. Working within a highly-regulated market and with a unionised workforce, Locandro developed and executed an IT strategy that delivered impressive results.

Under Locandro’s leadership, his team successfully optimized scheduled plant maintenance and operational efficiency for the A$3.1 billion power plant through a series of IT projects. This resulted in enhanced operational efficiency, reduced downtime, and improved reliability, all of which significantly contributed to the successful operation of the power plant.

Furthermore, Locandro implemented company-wide knowledge and information portals along with a mobile computing platform, leading to improved staff productivity. By leveraging modern IT tools, employees were empowered with access to the information and tools needed to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently.

Despite the challenges posed by the regulatory environment and the unionised workforce, Joe Locandro and his team successfully delivered significant improvements to the IT capabilities of Yallourn Energy and Auspower. Their efforts drove greater efficiency, reduced risk, and improved staff productivity, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the organizations.

1999 – 2002
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group
Chief Information Officer

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As the architect of the Group-wide IT strategy for Radio, Theme Parks, Cinemas, Film Production, and Movie Distribution, Joe Locandro provided invaluable guidance to the Managing Director, Chairman, and other executives, enabling them to achieve their goals. His strategic approach led to significant improvements in key areas:

Firstly, through the standardization of IT fit-outs globally, Locandro and his team increased deployment speed by 20% and reduced IT costs per cinema by 15%. This streamlined approach allowed for more efficient operations and ensured a consistent customer experience across all locations.

Secondly, the implementation of state-of-the-art POS systems provided faster access to sales and product data. This empowered teams with real-time insights, enabling them to make informed decisions quickly and effectively.

Lastly, Locandro’s standardized procurement initiatives and group synergies resulted in a remarkable 20% reduction in IT spend. These cost-saving measures created significant financial benefits across the organization, allowing for more effective resource allocation and a focus on other strategic initiatives.

Through his Group-wide IT strategy, Joe Locandro successfully achieved significant improvements in operational efficiency, speed, and cost savings. These accomplishments have enabled the organization to remain competitive and agile in an ever-changing market. Locandro’s strategic vision and expertise have played a pivotal role in driving the efficiency and IT leadership for the Village Roadshow Group.

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