Brennan IT CIO Simon Wheeler jumps to marketing firm Simple

Brennan IT’s CIO Simon Wheeler has left the managed services provider just over a year after joining the company as its first chief technology officer.

He has since taken up the CTO role at multinational marketing software firm Simple.

Wheeler joined Brennan IT in October 2016 out of Oakton, where he served as director for a year from mid-2015 to mid 2016. As Brennan's first CIO, was tasked with transforming the company’s legacy systems and processes to automation and standardisation.

Wheeler will head up technology and lead product development for Simple’s marketing operations platform. The appointment comes as Simple grows its product development resources through a partnership with Australian Microsoft Dynamics 365 specialist Barhead Solutions.

"Simple’s marketing operations platform is a great product with some fantastic customers,” Wheeler said. “The job at hand is about ensuring we’re taking the product to the next level so we can continue to exceed customer expectations and shape the new, reinvented marketing resource management software category.

“Joining Simple, it’s clear there is strong demand for the product from marketing teams who are looking for better ways to organise themselves so they can be more efficient,” he said. “We are prioritising how we meet those needs so we can continue to grow the market.”

Simple chief executive Aden Forrest said: “Simple relocated its product development team to Sydney this year, and we are working closely with Barhead to enable us to accelerate our product release schedule throughout that process and beyond.”

Barhead general manager Ken Struthers said: “We are excited to be working with Simon and his team to further extend the Simple marketing operations platform for some of Australia’s leading brands.

“Simple’s customer-centric approach aligns well with Barhead’s innovative development approach, driving faster release cycles and increased customer satisfaction.”

Before his Oakton gig, Wheeler was CIO of magazine publishing giant Bauer Media from 2012 to 2015.