Darrell Fernandes
Executive Advisor
Darrell Fernandes has an outstanding record of digital transformation, innovation and delivery. He has developed technology strategies, delivered transformational initiatives to achieve business outcomes and enabled individual business lines to self-fund market-differentiating capabilities through efficiency gains and investments.
Currently, Darrell partners with multiple organizations to provide market perspective, executive insights and leadership mentoring. Covering a breadth of topics from AI, the evolution from project-based execution to a product operating model, as well as executive coaching. He’s engaged with a variety of small, medium and large organizations. Through these engagements he is able to influence countless change agents and leaders across industries.
Most recently, as Head of Product Technology at TIAA, Darrell led the design, engineering and implementation of technology solutions that have enabled differentiated business services and capabilities. The evolution spanned diverse set of approaches, including, implementing an IT Product Model, driving both business and technology evolution to sustainable, outcome driven solutions, across Institutional Retirement and adjacent business platforms. These solutions support a fast, flawless and simple experience for the 16,000 institutions, more than 4 million plan participants, retail customers and internal associates.
Mr. Fernandes previously led multiple technology functions at Fidelity Investments, where he spent 22 years, most recently as Head of Technology Strategy & Planning. At Fidelity, he established and implemented the enterprise-wide strategic direction for the IT organization, including the shift of $700 million of expense out of the existing IT cost base. He also led the delivery of customer-oriented, integrated platforms and experiences across all areas of the company, including customer insights platforms, Fidelity Labs, Fidelity.com and advice initiatives. Darrell also worked closely with Fidelity’s Board of Directors and Executive Team to drive strategic roadmaps and business outcomes.
Recently, Darrell was recognized by technology peers with an ORBIE, as CIO of the Year, Charlotte (2020) and National ORBIE Finalist (2021). He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics from Villanova University. Mr. Fernandes has been an active mentor in the Women’s Unlimited LEAD program and is a member of the advisory boards of the University of New Hampshire’s College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Flow Executive Council and SCRUM.ORG. He’s also President of the Waterville Valley Foundation, a non-profit serving the community interests.