Hitachi Vantara has announced the appointment of Dave Wardrop as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Director of Solution Consulting for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The strategic appointment underlines the company’s growing focus on expanding its technical leadership in the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management markets across the region.
Wardrop will be based in Canberra and will report directly to Matthew Hardman, Chief Technology Officer for APAC at Hitachi Vantara. His primary responsibility will be directing the company’s technical sales strategy and guiding its solution consulting efforts in ANZ.
A Veteran With 25+ Years of IT Leadership
With over 25 years of experience in IT consulting, network engineering, project management, infrastructure systems, and professional services, Wardrop brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. He has already spent the past three years at Hitachi Vantara, leading several of the company’s technical initiatives in partnership with Australia’s Federal Government agencies.
Much of his recent work has involved advanced defence technology solutions, showcasing his ability to manage mission-critical projects where secure and efficient data systems are essential.
Before joining Hitachi Vantara, Wardrop worked for five years at Nutanix as Federal Systems Engineering Manager, supporting government clients with hybrid cloud deployments. Earlier in his career, he also held senior consulting and professional services roles at EMC in both Australia and the United Kingdom, where he contributed to large-scale digital transformation projects.
Hitachi Vantara’s APAC Leadership Welcomes the Appointment
Welcoming the announcement, Matthew Hardman praised Wardrop’s leadership skills, empathy, and strong technical vision.
“Dave demonstrates high empathy for people, strategic direction, and a deep understanding of the functionality of our technology, including its application in complex customer environments,” said Hardman. “He embodies the Hitachi Vantara spirit of not only doing the right thing for the customer but also creating the right environment for his team. We are delighted to have him step into this role and help deliver meaningful outcomes for customers, particularly as they manage growing data demands and AI-driven innovation.”
Wardrop’s Vision for the ANZ Market
Speaking on his new role, Wardrop highlighted his excitement to further strengthen Hitachi Vantara’s presence in Australia and New Zealand:
“Hitachi Vantara has consistently set the benchmark for delivering solutions that solve complex IT challenges, transform processes, and unlock efficiencies through hybrid cloud, automation, and data intelligence,” Wardrop said. “My role as CTO and Director of Solution Consulting for ANZ provides an incredible opportunity to build on that foundation. I look forward to helping enterprises and public sector agencies scale operations, accelerate AI innovation, harness real-time insights, reduce complexity, and continuously deliver customer value.”
Wardrop’s comments reflect the growing demand in the ANZ region for advanced cloud solutions, AI-driven insights, and secure data management.
Key Responsibilities in His New Role
As CTO and Director of Solution Consulting, Wardrop’s responsibilities will include:
- Shaping technical sales strategy across ANZ.
- Guiding enterprises and government agencies in adopting hybrid cloud solutions.
- Enhancing customer support models for data infrastructure.
- Leading solution consulting initiatives tailored to mission-critical and high-security environments.
- Driving the adoption of AI, automation, and intelligent data management systems.
His leadership will be critical as organizations in ANZ face explosive growth in data volumes and increasingly complex IT requirements.
Hitachi Vantara’s Focus on Data and Cloud Innovation
Hitachi Vantara, a subsidiary of Hitachi, focuses on data storage, hybrid cloud management, and infrastructure modernization. The company is known for helping clients transform their IT systems to achieve long-term sustainable business growth.
Its solutions enable enterprises and government organizations to manage increasing volumes of data, adapt to cloud-first strategies, and explore innovations in areas such as generative AI and agentic AI. With security and scalability becoming top priorities, Hitachi Vantara is positioning itself as a trusted technology partner in ANZ and beyond.
The company has also made it clear that technical sales and customer engagement are central to its regional growth strategy, making Wardrop’s role especially significant.
Growing Demand for Secure Data Management
In both the enterprise and public sector, organizations are under increasing pressure to:
- Secure sensitive data against evolving cyber threats.
- Enable real-time decision-making using AI-driven insights.
- Modernize legacy infrastructure to handle scalable workloads.
- Simplify IT complexity while reducing costs.
Hitachi Vantara’s solutions aim to meet these needs by offering integrated systems that support cloud flexibility, automation, and analytics-driven insights. Wardrop’s appointment is expected to accelerate the company’s ability to meet the evolving demands of its customer base across the ANZ region.
Hitachi Group: A Global Technology Powerhouse
Hitachi Vantara is part of the wider Hitachi Group, a Japanese multinational with a strong global footprint.
- Hitachi’s revenues for its fiscal year ending March 2025 stood at JPY ¥9,783.3 billion.
- The group operates across multiple sectors, including digital systems, energy, mobility, and connected industries.
- With around 280,000 employees worldwide, Hitachi has positioned itself as a leader in driving innovation across industries.
As its IT subsidiary, Hitachi Vantara plays a vital role in delivering data-driven and cloud-enabled solutions to both corporate and government clients.
What This Appointment Means for ANZ
The appointment of Dave Wardrop signals Hitachi Vantara’s long-term commitment to expanding its market presence in Australia and New Zealand. The ANZ region, with its mix of dynamic enterprises and advanced government infrastructure needs, is considered a key market for hybrid cloud and AI adoption.
Wardrop’s deep experience with both private and public sector clients, combined with his expertise in federal systems and advanced defence projects, positions him well to guide the company through its next phase of growth.
By strengthening technical leadership, Hitachi Vantara aims to:
- Boost customer trust and engagement in ANZ.
- Help clients modernize IT infrastructure for the future.
- Support sustainability initiatives through efficient systems.
- Accelerate the use of AI and automation across industries.
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Conclusion
The decision by Hitachi Vantara to appoint Dave Wardrop as CTO and Director of Solution Consulting for Australia and New Zealand represents more than just a leadership change. It is a strategic move to address the rising demand for secure, scalable, and intelligent IT solutions across the region.
Wardrop’s proven track record in government, defence, and enterprise technology projects makes him uniquely suited to lead the company’s technical vision and sales strategy. His leadership is expected to not only enhance Hitachi Vantara’s presence in ANZ but also contribute to advancing data management, hybrid cloud adoption, and AI-driven business transformation.
As organizations across Australia and New Zealand navigate the challenges of digital transformation, Wardrop’s appointment is set to ensure that Hitachi Vantara remains a trusted partner for sustainable growth and technological innovation.
