Although he’s been programming from a young age, Peter Robb only knew he wanted to be in IT when two CIOs suggested he’d be good at it – now he is the CIO of Omnia.
Peter Robb’s career began when he returned to South Africa after a gap year in Europe, where he explored his interests and aspirations. Drawn initially by the allure of travel, he joined a travel company, developing various systems to assist in travel bookings and operations. However, he soon discovered that the reality of the job fell short of his expectations.
During his time in the travel sector, Peter identified inefficiencies in booking and timesheet systems. Having programmed as a hobby, Peter proactively developed technology solutions to address these shortcomings. “I have been programming from a very young age,” he reflects. “Whenever I saw an opportunity to optimise or automate something, I worked on a technology solution.” Notably, Peter developed a sports gaming platform during this period, showcasing his passion for building practical, engaging systems.
Peter’s initiative to enhance the travel company’s systems caught the attention of the then CIO, who encouraged Peter to consider a career in IT. With mentorship and further training, he transitioned to a small startup consulting firm specialising in innovative technologies – marking the beginning of a distinguished IT career.
Building a career through innovation and leadership
Peter’s career has been shaped by a series of deliberate moves and serendipitous opportunities. At the small technology startup, he rose to an associate director role, before joining the Big Five consulting space, where he provided advisory services to CIOs across multiple industry sectors. “This role deepened my understanding of the multifaceted responsibilities of a CIO,” Peter explains.
Recognising Peter’s ability to solve complex challenges, and with a track record of consulting in the financial services sector, Peter was invited to join one of South Africa’s leading banks with a mandate to drive its digital transformation and modernise its technology environment. “In this role, I oversaw the African architecture and design, managed the technology portfolio and delivered modernisation initiatives,” he says. Reflecting on this experience, Peter emphasises the importance of effective communication in leading teams during such a large undertaking.
After his tenure in banking, Peter rejoined mainstream consulting as an associate director, where he led global transformative projects, including a major technology transformation at South Africa’s leading content service and streaming providers. “I performed an IT executive role, accountable for a large-scale technology transformation in lockstep with an evolving multinational business model,” he says. His leadership helped position the provider for long-term success.
Driving transformation at Omnia
Today, Peter serves as CIO at Omnia Holdings, where he remains accountable for the end-to-end IT environment spanning multiple geographies. His responsibilities include governance, architecture, procurement, operations, cybersecurity, and delivery of large-scale transformation initiatives-all while keeping the lights on. Omnia’s purpose, “Innovating to enhance life, together creating a greener future,” aligns closely with Peter’s commitment to technology solutions that positively impact nature, climate, and people.
“Our business teams are constantly innovating and require a technology partner that can not only keep up with the demand, but also reliably deliver innovative solutions,” Peter explains. These innovations underscore IT’s potential to drive sustainability and business growth.
Reflecting on his career, Peter emphasises the importance of building a professional network. “Early in my career, I thought I needed to have all the answers,” he says. “But my time at various customers taught me the value of leveraging a network of experts to exchange ideas, and to refine your frame of reference.” He encourages aspiring professionals to explore consulting to develop these skills early on in their careers.
“You don’t need to know everything in detail,” Peter advises. “The real power lies in augmenting information and tailoring solutions to meet customer needs.” This philosophy has guided his leadership and made him a respected figure in the ICT field.
Paying It forward
Peter is passionate about empowering others, and in his current role, he champions role rotations to help employees understand the business and IT’s role within it. Several of his colleagues have grown from entry-level positions to valuable IT team members under his mentorship.
“The technology landscape evolves constantly,” Peter observes. “If you’re not adapting at the same pace, you risk falling behind. Challenge everything and strive for continuous improvement.”
Peter’s journey from a gap year in Europe to CIO at Omnia exemplifies the power of curiosity, innovation, and leadership. His story inspires professionals to embrace change, build meaningful networks, and leverage technology for sustainable impact.
