Inventor • Serial Founder • Fractional AI CTO • AWS Principal Architect • Banking Chief Architect

Architecting Intelligence
Beyond Tomorrow

Hands-On Technologist Contributing to Major Industry Shifts

Highly experienced hands-on technologist with a history of contributing to several major industry shifts. Banking Chief Architect, CTO and Founder of dozens of startups, AWS Principal Architect with focus on Cloud Operations/DevOps predominantly in Fintech. Solid experience with large Big Data projects, low latency, and Algorithmic/AI Trading Systems.

30+ Startups Founded
35+ Years Experience

Architect the Future Together

Ready to push the boundaries of what's technically possible? I partner with visionary leaders to architect breakthrough solutions.

Currently accepting select consulting engagements and board advisory positions.

Executive Resume

Comprehensive technical leadership profile and career progression

Steve Messina

Chief Technology Officer
steve@macleodlabs.ai +39 344 5756263 Remote Italian Nationality
Professional Experience
Heimdall AI Security
Aug 2025 - Present
Founder
Developing AI autonomous cybersecurity platform. Automated code vulnerability detection, automated penetration testing, and supply chain security.
MacleodLabs.ai
Oct 2024 - Present
Founder
Generative AI Consulting and development, using Python, Flask, Langchain, Langgraph. Providing strategic AI consulting services remotely.
Graph8
Dec 2024 - Jun 2025
Advisor / Chief Technology Officer
Provided strategic technology leadership as CTO. Advised on technology architecture, platform development, and innovation initiatives.
Azara.ai
Aug 2023 - Oct 2024
Founder & CTO, Generative AI Agents
Led company with several inventions in Agentic AI workflow space. Built core product, hired & led team over intensive 15 months to successful product launch.
IBM
Mar 2020 - July 2023
AWS CTO, Tech Leader & Associate Partner
Created first AWS internal consultancy practice. Strategic technology consulting focused on Banking, Fintech, and large Multinationals.
ICompaz (Temasek/Infosys JV)
Mar 2019 - Feb 2020
Head of Cloud
Led cloud team, created Centre of Excellence. Designed Cloud Operating Model for Temasek. Reduced daily operating workload by 80%.
Amazon Web Services
Sep 2015 - May 2018
Principal Cloud Architect
Principal Architect/Consultant for ASEAN Professional Services. Led DevOps and Microservices specialties. Major clients: DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Sony, Malaysian Airlines.
UCanPay Ltd & UCanShop Ltd
Jun 2014 - Aug 2015
Consultant CTO
Consultant CTO for UCanGroup. Created UCanPay (bitcoin ATM & Point of Sale) and UCanShop (similar to Shopify) platforms.
10xLabs Ltd
Jan 2012 - Aug 2015
Founder
Online Learning Platform that pivoted to creating first Container and ServiceMesh platform. Invented one of the earliest Container platforms and Service Meshes.
Standard Chartered Bank
Jul 2013 - May 2014
Consultant: Engineering CoE Creator
Created engineering centre of excellence in Tianjin, China. Industry-leading Cloud Operations automation for Financial Markets.
UBS
Jun 2012 - Dec 2012
Consultant: Cloud CTO Strategist
Created Innovation CoE and Cloud Adoption engineering Practice. Implemented Startup innovation Accelerators and Labs.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Apr 2010 - Dec 2011
Global Banking Chief Architect
Created world-class Architecture function in Asia Pacific. Built global technology leadership buy-in of Asia as primary technology centre.
HSBC Global Banking & Markets
Dec 2007 - Mar 2010
Global Banking Chief Architect
Implemented Global Methods Architecture for Best Technology Practices. Led HSBC Reference data program and One-HSBC program.
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth
Mar 2006 - Nov 2007
VP: Head of SWAT Team, Technical Architect
Invented and created first DevOps vision document. Wrote founding principles of DevOps/Digital Transformation, now used throughout the industry.
UBS Equities Cash Trading
Jul 2000 - Dec 2005
Lead Developer & Architect: Program Trading
Led development and architecture of program trading systems for equities cash trading operations.
Apollo AI Hedge Fund
Jun 1995 - Feb 1999
Architect & Developer
Implemented fully automated hedge fund using AI techniques including Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms for automated commodity trading systems.
Key Innovations & Patents
DevOps Pioneer: Invented and created the first DevOps vision document at Morgan Stanley (2006), wrote founding principles of DevOps/Digital Transformation now used throughout the industry

Container Technology: Invented one of the earliest Container platforms and Service Meshes through 10xLabs (2012-2015)

AI Trading Systems: Implemented fully automated hedge fund using Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms at Apollo AI Hedge Fund (1995-1999)

Patents: Patent applied for automated DAO project planning during AWS tenure
Education & Certifications
AWS Certifications (2016): AWS Certified Associate Architect, AWS Certified Professional Architect, AWS Certified Professional Developer

Financial Certifications (2007): Partial Certified Quantitative Finance, Securities II Certificates

Academic Background (1999-2003): Open University, Birkbeck University London - Mathematical Modelling II, Pure Math II, Physics II, Astronomy, Application of Probability III

Technology Leadership Journey

Scaling enterprise systems while pioneering breakthrough technologies

Heimdall AI Security
Founder
Aug 2025 - Present

AI Autonomous Cybersecurity Platform

  • Developing AI autonomous cybersecurity platform
  • Automated code vulnerability detection and analysis
  • Automated penetration testing capabilities
  • Supply chain security automation

Security Innovation: Building next-generation AI-powered cybersecurity platform with autonomous threat detection,
automated vulnerability scanning, and comprehensive supply chain security capabilities.

AI/ML Cybersecurity Automated Testing Supply Chain Security
Graph8
Advisor / Chief Technology Officer
Dec 2024 - Jun 2025

Technology Leadership & Strategic Advisory

  • Lead AI dev, and Data Engineering, before CTO Role
  • Provided strategic technology leadership as CTO
  • Advised on technology architecture and platform development
  • Led technology strategy and innovation initiatives
  • Guided technical team on best practices and architecture

Strategic Technology Leadership: Provided strategic technology leadership and advisory services, guiding technology architecture,
platform development, and innovation initiatives for Graph8.

Technology Strategy Platform Architecture AI Development Data Engineering
MacleodLabs.ai
Founder
Oct 2024 - Present

Generative AI Consulting & Development

  • Providing strategic Generative AI consulting services remotely
  • Developing AI solutions using Python, Flask, Langchain, Langgraph
  • Consulting on enterprise AI transformation strategies
  • Building custom AI workflows and automation systems
  • Creator of Testeze - automated testing AI
  • Advising startups and enterprises on AI implementation

Current Focus: Leading next-generation AI consulting practice, helping organizations implement
cutting-edge generative AI solutions and strategic transformation initiatives.

Python Flask Langchain Langgraph Generative AI
Azara.ai
Founder & CTO
Aug 2023 - Oct 2024

Agentic AI Workflow Innovation

  • Led company with several inventions in Agentic AI workflow space
  • Built core product from ground up with advanced AI capabilities
  • Hired and led technical team through intensive 15-month development cycle
  • Successfully launched product to market with innovative AI features
  • Pioneered new approaches to autonomous AI agent workflows

Innovation Achievement: Successfully built and launched breakthrough agentic AI platform, establishing
new paradigms for autonomous workflow automation in enterprise environments.

Agentic AI AI Workflows Platform Development Team Leadership
IBM
AWS CTO, Tech Leader & Associate Partner
Mar 2020 - July 2023

Created First AWS Internal Consultancy Practice

  • Created first AWS internal consultancy practice within IBM
  • Strategic technology consulting focused on Banking, Fintech, large Multinationals
  • Fast-track candidate for IBM Distinguished Engineer program
  • Led complex cloud transformation projects for enterprise clients
  • Developed innovative AWS solutions for financial services sector

Strategic Innovation: Pioneered hybrid AWS-IBM consulting model, creating new revenue streams and
establishing IBM as a leading AWS partner in the financial services sector.

AWS Cloud Architecture Banking Fintech Enterprise Consulting
Amazon Web Services
Principal Cloud Architect
Sep 2015 - May 2018

ASEAN Professional Services Leadership

  • Principal Architect/Consultant for ASEAN Professional Services
  • Led DevOps and Microservices specialties at AWS
  • Major clients: DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Sony, Malaysian Airlines
  • Led high-profile big data programs and real-time ticketing systems
  • Patent applied for automated DAO project planning

Regional Impact: Established AWS as the leading cloud provider in ASEAN financial services,
architecting transformative solutions for major regional banks and enterprises.

AWS DevOps Microservices Big Data Real-time Systems
Standard Chartered Bank
Consultant: Engineering CoE Creator
Jul 2013 - May 2014

Setup China Cloud and DevOps Engineering Centre

  • Established China Cloud and DevOps Engineering Centre in Tianjin, China
  • Introduced DevOps and cloud computing to the organization
  • Created engineering centre of excellence for Cloud Operations automation
  • Developed industry-leading Cloud Operations automation for Financial Markets
  • Completed Operations refactoring 3 months ahead of schedule
  • Established foundational practices for cloud-native transformation

Organizational Transformation: Pioneered DevOps and cloud adoption at Standard Chartered, establishing the China Engineering Centre
and introducing transformative cloud practices that became foundational to the bank’s technology strategy.

DevOps Cloud Computing Operations Automation Financial Markets Engineering CoE
10xLabs Ltd
Founder
Jan 2012 - Aug 2015

Created First Container PaaS Technology

  • Pioneered container platform technology - Predated Docker by several years (2011/2012)
  • Invented one of the earliest Container platforms and Service Meshes
  • Developed software-defined networking for container orchestration
  • Created extremely fast provisioning capabilities (<1 second from request to running application)
  • Built union filesystem layering for efficient container management
  • Established API-first design principles for container platform

Groundbreaking Innovation: Created the first container PaaS technology years before Docker became mainstream,
establishing foundational principles for modern containerization and software-defined networking.

Containers PaaS Service Mesh Software-Defined Networking Filesystem Layering
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Global Chief Architect
Apr 2010 - Dec 2011

Global Banking Chief Architect

  • Created world-class Architecture function in Asia Pacific region
  • Built global technology leadership presence across APAC
  • Established architectural standards and best practices for regional operations
  • Led strategic technology initiatives across multiple business units
  • Architected enterprise-scale banking systems and infrastructure

Global Architecture Leadership: Established Bank of America’s architecture function in Asia Pacific, setting
strategic direction for technology platforms across the region’s banking operations.

Enterprise Architecture Banking Systems Global Standards Infrastructure
HSBC Global Banking & Markets
Global Chief Architect
Dec 2007 - Mar 2010

Global Banking Chief Architect

  • Implemented Global Methods Architecture for Best Technology Practices
  • Led HSBC Reference Data program to unify data across all departments globally
  • Drove One-HSBC program for enterprise-wide technology standardization
  • Established architectural governance and standards across global operations
  • Created frameworks for consistent technology delivery worldwide

Global Standardization: Transformed HSBC’s technology architecture through global standardization initiatives,
unifying systems and data across departments to create cohesive enterprise platforms.

Global Architecture Reference Data Enterprise Standardization Governance
Morgan Stanley
VP: Head of SWAT Team
Mar 2006 - Nov 2007

Invented DevOps Vision Document

  • Invented and created the first DevOps vision document
  • Wrote founding principles of DevOps/Digital Transformation
  • Implemented Operations restructuring across Morgan Stanley
  • Principles now used throughout the technology industry
  • Led successful team proving DevOps concepts in practice

Industry-Defining Innovation: Created foundational DevOps principles that became industry standard,
revolutionizing how technology operations are structured globally.

DevOps Digital Transformation Operations Industry Standards
Apollo AI Hedge Fund
Lead Architect
Jun 1995 - Feb 1999

Pioneering AI Trading Systems

  • Implemented fully automated hedge fund using advanced AI techniques
  • Pioneered Neural Networks for algorithmic trading in the 1990s
  • Developed Genetic Algorithms for portfolio optimization
  • Built autonomous trading systems with real-time market analysis
  • Created early machine learning models for financial prediction

Early AI Innovation: Pioneered automated AI trading systems decades before they became mainstream,
implementing Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms for autonomous financial markets operations.

Neural Networks Genetic Algorithms Algorithmic Trading Machine Learning Automated Trading