Nico van der Westhuizen is a seasoned Risk Management Practitioner and currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Qarar, having rejoined the company in August 2024. Qarar is a leader in data analytics, leveraging advanced data science, proven analytics techniques, and its Smart Suite of products to drive business success in the GCC region. Nico’s extensive experience spans global markets, including Africa, Europe, North America, the Nordics, and the Middle East, making him a well-rounded expert in decision management.

His career began with multiple credit risk specialization roles at Experian in South Africa and The Netherlands. He later led the Consulting and Analytics department for Experian-Scorex in Canada and took on P&L responsibility as the Decision Analytics Market Head for the Nordics & Baltics in Copenhagen. Before returning to South Africa, he served as Director of Experian’s Global Consulting Practice in the UK, where he contributed to the development and market positioning of Experian’s Decision Management solutions, including PowerCurve.

Beyond Experian, Nico held senior leadership roles in major international banks, driving transformation and regulatory programs. At Standard Bank of South Africa, he established an internal risk advisory group leading key initiatives such as Basel III compliance and customer collections. As the Risk Information Services Director at Barclays Africa, he spearheaded the bank’s BSBS 239 compliance efforts, engaged with regulators, and introduced Model Risk as a principal risk category.

Nico also played a pivotal role at FICO, where he led major client engagements, including a large-scale Collections & Recovery Transformation program for Absa, delivering over R1bn in benefits. His expertise in product development, customer engagement, and thought leadership strengthened FICO’s platform capabilities and market presence. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from North-West University, South Africa, Nico continues to drive innovation and excellence in risk management and decision analytics.