Sarah Harris, chief data officer (interim), Haleon

Describe your career to date 

I have over 20 years of experience in data, having worked in a range of roles from strategy, value-led analytics insights as a service, solutioning, and data services, to complex programme delivery and architecture. I feel privileged to have built a career across both consulting and industry, as each has brought a different perspective and growth opportunity. 

Having completed a Master’s at Birmingham University, I started my career at Unilever, working in supply chain planning, forecasting, and reporting. I then joined Accenture, initially in technology and then data delivery and digital and analytics, eventually leading the EMEA data and analytics solution architecture team, along with an insights as a service analytics asset for retail customers. This time in consulting gave me experience across multiple industries and clients, working with global and highly matrixed organisations to deliver value led change enabled through data and insights, and provided a great opportunity for broad and deep learning at pace. 

I joined GSK ahead of the demerger of consumer healthcare to launch Haleon in July 2022, a global leader in consumer health. Being part of that complex and exciting journey was a unique career opportunity, bringing together strong cross-functional teams to build a new standalone organisation. During this time, I built the data governance, data management and master data organisation and capabilities for Haleon. 

Haleon combines innovation, deep human understanding and trusted science to improve the health of millions of consumers across the globe. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of our purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. I am proud to work for a company with such a strong purpose, which encourages us all to bring our very best every day.