Ed Child is Global Head of Consumer and Digital Data at Costa Coffee, where he leads the organisation’s consumer, digital, and AI data agenda to drive personalisation, loyalty, and commercial performance.
He brings more than 20 years of experience across retail, financial services and e-commerce. Ed began his career in GIS and store location analytics, grounding him early in the practical application of data to real-world commercial decisions. Over two decades at global organisations including Walmart, ASDA, and Costa Coffee, he progressed from hands-on analytical roles into senior leadership, with a consistent focus on translating complex data and AI capability into measurable business value.
Key experiences have included leading global customer insights for Walmart US, establishing marketing effectiveness and advanced analytics capabilities at ASDA, and designing Studio Retail Group’s first enterprise-wide data strategy. These experiences shaped a pragmatic approach to data leadership, balancing analytical sophistication with commercial relevance.
At Costa Coffee, Ed has led a significant transformation in how data is structured, governed, and consumed. He introduced a data product mindset that now underpins the company’s personalisation and AI strategy, directly supporting record-breaking growth in digital performance and customer loyalty engagement. His remit spans analytics, data engineering, governance and AI, and he is known for building high-performing teams in fast-growing, data-driven environments.
To further strengthen his leadership in an AI-driven era, Ed recently completed an Executive Diploma in AI for Business at Oxford Saïd.