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Paul Alexander, Group CEO, Beyond: Putting Data to Work

Paul Alexander, Group CEO, Beyond: Putting Data to Work

What has been your path to power?

I’m an econometrician and lawyer who started my career in advertising because it was a sexy industry at the time. I’ve won awards, and, amongst other things, produced a CD which went triple platinum: The World’s Best Beer Songs. I left advertising due to a lack of data, and certainly a lack of people around me at the time who knew what to do with it. I had a brief stint running my own business which then got bought out, so I stuck around with the new owner for three very successful years but hankered to run my own thing again, so started Beyond. I’m hanging on to the title group CEO because I’m one of the few owners of the company, unemployable anywhere else.

What impact has the pandemic had on demand from your clients?

The next 12 months have been widely tipped as the year of data and digital transformation. COVID has accelerated digital agendas, so now is the time to start embedding the changes and leveraging data assets. It is therefore unsurprising that we have seen a lot of interest in our services, particularly as we have a long track record in delivering significant performance improvements.

Do you get a seat at your clients’ strategic discussions? If not, what will it take to get you there?

Always. If you work in data and have ever heard of and believe in the butterfly effect, you will know that when we do something the impact will not only be felt by the part of the organisation we are helping to fly, but the rest of the organisation could also potentially benefit from the same work and insight. We recently rebranded as “Beyond” because we do just that, go beyond. To help organisations fully leverage our work, we need to have a seat at the table – getting there requires trust and getting to know their businesses incredibly well.

What are your key areas of focus for the business in 2022?

Delivering results for the organisations we work with, and ramping up to meet their increasing needs and demands for more data talent. Grappling with the metaverse and what that means for us and particularly advances in data visualisation. The future of regulation – particularly for our AML (anti-money laundering) division and the cryptocurrencies / VASPs we are working with.

How do you apply your leadership skills a) within your own business and b) on behalf of your clients?

At Beyond we operate the flattest possible structure, whilst also recognising decisions need to be made, and ultimate accountability falls to me as group CEO. Internally I’m known for just rolling up my sleeves, mucking in and cracking on. Our industry can be viewed as being very STEM focused, but people make any business, so creating a culture that enables us all to thrive and deliver exceptional results for our clients is of paramount importance. For our clients, it is all about the results, and often that requires brutally honest conversations about separating what is merely interesting insight from what is meaningful and will make a difference to results.

What key skills or attributes do you consider have contributed to your success in this role?

Passion for what we do, and my core belief that, when used correctly, insight from data can create a better future.

How did you develop – and continue to develop – these skills or attributes?

Rolling up my sleeves and getting involved in our clients’ businesses to build first-hand knowledge. Keeping one eye constantly on the future, particularly on emerging trends and technologies. Learning from the youngest talent in Beyond and our client’s businesses.

How do you ensure that your proposition keeps pace with your clients’ goals and requirements so that you are leading rather than lagging their demands?

We have very strong relationships with our clients and most of our existing clients are in at least their second year of working with us. We are in constant conversation with them and are a part of their strategic growth, often being involved in their AGMs. This collaborative approach helps further our collective agendas.

Paul Alexander
has been included in:

100 Enablers 2022 (EMEA)

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