Robert Barbour, Data Integration & Insights Director, Travis Perkins PLC

[…] perceived cost centre?’ “I recommend that aspiring data leaders remain proactive in their stakeholder engagement, listening intently, honing their storytelling skills, and staying current with the rapid advancements in technology and AI. This ensures you can always provide an art of the possible perspective when solving modern business challenges. “Furthermore, aspiring leaders should be dedicated people developers, committed […]

Simon Ferriter, Chief Executive Officer, Anmut Consulting

[…] closely with executive teams to turn data into intelligence, build investment cases, inform operational decisions and shape board-level strategic bets. He also saw first-hand the limitations and risks of technology-first transformation approaches that failed to deliver sustainable value for shareholders or stakeholders. It was during this time that Simon met Herman, the founder of Anmut, whose vision of a […]

Denholm Hesse, Chief Data Officer, BDO

[…] answers and demonstrate expertise in every conversation. I’ve learned that truly understanding the problem by listening without planning your response is far more valuable than showcasing technical knowledge. “Secondly, embrace consistency over heroics. There’s a temptation in data leadership to chase the shiny new technology or tackle only the most complex, visible challenges. But sustained impact comes from showing up consistently, doing the unglamorous work, and building trust through reliability.”

Damien Judge, Head of Data & Analytics, RBS International

[…] with the organisation and keeps customer needs at its core. He places strong emphasis on engagement and change leadership, believing that successful transformation depends as much on people and culture as it does on technology. Damien also serves as a Non-Executive Director, supporting a high-performance consultancy and several smaller businesses to design and deliver effective data solutions.

Morgan Rees, Head of Enterprise Data Analytics, Capgemini Invent UK

Morgan Rees is Head of Enterprise Data Analytics at Capgemini Invent UK, where he leads the firm’s work in delivering practical, high-impact data and AI solutions. His career began with an engineering degree and an early role in the defence industry, which first exposed him to the use of data in a commercial and operational […]

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

[…] my organisation because it turns insight into momentum. “Finally, effective leaders build decision systems, not data estates. In Beyond, the most impactful skill has been aligning data, technology, incentives and governance around a small number of high-value decisions. That’s where AI delivers – not in labs, but in the messy reality of how organisations behave. Reflecting on your […]

Sebastien Verchere, Vice President / AI Strategic Initiatives Lead, Volvo AB

[…] technical roles at AKEOPLUS, WirelessCar, Renault Trucks, and Dassault Systèmes. He began his career as a software engineer and test engineer, building a strong technical foundation that continues to shape his pragmatic, delivery-focused leadership style. Sebastien holds an engineering degree in Information Technology from ISITV and is recognised for translating AI ambition into scalable, business-relevant outcomes.

Johanna Hutchinson, Group Chief Data Officer, BAE Systems

[…] highly regulated, mission-critical environments. Appointed to this newly created role in August 2023, she leads enterprise data, analytics and AI from BAE Systems’ global headquarters, reporting to the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. Her remit focuses on strengthening operational performance, resilience and strategic decision-making across a 90,000-strong workforce within a FTSE 50 manufacturing organisation. Before joining BAE Systems, […]

Pankaj Arora, Group Director of Analytics & Decision Science, SAGA PLC

[…] are judgment, commercial ownership of outcomes, and the ability to drive last-mile activation. “Judgement is foundational. Data leaders operate in environments shaped by constraints such as tight investment, legacy technology, regulatory oversight, and competing priorities. Knowing what to prioritise, what to stop, and when to move fast versus slow matters more than technical sophistication alone. In […]

Miriam Vizvary, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, RS Group

Miriam Vizvary is Chief Data and Analytics Officer at RS Group, with a career spanning the full evolution of data from niche technical capability to a core driver of business strategy. She began her career as a data analyst at a software vendor, learning ETL development and spending over a decade building and managing data warehouses, primarily […]

Ryan Moore, Director of Data, The Guardian

[…] readers. Since joining The Guardian in November 2024, Ryan’s remit has expanded to include enterprise AI. He partners with the colleagues across innovation, policy, training and the broader group technology function in guiding the organisation’s ethical adoption of Enterprise AI tools and capabilities in line with The Guardian’s principles and approach to AI. This value without […]

Steven Blunden, Head of Data & Analytics, IAG Cargo

[…] requires a combination of stakeholder fluency, technical judgment, governance, and trust-building. While advocating for scalable architecture and strong governance is essential, businesses ultimately value outcomes and not just elegant technology. This creates a dual responsibility: championing robust foundations while enabling delivery of high-impact solutions. “Equally critical is building trust and shared accountability for data quality. Great […]

Sid Shah, VP Data & Analytics, International, Live Nation Entertainment

[…] operating models in environments where levels of data maturity, regulation, and commercial pressure differ significantly. Those contrasts have informed a view of data leadership grounded less in technology and more in decision-making, trust and organisational confidence. Early roles in highly regulated environments highlighted the importance of strong governance, where risk management and brand trust are non-negotiable […]

Russell Barton, EMEA Data Governance & Projects Manager, Starbucks EMEA

[…] strong grounding in how large financial services organisations operate. He then moved into project and programme management, delivering a wide range of initiatives spanning organisational restructures, HR programmes, technology platform implementations and regulatory reporting. Over time, his work became increasingly focused on data. He led data-centred projects including large-scale audit remediation, where improved visibility into data quality […]

Rohit Dhawan, Director and Group Head of AI, Lloyds Banking Group

[…] cross-functional teams delivering AI-led transformation programmes across banking, retail, and telecommunications. During this period, he developed a practical ability to translate advanced models into outcomes that commercial, risk, and technology leaders could support, and to design operating models that allow AI solutions to endure beyond pilot phases. Rohit later joined Amazon Web Services as Regional Head […]

Peter Laflin, Director of Data & Analytics (CDO), Morrisons Supermarkets

Peter Laflin is Director of Data and Analytics (Chief Data Officer) at Morrisons Supermarkets, where he leads the company’s group-wide data capability with a strong focus on commercial value and customer impact. He began his career teaching maths and computing to adults, developing an early strength in translating complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences. As […]

Perry Philipp, Chief Data Officer, Entain

[…] in clarity, pace and trust, particularly in high-stakes environments where technical excellence alone is insufficient. As a data leader, Perry views his role as fundamentally about people. He believes technology is an enabler, but lasting value comes from capability building, clear accountability and operating models that make responsible data use the default. At Entain, he places strong […]

Paola Cagliani, Group Chief Data and AI Officer, Admiral

[…] performance well before AI became mainstream. This perspective proved critical during her time as European CIO and CDO at Admiral, where success depended on abstracting away from technology choices and focusing relentlessly on solving core business problems. Today, as Group Chief Data and AI Officer, Paola leads the delivery of a unified data platform […]

Osman Peermamode, Director, Data & Analytics, Vodafone

Osman Peermamode is Director of Data and Analytics at Vodafone, where he leads the global data, AI and cloud strategy across a highly complex, multinational organisation. He brings extensive experience across telecommunications, technology, and finance, with a track record of driving large-scale business transformation through data-driven strategies. Osman began his career as an engineer, grounding him in how systems operate in practice and how […]

Mateus Morato Fantini, Chief AI & Innovation Officer, Informa PLC

[…] most, and which of those have been most influential for you in your current position? “I’d put systems thinking at the top—the practical ability to see how technology, data, people, incentives and governance fit together. You can build technically brilliant solutions that go nowhere because you missed one of these pieces. “At Informa, three […]