Ash Dhupar, Chief AI & Data Officer, Honeywell Aerospace

[…] stepping into organizations where ambition outpaced the supporting data and AI foundations. Ash has worked across a diverse set of industries, including aerospace and defense, semiconductors, healthcare, technology, retail, and media. Through these experiences, Ash developed an early perspective that advanced analytics initiatives fail when treated as technical upgrades rather than broader operating model […]

Anu Bedi, VP Measurement, Insights, Data and Analytics, LinkedIn

[…] efforts to modernize how marketing performance is measured, understood, and activated through data and AI. Her career has been shaped at the intersection of marketing, data, and technology, with a consistent focus on turning complexity into clear, actionable insights. Anu began her career in analytics and insights, developing a strong belief that data only […]

Editorial, News

The End of AI Theatrics – What Data and AI Leaders Must Prove in 2026

[…] of day-to-day adoption. Put simply, many businesses are too invested to ignore AI but are not yet mature enough to depend on it fully. Hybrid tech is the norm The technology stack itself reflects this tension. AI is now widespread across enterprise environments, but there is little sign of consensus as most organisations are not betting on a […]

Illustrative. 3D honeycomb pattern with some hexagons lit up

Insight

How to Scale Agentic AI: Top Five Priorities for Data and AI Leaders

[…] deployment cycles. Scaling agentic AI without redesigning roles, accountability and skill development risks slowing adoption regardless of technical performance. A shift in operating model, not just technology Agentic AI introduces new operating assumptions. It requires lifecycle governance, engineering depth, cost discipline and deliberate workforce adaptation. The organisations that succeed will not be those […]

Steph Bell, Director of Analytics, Sainsbury’s

Steph Bell is Director of Analytics at Sainsbury’s, leading a multidisciplinary team of analysts, data scientists and visualisation specialists at the centre of one of the UK’s largest retail groups. Her remit spans Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat, and Tu, where analytics underpins decisions that shape the experience of millions of customers each day. Steph began her career in analytics […]

Maddie Amos, Head of Data Governance, The Crown Estate

Maddie Amos is Head of Data Governance at The Crown Estate and a member of its data leadership team, where she helps shape strategy, governance and engagement across a historic yet evolving organisation. Recognised in the 2025 DataIQ Future Leaders List, she is known for combining strategic intent with practical delivery as The Crown Estate strengthens its […]

Luca Piccolo, Data Transformation Manager, Intact Insurance

Luca Piccolo is Data Transformation Manager at Intact Insurance, part of Intact Financial Group, where he works within the Data and AI transformation function to embed new technologies and ways of working into the fabric of the organisation. He was shortlisted, alongside his team, for New Ways of Working with Data (Europe) at the DataIQ Awards, reflecting […]

Insight

Agentic AI: The Six Biggest Deployment Challenges

[…] Where initiatives progress, leaders tie them to visible, costly problems and model value conservatively rather than promising transformational ROI. 5. Culture and skills are slowing adoption more than technology The challenge of adoption is often underestimated. Fear of job loss, mistrust of opaque systems and low decision literacy all limit uptake. In some cases, usage plateaus even when AI tools […]

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 […]