Neil Ward-Dutton

Research VP, Agentic Automation & AI Technologies

London, England, United Kingdom

About

I've been a technology industry analyst for 30 years, and through all that time I've been passionate about helping organisations get real business benefits from the investments they want to make in technology. I love technology, and I've seen it used to amazing effect - but I hate waste, and I've seen so many organisations waste their investments. Since I left software development for a career in industry research in 1995, my focus has always been on enterprise software tools and platforms. In running my own industry analyst firm for 13 years I learned valuable business development and marketing skills (as well as skills I'm happy to leave behind, primarily relating to cashflow management and procurement). At IDC I'm honoured to lead a fantastic team of European analysts who research and advise on AI, business automation, analytics and data platform technologies and trends.

Experience

  • IDC (Full-time · 6 mos)
    • Research VP, Agentic Automation & AI Technologies
      Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Research VP, Global Enterprise AI and Agentic AI Strategies
      Jan 2026 - Apr 2026 · 4 mos

  • Fellow at The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)
    Jan 2018 - Present · 8 yrs 6 mos

  • VP Automation, Analytics & AI Europe at IDC Europe
    Dec 2018 - Jan 2026 · 7 yrs 2 mos

  • Research Director at MWD Advisors
    Feb 2005 - Nov 2018 · 13 yrs 10 mos

    Playing a lead role in growing a technology advisory firm in Europe focused on showing how Digital technology changes work. As well as running an independent industry research program (publishing at www.mwdadvisors.com), MWD Advisors provides a range of advisory, consulting and training services.

  • Ovum Ltd (9 yrs 4 mos)
    • Director, Technology Practices
      Oct 2003 - Feb 2005 · 1 yr 5 mos

      Directing Ovum's team of technology-focused market analysts, setting global research agenda, account development with strategic Ovum clients / prospects. Responsible for staff management and $ multi-million revenue target from research contracts, analyst engagements and consulting projects.

    • Various senior Analyst positions
      Nov 1995 - Oct 2003 · 8 yrs

      A variety of Analyst roles at Ovum - developing and communicating market/tech expertise in application development, middleware, application integration, service delivery platforms, mobile middleware, mobile enterprise applications, web services - and more. All roles depended heavily on strong research, relationship building and communication skills