Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
An accomplished IT and security leader with over 26 years of experience across the legal and financial sectors, including significant exposure to a private equity-backed organisation. Proven track record in driving IT and security strategies within highly regulated environments, particularly SaaS and financial services businesses. Possesses strong operational and strategic leadership skills in IT service management, leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Agile and ITIL best practices to deliver measurable business outcomes. Demonstrated expertise in leading transformational change initiatives with a data-driven approach, improving operational efficiency, resilience and regulatory compliance. Dedicated to continuous improvement, creatively applying automation to reduce risk, optimise workflows and enhance client experience. A collaborative executive team member, consistently aligning IT and security strategy with business objectives to deliver scalable, secure and high-performing systems. Committed to delivering tangible results, from conception through to completion, always with a focus on value creation for the business, clients and colleagues. Key Achievements SOC 2 Compliance: Successfully achieved SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 attestation following rigorous KPMG assessments, strengthening client trust and demonstrating robust security maturity in highly regulated SaaS environments. ISO 27001 Accreditation: Led the implementation of ISO 27001 standards, achieving consecutive KPMG accreditation, ensuring the business maintains industry-leading security practices and regulatory compliance. Private Equity Management Buyout: Served as an executive team member in a strategic company management buyout with a private equity partner, aligning IT and operational strategy to support sustainable business growth and investor confidence. ITIL & Agile Implementation: Introduced ITIL-based service management practices within an Agile framework, increasing operational efficiency, enhancing service delivery and driving measurable business value across IT and customer-facing functions. Cloud Transformation: Successfully migrated private cloud infrastructure to public cloud-native services, improving system security, scalability, performance and operational control to support SaaS delivery in a financial services context. Team Recognition: Finalist in the Solihull BID Awards for exceptional teamwork and consistently achieved ‘3-star’ Best Companies rating, showcasing leadership in building high-performing, engaged and resilient teams.
Senior Leadership | IT & Cyber Strategy Lead the effective and efficient operation of the Fund’s IT and Digital function, ensuring the provision of high-performing, customer-focused technology services that support employees, employers and members, aligned to the Fund’s strategic objectives. Responsible for the strategic planning, design and delivery of IT infrastructure, business systems, networks, applications and enterprise platforms. Ensure service performance and service level requirements are met through strong governance, ITIL-aligned delivery and robust operational management. Accountable for all technology services utilised by the Fund, including in-house systems, hardware, networks, third-party supplied services, outsourced operations and end-user devices. Lead the Fund’s Cyber Security strategy, ensuring resilient arrangements for information security, IT business continuity, disaster recovery and cyber assurance. Ensure compliance with Data Protection legislation and maintain a strong IT control framework aligned to audit and regulatory requirements. Define and deliver the roadmap for automation and Artificial Intelligence, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and service delivery while ensuring appropriate governance and ethical application. Oversee delivery of IT-related projects and provide strategic input to business initiatives requiring technology enablement, ensuring integration, compatibility and risk considerations are managed effectively.
Chief Information Officer | Driving IT & Security Transformation Promoted to lead IT and security strategy during a critical period of organisational growth and operational transformation at Phoebus, a SaaS business providing solutions to clients in highly regulated financial services. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the private equity-backed board, I aligned IT strategy with business objectives to streamline operations, enable scalable and resilient systems, provide operational resilience to our SaaS clients, and deliver measurable business value. I optimised IT investments, fostered innovation, reduced operational bottlenecks and improved service delivery. Led cross-functional IT and Customer Services teams, implementing robust infrastructure, application development and cybersecurity programmes. Introduced comprehensive incident response plans and governance frameworks, strengthening organisational resilience and safeguarding critical assets. Key Achievements: Cybersecurity & Compliance: Achieved multi-year SOC 2 (Type I & II) attestation and ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation; led GDPR compliance programme, mitigating regulatory risk and reinforcing client trust. Strategic Leadership: Key executive in a management buy-out with a private equity partner, providing trusted leadership through transformative business decisions. Secured the SDLC and built a formal GRC program, creating the continuous control framework that achieved and sustained SOC 2 attestation and ISO 27001 certification. Cloud & Infrastructure Transformation: Migrated to public cloud-native services, improving performance by 40% and cutting annual infrastructure costs by 20%. AI Innovation & Client Engagement: Implemented AI-driven self-help solution, reducing support tickets and boosting client engagement and satisfaction scores. Competencies: Board Advisory | SaaS | Security Architecture | DevSecOps | PKI | NIST | DLP | FCA | PRA | STRIDE | CQUEST | Resilience | GRC | DORA
Senior Executive Leadership | IT Strategy & Operational Excellence Member of the senior executive team, providing decisive leadership in IT strategy, operations and efficiency improvement. Directly reported to the CEO, ensuring transparency, alignment of IT initiatives with corporate objectives and data-driven decision-making at the executive level. Accountable for oversight of the annual operational budget, optimising resource allocation to support organisational goals and deliver measurable business outcomes. Key Achievements: Operational Excellence: Addressed inconsistent IT processes, slow delivery and service reliability issues by introducing and executing the ITIL framework within an Agile environment. Increased IT team productivity by 25%, improved customer satisfaction scores by 30% and implemented robust release management processes that reduced failure rates by 90%, ensuring faster, more reliable service delivery. Team Building & Engagement: Tackled workforce motivation and retention challenges by fostering a high-performance culture. Consistently achieved Best Companies ‘3-star’ award for world-class team engagement and was a finalist in the Solihull BID awards for exceptional team leadership, strengthening team stability and organisational capability. Competencies IT & Security Strategy | Digital Transformation & Change | Private Equity | Risk & Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, GRC) | SaaS Platform Scalability & Resilience | Cloud Architecture (AWS / Azure) | DevSecOps | IT Governance | Business Continuity & Resilience | Vendor & Cost Optimisation | Board & Investor Advisory | Security Architecture | DevSecOps | PKI | NIST | DLP | CIS | FCA | PRA | STRIDE Threat Modelling | CQUEST | AI | FinTech | Mortgage Servicing | Savings Platforms | Loan Management | Originations | UK Financial Services Software
Chief Operating Officer (Secondment) | Operational Leadership & Transformation During a transitional period for the business, seconded into the Chief Operating Officer role to provide continuity, leadership and operational stability. Directly reported to the CEO, ensuring executive oversight of operations, alignment with strategic priorities and effective decision-making. Oversaw the operational budget, optimised costs and drove top-to-bottom process efficiency improvements. Introduced and embedded an ERP framework to streamline workflows, enhance visibility across business functions and strengthen data-driven decision-making. Maintained high levels of client service and supported the executive team through structural and operational change. Key Achievements: Operational Continuity & Stability: Addressed risks of disruption during organisational transition by providing decisive leadership and maintaining operational performance. Ensured continuity of client services and internal processes, preserving revenue and stakeholder confidence. ERP Implementation & Integration: Championed the introduction of a unified ERP system to centralise business operations, improve reporting accuracy and increase cross-departmental efficiency. Delivered stronger governance, better financial control and a scalable foundation for future growth. Cost Management & Efficiency: Tackled inefficiencies and rising operational costs by implementing a comprehensive top-to-bottom process review. Optimised workflows and resource allocation, improving operational efficiency, reducing unnecessary spend and increasing overall organisational productivity. Strategic Alignment: Resolved misalignment between delivery functions and business priorities by redesigning operational workflows and KPIs, ensuring resources and teams were fully aligned with strategic goals.
A key member of the central management team, responsible for driving the successful implementation of cutting-edge technologies and strategic initiatives to bolster the firm’s operational capabilities and deliver exceptional client services. Reporting to the IT Manager, I planned, designed, and implemented complex IT and network solutions, ensuring reliability, scalability, and security across the firm. Led cross-functional teams, including network and IT functions, and applied and led the implementation of a large VMware virtualization project and other technologies to optimise infrastructure, reduce costs, and accelerate service delivery. Delivered comprehensive technical support and strategic guidance, aligning IT initiatives with business objectives and enabling seamless, resilient operations. Key Achievements: Technology Implementation & Operational Impact: Successfully deployed advanced IT solutions to improve operational efficiency, system performance, and service delivery. VMware & Infrastructure Optimisation: Led VMware implementation to consolidate servers, optimise resources, reduce capital expenditure, and enable faster application deployment. Strategic Leadership: As a central management team member, contributed to key strategic initiatives, aligning IT capabilities with business growth objectives and operational resilience. Security & Compliance: Strengthened infrastructure security, implemented robust governance, and ensured compliance with relevant standards.
Overseen the management of both hardware and software components, either through direct maintenance or by leveraging manufacturer warranties.
Providing second-line technical support to a diverse user base of over 200 individuals. Proficient in offering comprehensive PC support encompassing efficient installation and troubleshooting services.