Location
UKRate
$60
/ per hour
Years of experience
20+About
As a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with a strong focus on AI and data science, I have over 20 years of experience leading technology teams and driving innovation in various sectors. My career includes leadership roles at notable organizations such as the BBC, Home Office, and Ministry of Defence, as well as several successful start-ups. I specialize in creating and executing technology roadmaps that foster growth and innovation while maintaining sound governance and cybersecurity practices. My ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences ensures that I can communicate complex concepts clearly to stakeholders. In my recent role at WebMechanix, I led the development of innovative advertising systems that have raised over $8 million for charity while delivering superior engagement for advertisers. I have a hands-on approach, combining strategic leadership with operational expertise, including team management, product development, and AI integration. I also contributed to projects focusing on sustainability in digital advertising, carbon measurement, and workflow automation, all of which reflect my passion for using technology to make a positive impact.Tech Stack
Management, AWS, Azure, C#, C++, CSS, Elasticsearch, Git, Github, HTML, Java, JavaScript, Jenkins, MongoDB, PHP, Project Management, Project Planning, Python, SQLExperience
- Led product and technology teams at WebMechanix, delivering innovative advertising systems with near-zero downtime, and building a high-functioning team with high morale and low churn.
- Integrated AI decision systems into the advertising ecosystem, achieving challenging technical requirements such as 100ms response times, contributing to business success.
- Collaborated with finance on strategic planning and product margins, driving operational efficiency through automation and streamlined workflows.
- Developed SoDash, an AI-driven social media analysis tool that grew to £500,000 annual recurring revenue, used by high-profile clients such as Harrods and Virgin Trains.
- Provided fractional CTO services for start-ups, helping them establish and grow their technology teams and processes, contributing to successful exits (e.g., ZoneFox and FitBits for Cows).
- Led sustainability initiatives by developing carbon measurement and reduction tools for the advertising industry, driving action towards climate change solutions.
- Specialized in AI and data science, working hands-on with code and dev-ops, blending strategic planning with hands-on development for both large enterprises and start-ups.
Employment history
CTO, WebMechanix
April 2016 - Present
- Led product and technology teams, delivering innovative advertising systems with near-zero downtime.
- Established operational processes to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
- Collaborated with the finance team on strategy and product margins, automating operations to reduce costs.
- Integrated AI decision systems into the advertising ecosystem, meeting challenging technical requirements such as 100ms response times.
- Developed carbon measurement and reduction tools for the advertising industry, contributing to sustainability efforts.
Director, The Virtual Forge
March 2008 - April 2016
- Provided AI consultancy for large and small organizations, including Harrods, the BBC, and the Ministry of Defence.
- Served as a fractional CTO for several successful start-ups, including ZoneFox, Buddhify, and QikServe.
- Led R&D projects, including the development of SoDash, an AI-driven social media analysis tool.
- Worked on AI projects, including CyberSecurity AI for ZoneFox and machine learning solutions for the agricultural sector (FitBits for cows).
Director and Senior AI Consultant, ThinkTank Mathematics
September 2006 - March 2008
- Led AI-driven software consultancy projects for the private sector.
- Developed solutions for optimizing workflows and processes through AI and machine learning techniques.
- Provided strategic advice to clients on the use of AI to solve complex business challenges.
- Worked with various sectors to deliver customized AI solutions to improve operational efficiency.
Software Engineer, Realtime Worlds
May 2005 - September 2006
- Developed tools using generative algorithms to enhance workflow efficiency.
- Collaborated with the development team to build scalable software solutions.
- Improved system performance by implementing optimized algorithms for key processes.
- Worked on backend development, ensuring high-quality software delivery.
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