Top CIOs, CDOs and CTOs in UK transport and distribution

Michael Ibbistonhas added a range of new responsibilities to his role since he was appointed EVP of Technology and Infrastructure at Dubai Airports in 2016. His job has extended from just the technology function to cover the entire infrastructure of the airport, the company’s engineering services and its energy management team, which is using data analytics to help reach a target of cutting energy consumption by 20%.

In June, the CIO 100 high-flyer told the CIO UK podcast that he aimed to use technology to give his team the space to focus on the passenger experience.

“We went through a big technology team transformation over the last couple of years,” he said. “And about 30% of our staff who really weren’t focused on anything related to passengers or aeroplanes have been moved into roles now, where they work on software development for partner and customer facing systems and things like data analytics, and dashboarding, and real-time data platforms and real-time alerting to improve the operation.”

Dubai is the third airport worldwide and the second in the United Arab Emirates where Ibbitson has worked, following four year spells as CIO of Gatwick Airport and VP of IT at the Abu Dhabi Airports Company. His CV also includes stints as an IT Manager at construction giant Bechtel and Indian conglomerate GVK.

Read next: CIO UK podcast episode 19 – Digital transformation with Cancer Research UK CIO Tiffany Hall and Dubai Airports EVP Technology & Infrastructure Michael Ibbitson

Ash Jokhoowas appointed Virgin Atlantic CIO at the start of 2019, and promptly set about supporting the company’s growth strategy by aligning his tech team with the rest of the business to tie up IT and commercial ambitions.

Jokhoo also aims to offer customers a more personalised service through the Virgin mobile app and at the airports, as the company delivers a new strategy under new CEO Shai Weiss.

His move to Virgin brought an end to a seven-year spell at British Gas, which culminated with a stint as CIO, during which he delivered agent webchat, AI bot-led FAQs and new skills on Alexa, while upgrading the CRM and billing systems in Ireland.

Jokhoo’s previous roles include spells as Transformation Director at TalkTalk, Director of Service Delivery at Tiscali UK, and Director of Service Management at BT Global Services.

Read next: Mayank Prakash joins Centrica as Ash Jokhoo moves to Virgin Atlantic

Andrew Jordanjoined CWT (Carlson Wagonlit Travel) in March 2016 as Chief Product and Technology Officer, taking responsibility for the tech behind the travel management company’s connected, mobile and personalised services, and its end-to-end product development lifecycle and innovation.

Jordan worked at a range of industries prior to joining CWT, including NBCUniversal, Thomson Reuters and Citigroup, where he first encountered CWT.

“We were a CWT client, and the only interaction I ever had with CWT as a traveller was when I got a little envelope with my airline tickets in it, and then I was on my way. That was it,” Jordan told CIO UK.

“A lot of what we’ve done in the past three years is to rethink that and say, forget the transactions for a second, what does the experience mean? How do you make the traveller experience the best it can be?”

Read next: CWT Chief Product and Technology Officer Andrew Jordan wants to personalise the business travel experience

Alison FitzGeraldwas appointed Chief Operating Officer at London City Airport in October 2016, having joined the airport as its first CIO in January 2014. Her recent focus has been on maximising flight and passenger numbers through a combination of data, analytics and business intelligence.

Her CV also includes several senior IT roles at the Financial Times, culminating in a two-year stint as CIO, and a 16-year spell as a senior manager for Abbey Plc.

Read next: London City Airport COO Alison FitzGerald video interview – Digital innovation tower

Eddie Stobard CIO John Court joined the transportation giant in 2014 and has recently been leading a comprehensive digital transformation of the company, from refreshing its back office IT estate to overhauling the telematics system used by its vehicles.

Court has also served as COO at Masternaut, Senior Vice President of Global Solutions at CEVA Logistics, CIO & Director for UK & Ireland at TNT, and as the owner and director of his own company, John Court Consulting.

Read next: Eddie Stobart CIO John Court on how IoT, blockchain and AI are transforming transport and logistics

CIO 100regular Ian Cohen joined minicab firm Addison Lee in July 2017, combining the roles of Group CIO and Chief Product and Technology Officer and taking responsibility for transforming the IT between the company’s shift from a ride and allocation model focused on journey optimisation, to a customer-focused “mobility as a service” strategy.

Prior to joining Addision Lee, Cohen worked as a non-executive director and advisor for various companies, a managing director at Lumen 360, Group CIO at Jardine Lloyd Thomson Group, CIO at Associated Newspapers and a Global IT Director at the Financial Times.

Read next: Addison Lee CIO Ian Cohen on following your passions and why there is no such thing as a startup way

Seth Profitis CIO, Managing Director for Intech, Group Sales Director and a board member at B&H Worldwide, where he is responsible for aligning the logistics company’s technology vision with the overall business strategy, while leading the global sales growth and marketing functions alongside its CEO.

Prior to joining B&H Worldwide in April 2014, Profit spent seven years as a senior managing consultant at IBM and three years as the director of international business development at Jackson Products.

When Chris Ashworth was appointed CIO at Hermes UK in April 2016 he began a three-year replatforming of the parcel distributor aimed at putting mobile and web-based products in the hands of staff, improving the customer experience and future-proofing business growth.

Prior to joining Hermes UK, Ashworth worked as an IT director at Genting Casinos and YodelXL, a director of integrated systems and operations and head of IT operations and infrastructure at Home Delivery Network Limited and a Head of IT at Thomas Cook Group.

Stuart Birrellwas appointed CIO at Heathrow Airports in June 2015 and has since gone on to rearchitect the IT operating model, lead a digital transformation programme centred on developing workforce capability through busininess intelligence and collaboration tools, and overhaul the airport’s cyber security strategy.

Birrell has also served as CIO at McLaren Group and at Gatwick Airport, as Vice President for IT in Europe at Acco Brands Europe, and a systems operations controller at PepsiCo International.

Read next: Heathrow Airport CIO Stuart Birrell’s new IT operating model delivering digital workplace and business innovation