Pivotl People

JULIA GLIDDEN

Chair

The former Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector for Microsoft where she oversaw a global redesign and restructuring of the Corporation’s global Public Sector go-to-market model.

An internationally recognised expert on Digital Government, Dr. Glidden specialises in identifying and piloting emerging technologies such as Data, AI and Cloud in the GovTech space. Julia pioneered the concept of Cognitive Government and has delivered many of Europe’s leading innovation projects. She is currently serving as an expert advisor to the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the European Commission.

In addition to being named in Apolitical’s inaugural list of the Top 100 most influential people in digital government, Julia was recognised as one of the Top 40 GovTech Influencers in the 2019 e-Governance Global Industry Landscape Overview.

SACHA ROOK

President

A technology pioneer with instinctive commercial acumen, Sacha is an experienced leader in the technology services space.

In 2017 Sacha co-founded The Panoply, which from its hubs in the UK, Bulgaria and Oslo, 600 team members deliver Design, Software, Cloud and Data services to global clients across multiple sectors including media, government, energy, financial services and logistics.

Before this Sacha led the transformation of Methods Group from a £30 million recruitment business to a £100 million professional services company delivering technology services to the UK Government. Clients included ONS, Companies House, Home Office, BIS, DWP and Cabinet Office.

Prior to his entrepreneurial career Sacha operated as a CTO in global logistics firms, financial services and government.

JESSICA FIGUERAS

Non-Exec Director

Jessica is a strategist specialising in digital trust, cybersecurity and governance, and the role of tech in civil society.

She advises UK government on technology and policy issues relating to cybersecurity and online safety, and works with technology companies on strategy and leadership. She is a sought-after speaker and commentator, and was named one of Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech (2022 and 2021) and a Women in IT Awards finalist (2022).

Previously Jessica led multi-million pound research and data programmes for companies including Dods, GlobalData and Ovum. She has published extensive research on the application of emerging technologies across government, telecoms and other regulated industries, and has advised senior executives in large established tech companies as well as many VC-backed scaleups.

Jessica is Vice Chair of the Board and a founding trustee at the UK Cyber Security Council. Between 2017-2021 she was Chair of the Board at NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and inclusivity, with a practical track record participating in and leading civil society projects, and equality and diversity having led initiatives at scale.

JAMES HERBERT

Chief Executive Officer

James is an entrepreneur specialising in starting and scaling modern software and technology services businesses.

In 2017 James co-founded The Panoply which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2018. Now over 600 people strong, The Panoply delivers Design, Software, Cloud and Data services to global clients across multiple sectors including media, government, energy, financial services and logistics.

Prior to his entrepreneurial career James played a leading role in many of the most significant data and technology initiatives in the UK Government. He worked in the Cabinet Office team that designed the G Cloud procurement framework, co-wrote the world’s first national Government Cloud Strategy and developed the data model underpinning the NCA.

STUART ARTHUR

Chief Technology Officer

Stuart combines his deep technical knowledge, commercial acumen and leadership expertise to solve complex data and cloud challenges and build high performing teams.

Stuart is an entrepreneur, strategic technology leader (CTO, CIO, or VP of Engineering),and hands-on technologist. In other words Stuart is that rarest of people – combining an unusual balance of broad and deep technical knowledge, commercial acumen and astuteness, leadership and people expertise. Stuart was recently listed in the CIO 100 list and in the top 5 CIOs in the BCS IT Awards.

He has founded several technology product and services businesses, most recently selling his cloud and software engineering business to listed consultancy TPXimpact. Working for TPXimpact as CTO, he consolidated several technology teams into a coherent division, rapidly scaled the team to provide end-to-end technology services, steered the attainment of a Microsoft Gold partnership, and established an academy model.

Stuart thrives in an environment where authenticity, expertise and delivery excellence pervade. As well as his technology services experience, Stuart has worked in-house as a CTO and CIO in financial services, utilities, and government, and for global data product businesses – he has lived experiences and grappled with the problems faced by our clients.

He has a strong network across South Wales and is actively involved in means by which underserved people can access career opportunities via technology. Stuart has chaired steering groups for the Government, set up coding masterclasses, and led technology academies.

HONOR PADDOCK

Chief Marketing Officer

Honor is a strategic marketing expert, who thrives on building distinctive brands that put the customer at the heart of what they do.

She has spent 20+ years in marketing roles in B2B, B2C and B2E in a range of businesses from global firms with multiple group brands, to start up SMEs. In that time she has worked for three technology service start ups and one technology product company and have created propositions, brands and messaging for all four.

More recently Honor has been running her own marketing consultancy helping businesses across multiple industries define and deliver value to their customers.