Data Director - Data - Data Science - Strategy - Business Intelligence
Defining strategy to enable transformation and deliver maximum value through data and analytics
Profile
Innovative and passionate data director with 11+ years experience spanning multiple analytical and management roles across business intelligence, anlytics, data product delivery and data science.
Demonstrates proven track record in best in class data products
I combine technical ability with creativity and commercial awareness to create new opportunities from data.
With over 8 years’ experience working within a rapidly growing tech business, I am comfortable operating at all levels from senior management down to engineers, analysts and execs working on day to day delivery.
I work on a daily basis with members of our senior management team, but am equally as happy rolling my sleeves up in order to get things done ‘on the ground’.
My experience working both within and in support of commercial teams means I am able to balance pragmatism with foresight to deliver in both the short and long terms.
I strongly believe that data holds the key to business success and I am obsessed with unlocking its value.
Provides strategic vision and thought leadership whilst leading execution and transformation to fulfil long term plans and concepts.
Key Skills
- Strategic thinking
- Product ownership and prioritisation
- Leadership
- Team management
- Analytical approaches and planning
- SQL
- R
- SparkR
- Excel
- Hadoop/Big data tech
- Project management
- Agile delivery
Experience
Director of Business Intelligence & Data Science UKI - Flutter UKI
September 2022 to Present
Director of Business Intelligence & Data Strategy - Sky Betting & Gaming (SB&G)
July 2021 to September 2022
Head of Data and Business Intelligence - Sky Betting & Gaming (SB&G)
August 2019 to July 2021
In addition to the responsibility of my previous role, I have since taken on responsibility for leading the Business Intelligence function which includes all 3 of SB&G’s analytics teams as well as the UK arm of TSG’s research team.
It’s my responsibility to lead a highly efficient, effective and well aligned business intelligence, research and data science function that help SB&G make the right decisions.
In addition to data product responsibilities listed below, responsibilities include…
- Ensuring analytical best practises and techniques are shared between teams
- Overseeing the implementation of a development and training programme across the teams
- Employing best practice from tech delivery in order to build highly efficient analytic teams
- Build a regular comms. programme for BI to ensure key stakeholders are kept informed of new insight and learnings
Head of Product (Data) - SB&G
October 2018 to August 2019
Responsible for leading the data product strategy within SB&G’s Data Tribe, which includes the data warehousing squads, the data science squad and a squad responsible for carrying out compliance related projects (GDPR/Sarbanes Oxley).
Responsibilities included…
- Leading a team of product owners to define our data product strategy and decide how we best meet business requirements
- Coordinating early engagement and data discovery across SB&G
- Managing a team of business analysts
- Prioritising roadmap and BAU work
- Working with Head of Technology and delivery leads to ensure we deliver on schedule
- Communication to senior management
Head of Data Science - SB&G
August 2015 to October 2018
Noticing the potential to apply machine learning and data science to SB&G’s vast amounts of customer and transactional data, I set up from scratch and led the Data Science team, one of the real success stories in SBG’s ascent to become the UKs leading online bookmaker.
By championing the formation of a multi-disciplined team of data scientists, engineers and testers, and establishing a culture of empowerment, teamwork and autonomy of decision making, I’ve overseen the delivery of 80+ predictive models running in automation and at scale on Hadoop. These models now deliver in excess of £4M incremental revenue to the business p/a.
Whilst Head of Data Science I…
- Introduced the business to the potential of predictive modelling, machine learning and player segmentation
- Focused efforts on end-to-end delivery, working to Agile principles in order to deliver incremental value
- Established various academic collaborations with institutions including the Leeds Institute of Data Analytics and Lancaster University Data Science Institute
Interim Safer Gambling Programme Manager - SB&G
July 2018 to October 2018
In addition to my responsibilities as Head of Data Science, I became heavily involved in forging our early safer gambling strategy working closely with the then Managing Director of Risk and Safer Gambling.
During this time I…
- Met regularly with industry groups such as Senet Group and the RGA
- Liaised with the Gambling Commission and other regulatory bodies
- Outlined a identification and interaction strategy with machine learning and behavioural analytics at its core
- Oversaw a interaction trial in collaboration with the Behavioural Insights Team
Head of Strategy & Insight - SB&G
Feb 2015 to August 2015
Ran a large team of analysts and researchers responsible for providing insight for the entire business including the marketing, commercial and product teams.
Dealing with members of our senior management on a daily basis, I regularly presented findings to our leadership team.
During this period I…
- Oversaw segmentation of our customer base
- Facilitated the business becoming more ‘customer centric’ through access to more balanced insight and research
- Provided data support for external consultants involved in the CVC takeover of SB&G
- Oversaw econometric projects on both Bet and Gaming to drive efficiencies in media spend
Education
BSc Mathematics with Physics (University of Leeds)
2004-2007 Degree classification: 2:1 Honours
Hobbies
Outside of work I play guitar in a band who’ve enjoyed airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4 and have also played various major UK festivals. I’m keen on all sport, in particular Rugby League. I also like to re-upholster furniture.