Finding a digital transformation leader for a leading UK university

The challenge

This was a demanding transformation brief in a tight senior technology market.

The university needed someone who had already operated at IT Director level and could quickly understand its existing technology estate, infrastructure and applications. The role also required the judgement to determine what should change, where existing strategic platforms could work harder and what resources would be needed to deliver the transformation.

Technical depth was only part of the brief. The successful candidate would be working across a complex collegiate environment, building relationships with key stakeholders and influencing people through significant change.

At the centre of the transformation was the experience of around 20,000 students. The Digital Transformation Director would help shape the technology strategy supporting their journey, from initial onboarding through to accessing educational material throughout their studies.

Our approach

Denholm undertook an extensive national headhunt, beginning with research, market mapping and conversations with key contacts across the transformation market.

Defining the leadership brief

The search focused on leaders with substantial technical experience who could also operate strategically. We were looking for someone capable of assessing the existing technology environment, understanding the people and resources around it and creating a clear direction for the transformation programme.

Searching the market

Research and market mapping gave us a clear view of the relevant senior talent available nationally. We combined this with our network across technology, transformation and change to identify and engage people whose experience matched the scale and complexity of the brief.

Looking at how they would lead change

The ability to influence was central to the search. The successful candidate needed to build credibility across a complex stakeholder environment, give key sponsors clarity and take people with them through a significant programme of digital transformation.

The outcome

Denholm introduced the university to a senior technology and transformation leader with the technical knowledge, strategic perspective and stakeholder skills the role demanded.

Following their appointment as Digital Transformation Director, they led work across the university’s technology estate, infrastructure, applications and digital transformation programme.

The strongest evidence of the appointment came afterwards. Based on their performance and delivery, the Digital Transformation Director was promoted to Interim CIO and continued to lead change across the university.

Denholm perspective

“To secure the appointment of the new Digital Transformation Director, we undertook an extensive headhunt.

We started with research, market mapping and connecting with key contacts in the Transformation space. We had a definitive brief and we introduced the perfect candidate. They have since been promoted to Interim CIO, based on their exemplary performance and delivery.”

Andy MacEwan, Head of Technology, Transformation & Change, Denholm Associates

When the person you hire needs to lead the change

Transformation leadership asks for an unusual combination. Someone needs enough technical depth to understand what is happening beneath the surface, the strategic judgement to decide what comes next and the influence to bring people with them.

In this search, the subsequent promotion to Interim CIO gives us something particularly valuable: evidence of how the appointment performed once the search was over.

 

Explore the expertise behind the search

This appointment combined senior technology leadership, digital transformation and the particular complexity of change within education. Explore Denholm’s Education expertise, discover our Digital, Change & Transformation specialism, or learn more about our approach to Executive Search.

If you’re hiring someone to lead significant technology or organisational change, call us on 03303 359 818 or email connect@denholmassociates.com.

 

More questions worth asking...

What should you look for when hiring a digital transformation leader?

Start with the change they will actually be expected to lead. Technical knowledge matters, but so do strategic judgement, stakeholder influence and the ability to turn a complicated current state into a direction people can understand. The balance will depend on your organisation, its technology estate and how much change is already underway.

How do you assess whether someone can lead transformation across a complex organisation?

Look beyond the programmes listed on their CV. Explore how they have built support for change, handled competing priorities, influenced senior stakeholders and made decisions when the way forward was unclear. In a collegiate environment, the ability to create alignment can be every bit as important as knowing the technology.

When does a transformation role need a national search?

When the combination of experience, leadership and sector context significantly narrows the available market, restricting the search geographically can make an already difficult brief harder. Market mapping can show you where relevant people actually sit and whether the brief, location and proposition give you enough of a talent pool to work with.