Interim CTO – IT Strategy, Data & AI

We are currently supporting a Trading client with their search for an Interim CTO to help shape the next phase of their internal technology evolution. This role will sit across enterprise IT strategy, internal data and visualisation capabilities, and the practical adoption of AI across the business. The mandate is to assess the current environment, define a clear technology roadmap, and accelerate the build-out of scalable, secure and intuitive internal systems that support a fast-growing, highly automated trading firm. Objectives in first 3–6 months • Assess the current enterprise technology estate, operating model and priorities. • Define a clear IT strategy aligned to the firm’s next stage of growth across multiple offices. • Review internal data architecture, reporting and dashboarding capability; identify where management information and operational visibility need to improve. • Build a prioritised roadmap for data visualisation / internal decision-support tools. • Identify and launch a small number of practical AI use cases with measurable value. • Introduce lightweight governance around architecture, security, tooling and delivery priorities. Responsibilities • Lead a rapid diagnostic of the firm’s enterprise and internal technology landscape. • Create a 12–24 month technology strategy covering internal platforms, end-user tooling, data, AI and governance. • Partner with engineering, research, operations and leadership to translate business needs into practical technology priorities. • Oversee the design and/or improvement of internal dashboards, data products and visualisation tools for leadership and business teams. • Define an AI strategy focused on productivity, workflow automation, knowledge access, analytics and responsible adoption. • Ensure internal systems are scalable, intuitive, secure and well-governed. • Recommend target operating model, team structure and capability gaps. • Support vendor assessments where external platforms can accelerate delivery. • Create momentum quickly: prototypes where useful, production plans where necessary. Candidate DNA. • served as CTO, Chief Architect, Head of Technology Strategy, Head of Data Platform, or Transformation CTO in a complex, high-performance environment • experience in financial services, systematic trading, hedge funds, market infrastructure, or similar data-heavy low-latency environment • real credibility in enterprise architecture and internal technology strategy • strong experience building internal data products/visualisation capability • a practical track record in AI adoption inside a regulated or data-sensitive business