Addressing the data dynamic – working inside and outside the corporate envelope

About

Increasing market volatility necessitates real-time management decisions based on internal and external data sources and supported by powerful analytic tools. This needs to encompass data across the entire supply chain.

Speakers and Panellists

Find out more about the speakers and our panellists

Craig Walker

Chairman | Moderator

CIONET UK

Craig graduated in the summer of 1981 from the University of Surrey with a BSc.

Hons in Chemical Engineering. He joined Shell as an IT programmer in London.

Over the next 17 years, his career in IT management progressed and saw him spend

10 years as an expatriate in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

In 1998, he moved to KPMG as an Associates Partner to learn about other

industries, cultures, and ways of working. In 2005, after what he describes as the

best 6-year training course Shell let him go on, he returned in 2005 to Shell as CIO

for the African Downstream businesses based in Cape Town. After 3 years he

became Global CIO of Shell Trading and Shipping based in Houston, Texas and

then, in 2014, became Global CIO of Shell Downstream based in London.

He is a high energy leader who has spent most of his career leading large-scale

digital transformations. As Global CIO of Shell Downstream business, his team

delivered billions of dollars of savings and value, created new ways of working,

enabled faster business strategy realisation and ultimately reduced the IT budget by

45%, creating more reliable and secure solutions, and delivering the next generation

of transformative technology. While these global transformations were technology

driven, they were highly business focused. His success can be attributed to

recognising the complexities of large-scale change and including all the key

stakeholders in business and IT to ensure a level of buy-in and energy such that they

were able to fundamentally transform the businesses.

He retired from Shell in 2020, and joined Salesforce as an SVP, Strategic Advisor to

the office of the CEO, where he worked with c-suite to help them refine and deliver

their business strategy. He advised hundreds of customers, building strong

relationships and helping drive transformational change through bringing technology and people together.

He has now retired for a second time and is now busier than ever having teamed up

with five ex-KPMG colleagues, who have a lifetime of experience, knowledge and a

track record of success, to create Veles Consulting which has the tag line “Our

Experience, Your Success”. There are delivering a range of services including

Strategic Business Advice, NED/Virtual Board Services, Company Review,

Leadership Development and Transformational programmes. He is enjoying working again with old friends and colleagues.

He also chairs the Institute of Coding, which is dedicated to delivering free technical

skills learning to disadvantaged people in the UK, as well as participating on several

advisory and executive boards.

He has a passion for business, developing people, enjoying his family, travelling,

good food and wine, and life.

Dr Sumit Mitra

CEO

Tesco Business Solutions

Sumit is a seasoned global executive and esteemed board member renowned for his expertise in crafting and executing cutting-edge global business services models for FTSE top 10 organisations, elevating them to the pinnacle of success.

With a strategic mindset and extensive experience, Sumit specialises in orchestrating business turnarounds by implementing comprehensive transformational strategies encompassing people, processes, and digital innovations to drive organizational advancement on multiple fronts.

Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Tesco PLC's esteemed Global Business Solutions division, Sumit leads a team that clinched the prestigious title of World's No. 1 GBS by the Shared Services and Outsourcing Network (SSON) in 2023, along with the runners-up title in 2024. Additionally, he holds a Non-executivel board position at Tesco's joint venture, Trent Hypermarkets, in collaboration with the Tata Group.

Before assuming his role at Tesco, Sumit distinguished himself as the Managing Director of British Telecom (BT), where he pioneered the conceptualisation and implementation of BT's ground-breaking global business services (GBS) model. With direct oversight of over 11,000 employees across nine locations and numerous third-party vendors, Sumit played a pivotal role in reshaping BT's operational landscape and helped turnaround of the Global Services division through a work class Global Contract delivery model which he strategised and implemented across 90 countries.

Sumit's achievements have been widely recognised, with accolades including CEO of the Year in India, "BPM Achiever in Global India", Amity University's "Corporate Leadership Excellence Award 2023" and the esteemed BT "Hero Award".

Beyond his professional endeavours, Sumit is an avid sports enthusiast, holding a cricket coaching diploma from the England & Wales Cricket Board and a black belt in martial arts. He finds joy in supporting Manchester United, exploring new destinations through travel, and cherishing moments with his two daughters.

Explore the program

Program

Registrations for this event will close on 30 June

Cognizant

           
          18:00 
        
                Arrival with drinks, canapes & bowl food
        
          19:00 
        
                Warm Welcome
        
          19:05 
        
                Keynote
        
          19:30 
        
                Break 
        
          19:45 
        
                Panel discussion with distinguished leaders and Q&A
        
          20:45 
        
                Drinks reception, desert & cheese
        
          21:30 
        
                Carriages

Venue

Hosted at Cognizant HQ.

Cognizant

Digital Britain

Addressing the data dynamic – working inside and outside the corporate envelope

About

Speakers and Panellists

Program

Venue

CIONET UK: Community Events 2024

Partners

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