John Ward

Fractional COO & Interim Transformation Director with 20+ years' experience helping boards and C-suite teams diagnose, mobilise and deliver complex transformation. Former COO of a Vodafone/Deloitte healthcare venture, combining strategy consulting rigour with hands-on operational and transformation leadership across performance improvement, cost reduction, operating model change and technology-enabled transformation. Experienced in stepping into complex or underperforming situations, identifying priority interventions, translating strategy into executable programmes and establishing the governance, ownership and performance disciplines required to deliver results.

Independent Transformation Director / Fractional COO at Verto Advisory (2025-11 – Present)

Providing interim transformation and fractional COO leadership, focused on diagnosing performance issues, mobilising transformation programmes and establishing the governance and delivery disciplines required to convert improvement opportunities into results.

• Led transformation diagnostic and mobilisation for a technology services business working with the executive team to develop an executable performance improvement programme.
• Identified 15% opex savings and prioritised cost and operational improvement initiatives based on benefit, delivery complexity and sequencing.
• Converted diagnostic findings into a transformation roadmap, establishing initiative ownership, executive governance, delivery cadence, reporting and benefits tracking.

Managing Partner at Gartner Consulting (2025-01 – 2025-10)

Managing Partner in the UK High Tech & Telco practice.

• Led senior client relationships and the delivery of transformation and performance improvement programmes.
• Developed a pricing solution for a major network services provider, supporting improved commercial control and margin management.

Director at BearingPoint Consulting (2023-04 – 2024-12)

Director leading the UK Communications, Media and Entertainment practice.

• Led transformation, cost improvement and automation initiatives across communications, media and technology clients.
• Developed network optimisation programme for a major telecoms operator, combining operational efficiency, process control and automation opportunities.

COO – Vodafone Centre for Health with Deloitte at Deloitte Consulting (2021-07 – 2023-03)

COO for a new Vodafone/Deloitte healthcare venture, leading mobilisation and establishment of the business to deliver advanced SaaS products to the health sector.

• Established the business plan, operating model, commercial arrangements, resourcing, governance and KPIs required to operate and scale the venture.

Director, TMT Practice at Deloitte Consulting (2015-01 – 2021-06)

Led senior client relationships and delivery of transformation programmes across major UK and European TMT accounts.

• Led Vodafone radical simplification programme across UK, Netherlands and Group, identifying 30% cost improvement opportunities in year one through process simplification, operating model change and efficiency initiatives.
• Developed 3-year growth strategy and investment roadmap for BBC Worldwide media assets including Top Gear and Doctor Who, supporting content monetisation and international growth.
• Directed implementation of enterprise profitability analytics across Vodafone Group, providing EBITDA-level margin visibility to support pricing, product and cost improvement decisions.
• Led strategic review and operating model design for Vodafone Cloud & Hosting outsourcing, reducing operating cost and improving speed to market for new products.
• Managed restructuring and organisation design of Liberty Global's European Technology functions (including Supply Chain, Product and Performance Management).
• Led strategic review of Colt's IT Services business and managed subsequent sale and carve-out planning.
• Designed European supply chain network for a European telco, including sizing and distribution centre design.

Managing Director at FTI Consulting (2012-12 – 2014-12)

Managing Director in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) Group. Led transformation, integration and performance improvement engagements across EMEA.

• Appointed Programme Integration Director for the £250m merger of two ATM operators, leading integration across operations, finance and IT and coordinating execution across the combined business.
• Advised the board of a European media company on a performance improvement programme, identifying 15% headcount reduction potential and non-core asset divestment options.
• Led cash flow improvement programme for US telecoms carrier, developing initiatives across churn reduction, ARPU uplift, bad debt management and channel support cost optimisation.

Principal at Booz & Company (2004-09 – 2012-11)

Principal in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) Practice (joined as Associate). Led strategy, operating model, cost reduction and programme mobilisation work for telecoms and technology clients.

• Interim Programme Director for a major European fibre launch; developed the strategy and business case, secured investment approval and mobilised the delivery organisation.
• Led network cost reduction programme for global telco, identifying 25% potential savings.
• Designed and implemented new operating model for SITA, devolving local responsibility to unlock sales growth.
• Advised CEO of European telco on fixed-mobile integration strategy, business case, operating model and implementation roadmap.

3G Product Manager at Lucent Technologies (2000-05 – 2004-08)

Responsible for lifecycle management for Radio Access products.

Systems Engineer at Thales Underwater Systems (1996-08 – 1998-08)

Systems Engineering and Theoretical Acoustics Group. Responsible for sonar systems design for Vanguard-class submarines.

Electrical/Electronic Engineer at Heller Machine Tools GmbH (1995-07 – 1996-07)

Supported production transfer to a UK contractor to reduce costs.

MBA – Manchester Business School (1998-09 – 2000-04)

MEng in Electronic & Electrical Engineering with Management – University of Birmingham (1991-09 – 1995-06)