Stuart McDonagh

A dynamic, results-focussed c-suite operator and innovative leader specialising in directing change, digital transformation and stakeholder management with a proven track record in delivery roles across established private industries with NTT and its offshore delivery centres, with venture backed global software firms such as Data Intensity and their centres of excellence, as well as private equity backed scaleups like Virtualstock with nearshore teams. I have extensive agile, DevOps, and 24/7/365 service delivery and cloud deployment exposure within operational functions across the public sector including Local & Central Government, Defence, Education, Police, DEFRA and NHS. My expertise is to navigate Digital (AI), Environmental (ESG), and Human (Hybrid/Adaptive Culture) by leading cross functional teams, delivering large scale integrations projects and regulatory customer platforms, has contributed to developing specialist cloud services and operationalise AI solutions that provide long term benefits to customers.

My customer centric leadership has sharpened business performance through a deep understanding of enterprise systems and cloud platforms, as well as positively impacting day to day cost savings within a framework for standardisation, optimisation and agentic AI integration to automate and realise efficiencies across delivery operations and cloud native architectures. This progressive approach to data to value operations enables the oversight of tactically implementing reliability, performance and scalability to support major cyber security resilience & threat vulnerability upgrades, sparking tech-driven deployment initiatives and wider AI adoption to deliver excellent SLAs and consistent quality in KPI results. My people orientated and meritocratic approach stimulates strategic integration with more diverse, equal and inclusive high-performing teams from Customer Succes, Product, Support, and Technical functions, around an emotionally intelligent approach to key performance indicators within a sustainable operational leadership.

I diligently get the people element right first, support them with effective compliance and governance, lean processes and operationally efficient procedures alongside robust HR policies, fuel them with the appropriate technology to market conditions, and consistently leverage AI-driven systems and data to deliver improved assurance, commercial results, and safety outcomes across global functions.

Head of Client Delivery (Chief Operating Officer) at MUFG (2025-01 – Present)

MUFG Retirement Solutions manages approximately $910 billion in assets and serves 12.5 million members globally

• Offshored non-core financial transactions for over 2m members across Master Trusts (SMART, CUSHON)
• Orchestrated operational AI efficiencies of £1m across pension administration for DC & DB schemes (IPS)
• Scaled regulatory compliance with The Pensions Regular (TPR), and sponsored PASA accreditation
• Spearheaded recovery plan to protect merger for Willis Towers Watson of Creative Pension Trust

Interim Director & Board Advisor at IFGlobal

Proprietary technology Warehouse Management System software, purpose built for B2B clients

• Created Agile sprints for customer integrations, maintained core services, and introduced CI CD pipelines
• Segmented SRE into Engineering function from DevOps for security, stability and speed improvements
• Directed API deployments, delivered custom integrations for Amazon and Shopify, time sensitive upgrades
• Led AWS cloud deployments for bespoke integrations including Amazon and The Very Group
• Adopted ITILv4 across Service Desk and Client Support, reducing tickets by 20% and saving 40% on hires
• Embraced Atlassian Intelligence ML & generative AI within Jira Service Management to automate tasks by 30%
• Introduced Aha!'s AI assistant leveraging LLMs to generate optimised content and refine requirements saving 10%

Chief Operating Officer & Executive Board at DEFRA Livestock Information (2022-01 – 2025-01)

HM Government service provider of group livestock data.

• Reduced contractor spend across inter-group operations by 30% worth £3m to HM Treasury
• Achieved 40% cost savings role types through operational efficiencies within Value for Money framework
• Attained ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus within existing budget and own funding envelope
• Saved £2m in year on testing partner Capgemini by contractually better shoring resources
• Created optimised resource model with TCS to save £1m on CAPEX programme team
• Managed SRE & DevSecTecOps functions for auto-scaling UK livestock movements within critical infrastructure
• Automated Internal Audit actions upto 75% and complex GRC through agentic AI via Drata's AI-native platform
• Integrated Thomas International's data driven insights through AI & ML within ATS to assess candidates
• Enhanced traceability system with neo4j graph database workflows across regulatory environments

Co-Founder at We Schedule It (2020-01 – 2022-01)

Venture Capital SEIS funded network effect marketplace startup.

• Achieved UK pre-seed investment, as one of the 3% to secure capital for health tech platform app
• Coordinated the award of domestic & international frameworks: G-Cloud, Crown Commercial Service & EU
• Developed 4.5 star rated approved application into Apple's App Store & Google's Play Store
• Integrated PCI DSS approved payment solution, with AML and KYC compliance across platforms
• Experienced in VC & PE public pitch events, Angel & HNW networking, and private member investor dinners

Advisor at Decarb.Earth & Innovosens AB (2020-01 – 2022-01)

UHNW funded web3 platform and institutionally invested wareable healthtech.

• Established the UK entity, advising Swiss parent company on ICO, mentored junior team in South Africa
• Improved sweat equity team to accelerate blockchain development services ahead of Earth Day Launch
• Revitalised social media presence across multiple platforms, created GTM strategy with Polar
• Presented to investor relations and advised on funding platform for investment round in UK & EU

Interim Director Roles at Corporate Project Solutions & Ancoris

• Led a UK Microsoft Solution Provider's work across programmes in Defence (DE&S) and Falmouth University
• Spearheading key Google Cloud Platform flagship accounts retention including Rentokil, Unipart, & Conde Nast

Chief Operating Officer at Virtualstock (2019-01 – 2020-01)

Europe's largest drop shipping and curated multi-channel marketplace SaaS platform.

• Streamlined day to day EU operations by £2m through cross training ITIL service desk with client support
• Commercially secured three-year contract extensions of £1m with Argos Sainsburys, and £1.25m with John Lewis
• Orchestrated operational recovery of Cyber Essentials and retention of ISO 9001, 26001 & 27001 certifications
• Defined availability, performance, scalability and security of AWS estate and cloud infrastructure reliability
• Actively participated in Notion Capital community events for portfolio, attending investment round tables

Vice President Customer Success & Delivery Operations at Data Intensity (2017-01 – 2019-01)

An EQT Partners acquired industry-leading cloud managed services provider.

• Surpassed 15% of global revenue with renewals of Dixons Carphone & Domino Printing valued at $1m ARR
• Pioneered Professional Services wins of $2m from ArrowXL and Assurant LSG in new projects across group
• Directed 250 multi-functional people and achieved 20% revenue increase by role type within rate cards
• Collaborated with Alix Partners on high growth opportunities across client base to drive 5x efficiencies
• Delivered large scale custom integrations between Oracle & AWS for global clients including turnkey projects

Operations & Delivery Director & Global Head of Oracle at NTT DATA (2013-01 – 2017-01)

Global IT services and consulting company, working with 85% of Fortune Global 100 companies.

• Facilitated 75% NTT securing Oracle platinum status on behalf of Japanese CSR leadership for ESG compliance
• Executed successful ERP