Jane Smith
Case Study: Board-Level Technology Governance
Sector: Cross-Industry | Service Area: Technology Governance, Strategic Oversight, Board Advisory
Overview
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in every aspect of business—operations, customer engagement, compliance, and growth—the absence of meaningful technology expertise at the board level is an emerging risk.
In response, organisations across all industries are appointing a board director with deep roots in the technology sector to provide both standard governance and growth oversight, as well as a dedicated lens on technology governance.
This dual-purpose role brings much-needed clarity, structure, and confidence to boardrooms grappling with complex digital initiatives.
Service Overview
Andrew’s board appointments have included roles with organisations undergoing major digital change, high-growth companies investing in scalable tech platforms, and businesses seeking better assurance over data, cyber, and procurement risk.
In these roles, he has contributed across all standard board responsibilities while also providing specialist guidance in areas such as:
Technology Risk Oversight – helping boards understand and govern systemic risks such as cybersecurity, technical debt, and resilience.
Digital Strategy Alignment – ensuring that technology investments align with long-term business goals and value creation.
Technology Procurement – reviewing and advising on vendor selection, contracting, and solution viability.
Data Governance – supporting organisations in managing privacy, data ethics, and regulatory obligations.
Defensible Decommissioning – advising boards on legacy system retirement strategies that mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
Value to the Board
The addition of a board member with a deep background in the technology sector has delivered several tangible benefits to client companies:
Greater Confidence in Tech-Driven Decisions – Boards gain the ability to challenge, support, and make informed decisions on major IT investments, digital roadmaps, and transformation initiatives.
Improved Risk Management – Enhanced oversight of cyber risk, data protection, and operational technology reduces exposure and improves board assurance.
Stronger Vendor and Project Governance – Organisations have benefited from more rigorous procurement processes and better contract oversight.
More Effective Strategy Execution – With technology being core to growth, having expert oversight ensures that digital strategy remains aligned with broader business priorities.
Impact
The inclusion of dedicated technology governance expertise at the board level has delivered measurable benefits:
Increased confidence in digital decisions and investments
Reduced exposure to unmanaged risk, particularly around cyber and data
Stronger oversight of large-scale technology programs and vendor relationships
Improved alignment between digital execution and strategic outcomes
Boards have reported more informed discussions, better decision-making, and greater assurance that technology is being governed with the same discipline as finance, risk, and operations.
Feedback
“Having someone advise the board who speaks both the language of business and technology changed the way we govern risk. We no longer rely solely on the CIO for translation—we can now challenge and support with confidence.”
— EVP and General Manager North America and Western Europe, Iron Mountain
“We were undertaking a significant WMS migration and had limited in-house capability to scrutinise it at board level. The ability to test assumptions and get independent guidance added real strength to our governance.”
— Group Operations Director, Whitbread
“It’s rare to find someone who can dive deep into data and technology governance and procurement issues but still keep the boardroom conversation strategic. It made a real difference.”
— Partner, Westhill Capital