Jenny Wood
Group CIO
Skipton Building Society
Jenny Wood is the Group CIO for Skipton Group. Prior to that, she was the COO for Digital X within NatWest and has worked for global corporations in Financial Services and Telecoms across the UK and Australia.
Jenny has led significant transformations focused on creating value through customer delivery, cost reduction, mergers and divestments. She is co-chair of the Technology Business Management Advisory Board for EMEA and plays an active role in developing diverse technology talent across her companies and communities. When not at work Jenny is an Aussie in the UK and loves the fact that she can get to most countries in Europe and the UK in less time than it takes to get from Sydney to Perth.
Learn more about the UK & Ireland CIO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I went into technology because it was new, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do at University. They wanted more women in Tech (we still do) and were actively recruiting. I have moved between Tech roles and Business roles across my career in both large and small companies. I have also worked in Telco and Financial Services. This breadth has given me experiences that help drive transformation and understand how important it is to realise the value of your technology. I later in my career did Tech, COO, and Transformational roles leading out in Agile transformation. I have the opportunity to bring all these aspects together as the Group CIO of Skipton Group.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Leave the space for your people to be their best, accompanied by the support and confidence that allows them to succeed.
What is the greatest challenge technology leaders face today, and how are you addressing it?
We are embarking on a significant transformation – culture, technology, and capability at the same time as the market and our members are asking more. There is so much to do, so prioritisation of what is truly important to members and what will drive the most change is key for us.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?
Listen and be curious, but don’t be afraid to make decisions and act when needed.
How do you measure success as a leader?
The growth of my people and the delivery of value to our members.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
I love the diversity of people and experiences that allows me to make networks and grow. For someone like me who has moved to another country, communities like this are essential.
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