Chief Technology Officer

Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO)£180,000 - £200,000 + benefits - (Interim option available)📍LondonHybridI'm supporting a growing group of creative and communications businesses that is looking to hire a Chief Product and Technology Officer to lead technology, data and AI across its portfolio.This is not a traditional CTO remit. The group is founder-led and deliberately decentralised, so the mandate is influence and enablement rather than central control. You will work directly with the CEO, the Executive Committee and the founders of each operating business to decide where technology genuinely strengthens the creative and commercial offer, then deliver it.The roleDefine and deliver a group-wide AI and technology roadmap tied to commercial, creative and operational prioritiesPartner with agency founders and CEOs to identify high-impact use cases inside each businessDrive adoption of LLMs, automation and data capability across a diverse set of operating companiesSet a clear build versus buy position, balancing shared platforms against agency-specific needsOversee proprietary product development, including brand intelligence tooling, automated RFP generation and internal knowledge systemsDefine a group data strategy and shared platforms that respect the autonomy of each business, with governance for data, security and responsible AI useOwn the core technology foundations: cloud infrastructure, cyber security, enterprise systems, IT and key vendor relationshipsBuild and lead a lean central technology functionThe ideal candidate will haveEssential:Experience as a CPTO, CTO, Chief Digital Officer, VP Engineering or equivalent senior technology leaderA track record of driving AI, data or platform transformation across multiple teams or businessesExperience building or scaling proprietary technology products, not only running technology functionsWorking depth in AI and LLMs applied to both internal operations and client-facing productsThe ability to influence and land change without direct authority, inside a federated structureClear communication across technical, creative and commercial audiencesNice to have:Background in marketing services, media, consulting, or a digital or product-led businessExperience inside multi-brand, decentralised or founder-led organisationsComfort moving between strategy and hands-on deliveryPackage£180,000 - £200,000This would suit someone who wants a genuine build mandate rather than an inherited estate, and who enjoys earning credibility with founders and senior operators as a trusted advisor rather than relying on the org chart.Please apply online, or feel free to share it with someone in your network. LT Harper is handling this search on the client's behalf.