James Grove

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2026.

As a Director of Technology and Strategic Leader, my career has spanned a wide array of industries including higher education, leisure and tourism, manufacturing, and local government, culminating in a significant focus on the sports sector at Southampton and Chelsea Football Clubs. In these roles, I have excelled at leveraging technology to drive business transformation.

Recently completing an MBA, my career has been defined by a commitment to align and partner, supported by strategic decision-making.

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

Sport is not for the faint hearted, and the journey has highs and lows. But being part of a football club, during moments that matter and working with people who care deeply about it, is something to be excited and proud of.

What do you do in week one of a new project to avoid pain in month six?

Always agree whether it's actually something needed!

What’s the part of your estate you most want to simplify in 2026?

SaaS sprawl...

Excluding smartphones, what piece of technology could you not live without and why?

Google Maps is probably up there with one of the most important technologies we all use. Not necessarily the native version, but all the integrations there are, like when you search for AirBnBs, or buying a property, or book a taxi. All using Google Maps data.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

AI and the future of work.

What talent are you quietly proud of that would never show up on LinkedIn?

My overall ability to understand most things in simple terms and then think about how important they are to me to either keep simple, or become more knowledgeable about.

What’s your most-used keyboard shortcut or command that you wish everyone knew?

I'm a Mac user so Command + space, which is the Spotlight search I use to navigate everywhere. Most people know this I think though!