Matt Sharp

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2024.

Matt Sharp is Chief Digital Officer for RLB, Director of RLB Digital and Chair of RLB Global Digital Transformation Committee. He has over 20 years of IT experience gained through complex digital transformation projects delivered across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States. Matt has broad industry knowledge across retail, telecommunications and industrial services whilst also bringing construction and built environment digital solutions knowledge from leadership roles he has held working for consultancy and public and private sector client organisations.

How did you get into IT?

During my engineering degree I studied the programming of robotic production lines, and from there I nurtured an interest in computing and robotics. I entered the workplace as a graduate project manager for transformation projects, and many of those initiatives involved the implementation and adoption of new IT systems.

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

We have grown our RLB Digital subsidiary business to offer IT, Digital and Data advisory services to the construction and built environment industry. We are attracting and developing digital talent to deliver valuable digital outcomes to our clients.

How do you ensure diversity is taken into account in your IT recruitment?

We work very closely with our RLB HR and recruitment teams, and our preferred recruitment partner TRIA, to ensure we reach the broadest and most diverse possible candidate pool. We look to attract candidates from all backgrounds across all life stages, and have graduates and apprentices on Digital career pathways. To combine Construction and Digital skills and experience we will up-skill traditional construction experts with digital skills, and vice versa.

D&I is a key objective for our business and we have a collection of D&I communities to ensure the best possible experience for all RLB colleagues. I am personally the senior ally for our fantastic RLB Pride community - one of the objectives for our community is to ensure that RLB is recognised as an employer of choice for the LGBTQ+ community.

Which technology are you currently most excited by, and why?

We are currently driving a global data warehousing initiative to make improved use of our vast RLB project experience across the global practice. The management of our data on a global scale will enable much improved analytics and be a foundation of our AI developments.

What would an outsider find the most surprising part of your job?

The breadth of accountability across our six pillars of Digital Strategy:

1. Digital Capability - ensuring all of our people have the appropriate digital knowledge and skills.
2. Digital Efficiency - ensuring that we run an efficient business equipped with appropriate digital tools and enabled by data.
3. Digital Value - ensuring that we deliver significant value to our clients and their projects by harnessing Digital and Data.
4. Digital Revenue - generate income from direct to client Digital and Data services and products.
5. Digital Sustainability - support our sustainability strategy through employing Digital and Data whilst ensuring the delivery of Green IT.
6. Global Digital - Lead global alignment and collaboration on Digital and Data strategies and initiatives.

What's your secret talent?

I can juggle juggling clubs and juggling blades - I even bought a unicycle in the hope of learning how to juggle whilst riding a unicycle.

What makes you laugh?

My sons - they are definitely my comedic relief and unleash my outside of work alter ego.