Gonzalez Blanco, Engineering Director of Cloud Enterprise Platform, Lloyds Banking Group
Organisations are embracing cloud computing technology at an accelerated pace.
Many have transitioned to cloud solutions to uphold their digital competitiveness, while others have adopted the cloud to facilitate the rise in remote work arrangements.
Computing's Cloud Excellence Awards recognise the very best of the UK's cloud industry, from the most innovative and compelling products and vendors, through to the top use cases from end-user firms.
This year's winners will be announced at a live awards ceremony on Thursday 21 September in Central London.
Lloyds Banking Group, one of the finalists has reached the shortlist for three categories: Best Cloud Project; Cloud Training Programme of the Year; and Cloud Professional of the Year.
We talked to Ruben Gonzalez Blanco, Engineering Director of Cloud Enterprise Platform at Lloyds, to find out what makes his company different from other companies and what are they working on this year.
Ruben has 30 years of experience in building software and platforms for different types of businesses and organisations from big enterprises to small start-ups. Ruben loves learning and sharing knowledge about technology and science, with lecturing being one of his passions. Over the past 15 years of his career, he has been mainly involved in digital transformation programmes and building platforms of different kind, most of them based on cloud technologies. In his spare time, Ruben enjoys practicing sports, reading and writing.
Computing: Please provide some background on your company for our readers.
Ruben Gonzalez Blanco: Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) is one of the largest UK financial groups of the UK that serve millions of individuals, families, and businesses, big and small, every day. LBG has presence in almost every community, being the sole integrated provider of banking, insurance, and wealth in the UK.
What makes you different from other companies?
LBG is a nice organisation inside and out for both colleagues and customers, that always tries to make positive impact in the UK society. This is reflected in its purpose which is "helping Britain prosper by creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for people and businesses, shaping finance as a force for good."
What one company achievement in the last 12 months are you most proud of?
From a business perspective, the launch of different initiatives to support customers and colleagues with the cost of living. Being truly by "your side" has made the difference for a lot of customers and colleagues in their lives.
What are you working on this year?
We are building an internal developer platform and evolving our cloud environments with the purpose of creating one of the best cloud engineering experiences in the industry. We believe that by enabling developers, data scientists and engineers to thrive, we will accelerate the business and fulfil the bank purpose through digital services. The cloud is at the heart of everything we do in this regard. We want to be the largest and best fintech in the UK.
Why are events like the Cloud Excellence Awards important to the IT industry?
Having an industry recognition helps to keep the momentum in the adoption of cloud technologies, while it inspires others in going through their cloud journey.
Cloud Excellence Awards will take place on 21 September in London. Click here to view the shortlist and here to book your table.
