Dale Heenan
IT Director | Transformation Leader | FBCS | CISSP | CIMA
Twenty years leading technology strategy, enterprise transformation, and high-performing teams across regulated and complex organisations.
A leader at the intersection of technology and business.
20+ years experience
FTSE100 to Series B
UK & International
I have spent the last twenty years leading technology strategy, enterprise transformation, and high-performing teams across some of the most complex and regulated environments in the UK and internationally.
My career spans financial services regulation at FTSE100 level, advanced manufacturing for defence and aerospace, global mergers across multiple jurisdictions, and the digital reinvention of organisations that had outgrown their infrastructure. I have been accountable for programmes worth tens of millions of pounds, teams spanning multiple countries, and decisions that reach the board.
What sets me apart is the combination of deep technical credibility, commercial acumen, and governance experience. As a Fellow of the BCS, a CISSP, and a Member of CIMA, I bring a perspective that bridges technology, security, and finance — enabling me to engage credibly with CTOs, CFOs, and board chairs in the same conversation.
I believe that technology leadership is fundamentally about people, clarity, and courage: the courage to simplify what others have made complex, to say no to initiatives that do not serve the business, and to build teams that outlast any single leader.
Twenty years of measurable impact.
Alloyed
Head of IT
Manufacturing- £37m Series B-funded advanced manufacturing company (Boeing, Microsoft, Meta, MoD)
- 17% reduction in Microsoft licensing and cloud costs (£64,000 saved) within first six weeks
- Board-level technology strategy, infrastructure scaling, ERP capability, and cyber compliance
Cleanova
ContractSenior IT Manager (Interim IT Director)
Manufacturing- Led global IT and Cyber Services (UK, Ireland, US, India) during cross-border merger
- Delivered global IT service desk, SAP payment automation saving 100+ Finance hours
- 21% improvement in supplier performance within three months; IT budget reduced by 14%
Independent Innovation Project
Technical Founder
Innovation- Dementia-assist technology: hardware/software solution for remote family support
- Full-stack prototype design and build
Weybourne (Dyson) Group
Head of Delivery
Manufacturing- Senior IT and Change authority across global investment group (UK, Ireland, US, Singapore)
- Led ERP migration across 26 companies; introduced AI to £3bn portfolio
- IT separation of £100m business; won Dyson Staff Innovation Award 2024
Longleat Safari
ContractHead of IT
Leisure & Hospitality- Senior Leadership Team member; established technology innovation hub generating £450,000 profit in year one
- Improved user satisfaction by 32%; delivered fully integrated website (ERP, CRM, EPOS, stock, ticketing, property)
- 9,800 acres, 1m+ annual visitors
St James’s Place Wealth Management
ContractSenior Programme Manager
Financial Services- £11m Financial Crime, AI, and Cyber Security programme across FTSE100 business
- 40,000+ accounts remediated holding £1.2bn in assets
- 90% throughput improvement through agile transformation; recovered red-rated Brexit programme
Royal London / Ascentric
ContractHead of IT Operations
Financial Services- Digital re-platforming safeguarding £700m in client assets
- £50m acquisition merger; 85,000 clients converted to online-only digital-first strategy
- ISO 27001 audit and FCA regulatory reviews managed
University of Gloucestershire
ContractDirector of Information Services
Higher Education- Executive IT leadership during organisational restructure
- User satisfaction driven from 32% to 89%; founded cross-functional IT forum
- Office 365, SharePoint migration, ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications
Earlier Career
Head of Technology Services | Senior Project Manager | Full Stack Developer | SOX Analyst
Public Sector- Head of Technology Services (Public Sector)
- Senior Project Manager (Public Sector and Military)
- Full Stack Web Developer
- SOX Reporting Analyst
Programmes that moved the dial.
Six programmes across financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, and public sector — each with defined scope, personal accountability, and measurable outcome.
Financial Crime & Cyber Programme — St James’s Place
£11m programme across FTSE100 business; 40,000+ accounts remediated; £1.2bn in assets protected; 90% throughput improvement.
Senior Programme Manager with full accountability for programme delivery, stakeholder management across the executive committee, and agile transformation.
Led a critical Financial Crime, AI, and Cyber Security programme across St James’s Place Wealth Management, a FTSE100 financial services organisation.
The programme remediated over 40,000 client accounts holding £1.2bn in assets, achieving a 90% improvement in throughput through agile delivery practices.
Global Merger IT Integration — Cleanova
Four-country IT estate unified during merger; global service desk; SAP payment automation saving 100+ Finance hours; IT budget reduced by 14%.
Interim IT Director with accountability for all IT and Cyber Services across UK, Ireland, US, and India during formation of a new global entity.
Appointed to lead global IT during a high-impact cross-border merger forming one of the largest independent industrial filtration businesses in the world.
Delivered a global IT service desk, SAP-to-Citibank payment automation, Autodesk cloud migration, and 21% improvement in supplier performance.
Technology Innovation Hub — Longleat Safari
£450,000 profit contribution in year one; fully integrated website connecting six enterprise systems; user satisfaction +32%.
Head of IT and Senior Leadership Team member with full accountability for technology strategy, innovation, and digital transformation across a 9,800-acre estate.
Established a technology innovation hub that generated £450,000 profit in its first year.
Delivered a fully integrated website connecting ERP, CRM, EPOS, stock, ticketing, and property systems across 9,800 acres.
ERP Transformation Across 26 Companies — Weybourne / Dyson
Group-wide ERP migration with two acquisition integrations; AI introduced to £3bn portfolio; IT separation of £100m business.
Head of Delivery with accountability for IT and change across a global investment group, including senior leadership team membership at a £100m subsidiary.
Led ERP migration across 26 companies within a global investment group spanning UK, Ireland, US, and Singapore.
Introduced AI and emerging technologies into a £3bn investment portfolio; won the Dyson Staff Innovation Award 2024.
Digital Re-platforming — Royal London / Ascentric
£700m in client assets safeguarded; 85,000 clients converted to digital-first; £50m acquisition integrated.
Head of IT Operations with accountability for digital re-platforming, acquisition integration, and regulatory compliance.
Led digital re-platforming safeguarding £700m in client assets and converting 85,000 clients to digital-first.
Managed £50m acquisition merger, secured board approval for digital strategy, coordinated ISO 27001 and FCA reviews.
Cyber & Infrastructure Transformation — Alloyed / UoG
Cyber Essentials Plus, US NIST for defence, ISO 27001; user satisfaction 32% → 89%.
Senior IT authority with accountability for cyber security strategy, compliance frameworks, and infrastructure transformation.
Delivered Cyber Essentials Plus, US NIST frameworks for defence contracts, and ISO 27001 across two organisations.
Drove user satisfaction from 32% to 89% while delivering Office 365, SharePoint, and high-performance computing.
Seven domains. One integrated capability.
IT Strategy & Technology Roadmapping
Board-approved multi-year technology strategies aligned to business growth, operating model, and risk appetite.
Enterprise Transformation & ERP
End-to-end transformation including ERP across 26 companies, digital re-platforming, M&A integration.
Cyber Security & Governance
CISSP-qualified; delivered ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, PCI DSS, and NIST frameworks.
Commercial & Financial Leadership
CIMA-qualified management accountant; proven IT budget reduction (14–17%) and board-ready reporting.
People Leadership & High-Performing Teams
Built IT functions from early-stage through enterprise scale; consistent satisfaction and SLA improvement.
Board & Executive Stakeholder Engagement
NED experience (7 years); Chair of Trustees; C-suite reporting across FTSE100, PE-backed, and public sector.
Innovation & Emerging Technology
Google Certified Generative IT Leader; introduced AI to £3bn portfolio; Dyson Innovation Award winner.
The combination that enables cross-domain leadership.
A Fellow of the BCS, a CISSP, and a Member of CIMA: the rare combination of technology leadership, security authority, and commercial acumen that enables credible board-level engagement across all domains.
Fellow of the BCS (FBCS)
Chartered Institute of IT
since 2011
CISSP
ISC2
Member of CIMA
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
CIMA Advanced Diploma (MCS)
CIMA
CIMA Diploma (OCS)
CIMA
Google Generative IT Leader
MSP Foundation & Practitioner
AXELOS
PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner
AXELOS
ITIL Service Management
AXELOS
Pg Cert Internet Systems
University of Portsmouth
Future Leaders Academy
IDeA
Let's talk.
I'm open to conversations about senior technology leadership roles, advisory appointments, and strategic projects. All enquiries are treated with discretion.