Paul Hollands

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

Paul Hollands, the chief data & analytics officer at AXA UK, is an expert in driving growth, optimisation and innovation through data and analytics. With a focus on building and leading high-performing teams, Paul has a track record of transforming businesses by leveraging data, analytics, AI, and digital solutions to create new value-enhancing products and services.

In his previous role as CDO at Hastings Direct, Paul spearheaded a significant data transformation programme over 24 months. Under his leadership, the rapid rollout of a Snowflake data warehouse yielded substantial business value within the first three months. He successfully scaled platforms to accommodate over 150 users, ensuring critical data feeds updated daily. Additionally, Paul orchestrated the migration of core workloads to Snowflake, driving efficiency and performance improvements.

Paul's commitment to innovation is evident in his focus on data product initiatives, where he has swiftly delivered prototypes across digital applications and internal tools to unlock new opportunities for leveraging data. His emphasis on user experience and operational efficiency has resulted in clearer use cases and faster delivery of value.

Paul also held various executive roles at RBS from 2011 - 2019, including COO for data strategy and transformation. In this multi-disciplinary role, he led the development and implementation of the bank's data strategy, overseeing a team of 650 resources. His leadership was instrumental in driving cultural shifts and delivering strategic objectives across the organisation.

With over a decade of experience in senior IT roles across banking and insurance sectors, Paul brings a wealth of expertise in data-driven decision-making and organisational transformation. His calm confidence and proven track record make him a trusted leader in the field.