Ryan Turnbull
IT Director | Head of IT Operations | Enterprise Architecture & Strategic IT Delivery
Professional overview
I am a commercially minded technology leader with over 15 years of experience across IT operations, enterprise architecture, data, business intelligence, application development, cybersecurity and digital transformation. My work sits where business ambition meets technical reality: shaping roadmaps, simplifying platforms, improving customer journeys, building internal capability and delivering technology that people can actually use.
I have led transformation across ecommerce, fulfilment, customer service, CRM, ERP, data and cloud platforms, including API-led integrations, Dynamics 365 / Dataverse applications and reporting platforms, Power BI, Azure, internal application portals and secure operational systems. I am strongest in environments where the technology estate is messy, the business needs change quickly and the answer needs to be both practical and scalable.
Career highlights
Applied AI, ML & Copilot Enablement
Applied Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT and Google AI alongside computer vision, intelligent data extraction and forecasting to improve planning, operational efficiency, knowledge access and business productivity.
Dynamics 365 & Dataverse Solution Development
Built and deployed Dynamics 365 and Dataverse solutions from out-of-the-box configuration through custom apps and pages, JavaScript extensions, web resources, business rules, add-ons, integrations and embedded reporting, with testing, controlled release, documentation and end-to-end ownership.
Embedded Reporting Application
Led a reporting application using React, Power BI Embedded, Dataverse and Azure DevOps, giving teams controlled access to operational and commercial insight through a modern self-service interface.
Retail & Customer Insight Platform
Integrated Shopify, Amazon, Zendesk, Gorgias, Dynamics 365, ERP and WMS data to improve visibility across customer journeys, orders, fulfilment, service trends and commercial opportunity.
Enterprise Operations & Customer Portal
Designed and built a secure, role-based portal for employees and customers across finance, procurement, sales, promotions, supply chain, inventory and forecasting, with custom APIs connecting operational and external platforms.
On-Premises to Fully Cloud Transformation
Led an end-to-end move from legacy on-premises infrastructure to a fully cloud operating model, covering target architecture, migration, identity, security, resilience, cutover, adoption and BAU ownership.
AI & machine learning
Substantial hands-on involvement applying generative AI, computer vision and predictive analytics to real business challenges - turning images, documents and operational data into useful insight, better plans and more efficient workflows.
Computer vision
Worked with image recognition and classification workflows, including automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR), facial recognition, matching, validation and exception handling.
Intelligent data extraction
Used AI-assisted OCR and document understanding to extract, structure and validate label, image and document data for downstream systems and analysis.
Forecasting & decision intelligence
Analysed historical and operational data to identify patterns, forecast demand, sales, stock and capacity, and support faster evidence-led decisions.
Inventory & logistics planning
Connected forecasts with inventory, warehouse and fulfilment data to inform replenishment, resource planning, logistics coordination and exception management.
Forward planning
Translated analysis into practical scenarios, early risk indicators and forward plans that help teams anticipate constraints and act before they become operational issues.
AI-assisted delivery
Applied AI to research, prototyping, code assistance, documentation, data preparation, workflow automation and quality checking - always with accountable human review.
Responsible delivery: I treat privacy, security, accuracy, bias, explainability and human oversight as delivery requirements - particularly for recognition and other sensitive-data use cases.
Key skills
Enterprise Architecture
Connecting business capabilities, platform choices and transition sequencing into a coherent path forward.
Strategic IT Delivery
Maintaining pace, ownership and operational confidence through complex portfolios and change programmes.
Cloud & Infrastructure
Resilient cloud and hybrid foundations covering identity, endpoints, networking, recovery and service continuity.
Data & BI
Trusted reporting, governed semantic models and automation that move insight closer to the decision.
Applications & Development
Application delivery from requirements and architecture through code, integration, release and ongoing ownership.
Retail, Ecommerce & Customer Platforms
Joined-up customer and operational journeys spanning acquisition, order, service, fulfilment and insight.
Cybersecurity & Risk
Practical controls, recovery design and governance that protect the business without making change unusable.
AI & Machine Learning
Practical use of generative AI, computer vision and predictive analytics to turn operational data into better workflows, decisions and forward plans.
Experience
Head of IT Operations
simplehuman · Premium consumer products and retail technology
Responsible for business technology and IT operational leadership, shaping digital transformation across EMEA and aligning the technology estate with commercial goals, customer experience and scalable operations.
- Shaped the IT roadmap and transformation portfolio across cloud, data, ecommerce, fulfilment, customer service and cybersecurity architecture.
- Contributed to a 15% increase in EMEA revenue by modernising ecommerce, fulfilment and service platforms, introducing API-led customer access and onboarding, accelerating order processing, reducing system failures and lowering the operational cost of returns.
- Reduced annual IT expenditure from £1.2m to £480k through vendor consolidation, platform rationalisation and process automation.
- Negotiated favourable technology contracts that saved more than £200,000 per year.
- Led a multi-functional team of eight internal staff and four contractors across IT operations, infrastructure, systems development and support.
- Managed IT onboarding and support for more than 1,500 users across five countries, plus users in the United States.
- Led an end-to-end digital transformation from legacy on-premises infrastructure to a fully cloud operating model, covering target architecture, migration sequencing, identity, security, data access, resilience, cutover and BAU handover.
- Delivered API-led fulfilment integrations across Shopify, Amazon, FedEx, ERP and warehouse management platforms.
- Rolled out Zendesk and Gorgias as customer service platforms integrated with ecommerce and operational systems.
- Designed and built a secure internal and customer-facing application portal spanning finance, procurement, sales, promotions, supply chain, inventory, forecasting and operational workflows, with custom APIs connecting ERP, WMS, Dynamics 365, ecommerce, logistics, service and reporting platforms.
- Oversaw disaster recovery, cybersecurity, business continuity and compliance activity, including MFA, encrypted data flows and control improvements.
- Applied Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT and Google AI to knowledge access, research, prototyping, code assistance, documentation and workflow automation.
- Worked with AI and machine-learning solutions across image recognition, OCR and label data extraction, automatic number-plate recognition, facial recognition, forecasting, inventory and logistics planning and forward planning.
- Built and deployed Dynamics 365 and Dataverse apps and solutions using custom pages, JavaScript extensions, business rules, web resources, add-ons and embedded Power BI, tailoring functions beyond the out-of-the-box platform.
Solutions Architect
Softcat · FTSE 250 IT infrastructure and services provider
Designed and implemented enterprise-wide business intelligence platforms and analytics solutions in a FTSE 250 environment, strengthening reporting, decision-making and operational performance.
- Delivered more than 25 global projects that automated processes and saved over 1,000 work hours every month.
- Influenced organisational revenue by 13% through analytics and data-driven solutions.
- Owned and maintained the BI estate across reporting, decisioning, governance, security and platform development.
- Managed the end-to-end project lifecycle across planning, scope, budget, risk, issues and stakeholder engagement.
- Delivered forecasting and opportunity analytics that made commercial decisions faster and more evidence-led.
- Streamlined ITSM processes and improved monitoring capability to increase operational efficiency.
- Contributed to a data project supporting Softcat’s London Stock Exchange and FTSE 250 listing journey.
Technical Director
The Common Framework · Regulatory and risk assessment platform
Led the technical vision, design and delivery of a custom regulatory and risk assessment platform built around structured assessments, evidence capture, reporting and practical compliance guidance.
- Created a regulatory portal guiding users through NCSC, GDPR and corporate social responsibility requirements.
- Improved user documentation and knowledge management capability by 50%.
- Owned the technical vision, delivery roadmap, user experience and solution architecture.
- Managed delivery end to end across requirements, planning, scope, risk, issues, platform design and continuous improvement.
- Built the product around structured controls, evidence capture, maturity scoring, reporting and actionable recommendations.
Education
Certifications & training
Technical proficiencies
- Platforms
- Microsoft Azure, VMware vSphere, Citrix and Windows Server (2008-2025)
- Data & BI
- Power BI, QlikView / Qlik Sense, SSIS, SSRS, SSMS, Power Query and DAX
- AI & machine learning
- Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, Google AI, computer vision, OCR and structured data extraction, ANPR, facial recognition, forecasting, scenario modelling and AI-assisted automation
- Programming
- SQL, R, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Node.js, PHP, PowerShell, C#, .NET and React
- Methods
- ITIL, TOGAF, Agile, Scrum, Kanban and Waterfall
- Security & networking
- Microsoft Intune, Endpoint Manager, Mimecast, NordPass, NetIQ and SolarWinds
- Applications & CRM
- Dynamics 365, Dataverse, D365 solutions, custom pages, JavaScript web resources, business rules, React, Node.js and APIs
- Operations
- SAP / Oracle ERP, warehouse management, distribution, IoT, robotics and process automation
Additional information
Flexible on location for the right opportunity; excellent references available upon request.
- Fitness
- Swimming
- Running
- Outdoor activities
- Cooking
- Networking events
- Technology