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We are honoured that Venkat Venkatraman will be joining us and an exclusive group of technology and digital leaders to discuss key themes from his new book Fusion Strategy: How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future. Ahead of this hotly anticipated event, Savannah’s Talent Intelligence Practice examined the current state of data leadership in the industrial sector in the UK. This timely analysis is interesting reading for asset heavy UK companies who do not yet have a Chief Data Officer.
Talent Insights
Within the industrial sector, approximately 11% of the relevant businesses have established a Chief Data Officer. Nevertheless, when looking 1-level below, 38% have senior Data leaders. Most frequently, leading junior teams across Europe & APAC.
Where there is not a Chief Data Officer, the Data function most commonly reports into a regional or Group CIO (c.82%), less frequently, into a Chief Digital Officer (18%).
Insights show that hiring demand within the wider Data talent pool is very high. Within the last year, the top-hirers (by volume) include Bae Systems, Babcock International Group, JLR, and Amey. Trends show that the highest recruitment drives have recently been within the Automotive, Arms and Aerospace Manufacturing sector, followed closely by Civil Engineering.
For more information on how to diagnose, design & deliver data leadership in 2025 contact alangridge@savannah-group.com
Across talent in the Data function, tenure most commonly sits at the 2-year mark, with approximately 12% moving roles in the last 12-months.
In the UK, the most notable talent hubs include London (24%), Manchester (8%), Coventry (6%), Birmingham (6%) Bristol (4%), with smaller but growing hubs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Oxford. When looking across Europe, Paris and Munich are the largest hubs, followed by London.
