John Piatkowski
Operations Manager,
Skills Lab North America at FDM Group
Operations Manager,
Skills Lab North America at FDM Group
Operations Manager,
Skills Lab North America at FDM Group
John Piatkowski is the Operations Manager for FDM’s North American Skills Lab, leading a team of over 40 staff. After working for more than a decade in various roles in the IT industry, John has now shifted his passion to the fields of adult learning, facilitation and leadership, as well as technology, including his time as a Professor of Adult Education at Sheridan College. He is based out of FDM’s Toronto offices.
VP Technology
at Canada Life
VP Technology
at Canada Life
Cong-Rong has extensive expertise in strategic planning and transformation, leading digital enhancements and system re-platforming at Canada Life since 2017. Now heading technology at IC/AN, she continues driving transformative changes. Beyond her roles, Cong-Rong is a Board Member at Trillium Mutual Insurance Company and has taken several committee chair positions. She has worked in various capacities at Economical Insurance and was the key leadership member for the launch of the 1st digital direct P&C insurance company – Sonnet Insurance. Cong-Rong has leveraged her academic background in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo and her ICD.D designation to make a significant social impact.
CIO, Canada & Enterprise Architecture
at Sunlife
CIO, Canada & Enterprise Architecture
at Sunlife
Monique Allen is a seasoned leader in financial technology who oversees the technology strategy and execution for Sun Life’s Canadian businesses, as well as the global architecture and digital solutions. She has a track record of transforming software businesses and driving innovation in the FinTech sector. She is also a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion, and wellness, and serves on several boards and committees that support these causes. She has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Women in IT Awards Canada. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science and an MBA, and enjoys running, cycling, and music with her family.
CIO Personal & Business Banking & B2C Data Transformation at BMO
CIO Personal & Business Banking & B2C Data Transformation at BMO
Sladjana is the CIO for Personal and Business Banking and B2C Data Transformation at BMO Financial Group, focusing on building new capabilities and scaling B2C strategy. With extensive experience in digital transformation and innovation, she leads resilient, data-driven platform development. Previously at TD Bank Digital and Payments, she drove growth across global banking sectors. Sladjana began her career with Goldman Sachs and IBM, holds a Computer Science degree from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from Rotman School of Management. Committed to equality, she co-leads BMO Women in Tech and Ops, advocating for increased female representation.
Non-Executive Chairman
Non-Executive Chairman
Date of Appointment
Experience
David has over 40 years of experience in operations and technology roles across multiple industries for international businesses such as Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, Boots, Reuters, Royal Bank of Scotland and National Grid. He also has experience in the professional services sector where he was a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”). Other former non-executive appointments include Interxion Holdings B.V., HSBC Bank plc, CIS General Insurance Limited and the Department for Work and Pensions.
External Appointments
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Date of Appointment
Experience
Rod is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of FDM Group and has more than 40 years’ experience in the technology sector. He has been instrumental in the development of the Group into an international, award-winning employer with a prestigious client base operating in multiple markets.
Rod is a strong advocate of improving diversity in the technology industry, as demonstrated by the Group’s Women in Tech, Returners Programme, Ex-Forces and veteran career transition initiatives. In 2019, he was featured in the Management Today Agents of Change Power List for the second consecutive year. He was also featured in the Yahoo HERoes Top Advocate Executives of 2019 for his work promoting gender equality in the workplace.
External Appointments
Rod has no external appointments.
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Date of Appointment
Experience
Sheila has over 30 years of experience in both the public and private IT sectors. She spearheads FDM’s global Women in Tech initiative and Returners Programme.
Sheila was awarded a CBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List for services to gender equality in IT, and graduate and returners’ employment.
In 2022 Sheila was elected President of techUK, the trade association which brings together business, government and stakeholders to realise the potential of what digital technology can achieve. She has been invited to advise government committees on improving the digital skills shortage and gender pay gap in the UK. Her work has been acknowledged by numerous awards, including inclusion in Computer Weekly’s ‘Most Influential Women in UK Tech, Hall of Fame’. At the 2020 European Tech Women Awards, the Department of Trade and Industry recognised her outstanding achievements by conferring Sheila with a ‘Career Recognition’ award.
External Appointments
techUK Limited (President, originally appointed June 2016).
Chief Commercial Officer
Chief Commercial Officer
Date of Appointment
Experience
Andy progressed through the Group’s sales team to become Global Sales Director in 2007 and, subsequently, Chief Commercial Officer.
Andy oversees the expansion of the Group with a focus on the sales and recruitment functions. Andy’s strategic focus is around developing new service streams in line with client demands, as well as increasing the number of applicants to the Group’s Graduate programme, which are both key areas to the success and growth of the Group. Andy also played a key role in the launch and success of the UK Ex-Forces Programme.
External Appointments
Andy has no external appointments.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Independent Non-Executive Director
Date of Appointment
Experience
Michelle is an experienced senior executive specialising in technology and international communications. She was formerly the Global Vice President for Global Strategic Alliance Partnerships and Regional VP for Sales and Services at Citrix Systems. Prior to Citrix, she was Global Director of Cloud and Hosting Services at Vodafone. Michelle has previously worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development where she managed the Telecom, Media and Technology banking team. Michelle is a co-founder and board member of Women in Telecoms and Technology, a UK not-for-profit organisation. In 2020, Michelle joined the Strategic Advisory committee to TEDI-London, a new design-led engineering school in the UK.
External Appointments