Board Of Directors

John Piatkowski

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.

Cong-Rong Xie

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.

Sara Marconi

VP Global Wealth Management
at Scotiabank

Sara is a transformation professional with vast experience in managing international engagements. As VP of Global Wealth Management at Scotiabank, she leads a team implementing global strategies, focusing on data, analytics and technology. Previously at Scotiabank, she drove a global technology modernization program and established international data and analytics functions. With a Master of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business, Sara is certified as an Investment Specialist and a Prosci Change Management Professional. She advocates for diversity and inclusion, speaking at conferences on Data and Analytics and Women in STEM.

Sladjana Jovanovic

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.

David Lister

Non-Executive Chairman

Date of Appointment

• Chair of the Board – March 2019
• Non-Executive Director – March 2016

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

• HSBC Private Bank (UK) Limited (Non-Executive Chair, appointed December 2019)
• Marks and Spencer Financial Services Plc (Non-Executive Chair, appointed September 2020)
• HSBC UK Bank Plc (Non-Executive Director, appointed May 2019)
• Nuffield Health (Member of the Board of Governors, appointed February 2014)

Rod Flavell

Chief Executive Officer

Date of Appointment

• Founded FDM – 1990

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.

Sheila Flavell CBE

Chief Operating Officer

Date of Appointment

• Chief Operating Officer – January 2008
• Joined FDM – 1998

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).

Andy Brown

Chief Commercial Officer

Date of Appointment

• Chief Commercial Officer – January 2008
• Joined FDM – 1994

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.

Michelle Senecal de Fonseca

Independent Non-Executive Director

Date of Appointment

• Non-Executive Director – January 2016

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

• Alphawave IP Group Plc (Non-Executive Director, appointed May 2021.
• Redcentric plc (Non-Executive Director, Chair of Remuneration Committee, appointed 13 February 2024).
• Women in Telecoms and Technology (WITT) Limited (Director, appointed May 2008).
• Thunderbird School of Global Management (Director, appointed April 2009).
• ASU Global Foundation UK Ltd (Director, appointed October 2021).
• MOVE Capital (Investment Board member, appointed September 2017).