Episodes
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Tom and Penny break down the latest developments shaping the technology landscape, starting with a sharp global tech stock sell-off forcing organisations to rethink how they measure value from AI.
We also explore the realities of AI use at scale, from token pricing to emerging challenges like model ‘looping’; how extreme heat, public discontent and increasing scrutiny of water usage are putting datacentres under pressure; and the effect a(nother) new Prime Minister might have on the British tech landscape.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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This special news-focused episode focuses on three major stories from the last week. First is the UK government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s, and the wider regulatory shift it represents. Rather than targeting content or companies, the government has opted to place the onus on young people. While enforcement remains uncertain, we're seeing a more interventionist approach to technology governance.
We also explore the geopolitical dimension of AI, following the US government’s decision to restrict access to Anthropic’s Fable and Mythos - raising even more concerns about sovereignty. We close with a look at the soaring IPO valuation of SpaceX, what it means for retail investors and whether we truly are in an era of investing driven by hype and vibes.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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Missing episodes?
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The World Cup brings more than global attention; it also drives a sharp rise in cyber threat activity. Darren Anstee, CTO for security at NetScout, sets out how DDoS attacks increase around major sporting events, often starting months before kick-off and peaking during live matches. Attackers test defences early then target critical services once the tournament is underway.
Darren also highlights a shift in hacktivist tactics. Rather than hit well-defended front ends, groups now aim for weaker links in digital supply chains to disrupt core services. He stresses the need for preparation, collaboration and shared intelligence, especially for a tournament spread across multiple countries with a larger attack surface. “It is all about the preparation,” he says.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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AI coding tools aren't just about writing code faster. In this episode, OpenAI's Head of Developer Experience Romain Huet explains why tools like Codex are becoming general‑purpose work agents that can handle documentation, reviews, backlog reduction and even operational tasks — and the effect this dramatically compressed time from idea to production will have on the developer ecosystem.
We also tackle the questions keeping CIOs awake at night: security, visibility and control. Huet outlines how OpenAI is thinking about sandboxing, permissions and human‑in‑the‑loop design, and why IT leaders should focus less on replacing developers and more on unleashing them to work on the problems that actually matter.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Mobile scams are no longer isolated or opportunistic. Drawing on global research and collaboration across the mobile industry, the GSMA's Head of industry Security Samantha Kight explains how scams have overtaken traditional crime in profitability, with social engineering now more effective than technical exploits. As generative AI lowers the barrier to entry for this attack path, legacy networks and uneven digital literacy continue to amplify the problem in certain regions.
We also dig into how defenders are responding. For CISOs and IT leaders, the advice is grounded in fundamentals: focus on basic security hygiene, layered defences, early detection and collaboration across supply chains.
Smartphones are both the most trusted and most targeted device in everyday life, so rebuilding trust in the mobile ecosystem is a shared responsibility.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Speed is one of AI’s easiest wins and one of its biggest traps. In this episode Bastien Parizot of Reckitt explains why faster execution alone is not a business case for AI adoption. At Reckitt, AI initiatives live or die by a simple test: can they deliver higher‑quality outcomes? “If it’s faster but not better,” Parizot says, “it’s a lot of investment for not really making our business better.”
Parizot outlines Reckitt’s proof‑of‑value framework and its “deep and narrow” rollout across marketing and R&D, where AI is embedded directly into everyday work rather than siloed pilots. Projects that save time but fail to raise standards are stopped outright.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Penny Horwood is joined by Ajay Pancholi, IT Infrastructure Lead at Carlsberg Britvic and founder of the AI Security, Ethics and Governance UK community, to explore why organisations need to rethink how they approach AI.
Pancholi argues that AI should be treated as critical infrastructure, not “innovation theatre”, warning that most enterprise risk sits outside the models themselves and lies within systems, data pipelines, identity and operations. Drawing on his infrastructure background, he explains why opaque vendor stacks, weak controls and poor integration create hidden risks, from data leaks to vendor lock‑in.
The conversation also tackles AI governance, reframing it as an enabler rather than bureaucracy, and looks at how organisations can design safe spaces for experimentation without inviting shadow AI. Looking ahead, Pancholi outlines what will force the shift from experimentation to accountable deployment, and what IT leaders should be doing now to prepare for greater scrutiny, regulation and scale.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In this episode, Penny Horwood hears from Fabrizio Pilotti, CIO of Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, about how cutting-edge technology is transforming modern Formula One.
Fabrizio sets out some of the ways that vast data volumes, AI, and machine learning are reshaping race strategy, engineering, and operations, whilst also providing an opportunity to enhance fan engagement through increased data visibility and digital experiences.
The pair also discuss the challenges of managing global infrastructure, ensuring cybersecurity in a high-risk environment, and managing technology partners. Fabrizio shares his leadership insights on balancing the need for relentless innovation under intense pressure with strategic thinking in one of the world’s fastest-moving, most competitive environments.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Recorded at Oracle’s AI World Tour in London, UK country leader Siobhan Wilson tells us what AI actually means for IT leaders right now. She unpacks Oracle’s push to embed agentic AI across infrastructure, data platforms and applications, arguing that the real shift is from chasing AI hype to delivering measurable outcomes at speed.
We also covers major UK‑specific investments, including sovereign cloud and clinical AI, before closing on a critical question for IT leaders: how to balance trust, security and accountability as more responsibility is handed over to AI agents.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK's biggest financial services companies, with an estimated one in two British citizens acting as customers.
In this episode Tom speaks to Peter Brown, engineering lead at Lloyds, about how the bank has applied AI at massive scale across retail banking, complaints and internal operations.
Peter explains how AI tools support colleagues and how they were built with not just an outcome, but the bank's core purpose in mind. He also gives a clear account of agent-based systems, how Lloyds defines and governs them, and why language matters when talking about AI with senior stakeholders.
We also cover the skills shift AI demands from leaders and teams, and Peter's own reflections on leadership, inclusion and the value of clarity and trust at scale
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Demands on technology professionals are changing constantly, but hiring hasn't kept up: people still look for coding ninjas rather than recruiting the skills that will really make a difference in the AI age, says E.ON's emerging technology lead Kara Flook.
In this episode, Tom and Kara discuss her journey from a dance background to a career in technology, as well as the growing importance of soft skills; the need to challenge stereotypes; and the significance of diversifying the tech workforce.
Kara emphasises the role of education in shaping perceptions of tech careers, and offers insights into how companies can redesign their recruitment processes to be more inclusive.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, host Penny Horwood is joined by Debbie Janeczek, Global CISO at ING, to explore what cyber resilience really means for a global financial institution operating in an increasingly volatile threat landscape.
Drawing on her background in military intelligence and financial services, Debbie discusses how ING is moving beyond compliance to embed resilience into the way technology is designed, built and operated. The conversation covers the impact of major regulations such as DORA, the shift from reactive defence to proactive resilience, and the challenges of simplifying complex security stacks without increasing risk.
Debbie also shares how automation, threat intelligence and AI are reshaping security operations, why third-party risk has become one of the biggest exposure points for global banks, and how ING is preparing for emerging threats such as post-quantum cryptography. Beyond the technology, the discussion highlights the growing role of the CISO as a business enabler and value creator, rather than a blocker.
The episode concludes with a candid look at leadership under constant pressure, strategies for avoiding burnout in “always-on” security roles, and how the industry can do more to attract and support diverse talent in cybersecurity.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Penny Horwood is joined by Kiran Mahil, CIO of Retail Products at Nationwide Building Society, to explore how digitisation and automation are reshaping retail banking while preserving trust, fairness and accessibility.
Kiran explains her role overseeing Nationwide’s core banking platforms, retail products and technology strategy, and outlines how the mutual’s values influence its approach to digital transformation. Rather than focusing solely on online channels, Nationwide is pursuing a multi-channel strategy that combines modern cloud-based platforms with continued investment in branches, ensuring no customers are left behind as services evolve.
Automation is being used to reduce costs, streamline routine tasks and improve resilience, enabling frontline staff to focus on complex customer needs. Kiran also discusses what “good digitisation” looks like in financial services, emphasising seamless customer journeys, strong security, effective use of data and AI, and technology ecosystems that are easier and more efficient to run.
Kiran shares insights into the scale and complexity of integrating Virgin Money into the Nationwide brand and platforms, from aligning technology and partners to maintaining resilience, momentum and staff engagement.
The episode closes with a discussion on widening digital access and preparing the future workforce.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Access Group runs a vast, acquisition-led IT estate while supporting mission-critical services such as NHS payroll. Tom speaks with regional technology director Rolf Krolke about how the organisation designed a scalable reference architecture that delivers resilience, flexibility and near-zero downtime across private and public cloud environments.
Rolf unpacks the practical realities of active-active design, modular infrastructure and operating at global scale, alongside the mistakes IT leaders make when modernising complex estates. Listen now to learn more about designing for failure, managing technical debt and keeping transformation aligned with real business risk.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Alexandra Ebert, advisor to regulators like the FCA and IEEE, as well as chief AI and democratisation officer at Mostly AI, joins Tom to discuss the modern AI landscape. She warns that too many organisations are rushing to “get more GenAI” without doing the groundwork, arguing that AI needs to be a strategic capability rooted in solid data foundations and alignment between technology and business rather than a shiny add on. She also highlights the pitfalls of “AI workslop," where employees lean too heavily on generative tools, producing more work with less originality, and urges CIOs to rethink governance and training around AI-augmented workflows.
We also touch on the economics of Big Tech, with Alex suggesting that hyperscalers’ massive infrastructure spending is driving AI hype to justify their ROI.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In this bonus episode Tom Allen sits down with Katia Gil Guzman, a founding member of OpenAI’s Developer Experience team, to explore how AI coding is evolving beyond the hype. Katia explains why OpenAI actively discourages “vibe coding” for anything beyond small experiments, arguing that enterprise-ready AI tools should behave more like software engineers - producing pull requests, following project rules and aligning to established guardrails.
She also discusses how companies can improve the trustworthiness of AI-generated code; why you probably don't need multi-agent orchestration; and what the next 12-24 months hold for the AI space.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Cyber attacks and crisis response are daily realities for security professionals, but the demands of defending critical systems and services from cyber attack can exert a heavy toll on cybersecurity practitioners at all levels. A combination of the "always on" nature of cybersecurity, the urgency of the task and some of the personality traits often found in cyber teams mean that difficulties are often masked. Practitioners are often reluctant to seek help and can get stuck in their own personal doom loop.
In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Kinly CISO Don Gibson and PPRO CISO Bronwyn Boyle talk to Computing Associate Editor Penny Horwood about instant-response pressure, the mismatch between responsibility and control and what these do to the brain. The pair open up about their personal experiences with burnout and recovery, explain why it pays for IT leaders to look after their cybersecurity teams and share practical, compassionate ways leaders can protect their teams from the mental burdens of constant vigilance. The pair also share some ways that cybersecurity professionals can look after themselves.
Don shares his experience leading through a global ransomware crisis and how it led to a life-changing health event and Bronwyn reflects on her own work-induced crisis, and how empathy, openness, and community support can transform how teams cope with the relentless demands of cybersecurity. Bronwyn is an ambassador for https://cybermindz.org/ - a community service, not-for-profit providing services and support to those who earn their living trying to protect their organisations and employees from cybercriminals.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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When John Seabourn asked his team how AI made them feel, the answers ranged from "excited" to "concerned," but the word that stood out most was "efficient". In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, John - CDIO of global environmental consultancy APEM Group - joins Tom to unpack what that word really means in a world where technology can accelerate renewable energy projects, yet consumes vast amounts of power to do so. John explains how APEM is using tech to speed up impact assessments and bring sustainable infrastructure online sooner, without losing sight of the ethical and ecological cost.
But efficiency isn’t just about systems; it’s about people. Seabourn warns that automating too much, too soon could hollow out the talent pipeline, drawing lessons from the oil and gas industry’s “Great Retirement." He argues for hybrid careers that blend scientific expertise with digital fluency, and a leadership approach that prizes curiosity and critical thinking over short-term savings.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / John Seabourn
X: @Computing_News
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Queen Mary University of London CIO Rachel Bence joins Computing’s Penny Horwood to discuss how the university is embedding sustainability into its IT strategy — from using waste heat from high-performance computing to warm student halls, to running datacentres powered by recycled energy. Rachel shares how a focus on sustainability aligns with Queen Mary’s mission of inclusivity and social mobility, and how these values drive innovation across academic and operational IT environments.
The conversation also explores the realities of leading digital transformation in higher education — managing technical debt, supporting a diverse student body, and balancing research freedom with cyber security. Rachel reflects on the opportunities and risks of AI, why universities can’t afford to ignore it, and how leadership built on communication, transparency, and gratitude helps her team thrive through rapid change.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Penny Horwood / Rachel Bence
X: @Computing_News
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Banking is known for its monolithic, legacy IT systems, but new challenger banks have a different approach. Cynergy Bank's CDIO Rana Bhattacharya joins Tom to explain how the bank is blending the latest tech with a modern mindset.
By adopting Flutter and a microservices architecture, Cynergy has been able to build once and deploy across iOS, Android and the web, improving productivity while streamlining its mobile and online banking channels.
Rana also dives into the bank’s decision to go beyond infrastructure hosting and leverage Google Cloud’s platform services to ensure resilience and scalability. And with AI beginning to play a role, Cynergy is focusing on “supercharging humans” rather than replacing them, using AI to handle paperwork, speed up research and give SMEs access to insights once reserved for large enterprises.
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Rana Bhattacharya
X: @Computing_News
Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk
LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood
Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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