Malcolm Lowe

CIO at Transport for Greater Manchester

Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself

I am at heart a problem solver, the bigger, more complex the problem the happier I am. With CIO, CTO & Digital experience in various sectors, I love doing stuff with users for users using digital technology, people & data. Bringing together my curiosity, creative thinking & love of technology to bring about pragmatic solutions to interesting business problems.

A believer in strategy by doing with people, culture, environment & collaboration is key to effective change. Recognised as one of the top 30 UK Digital Transformational Change Leaders in the North.

Experienced in all aspects of digital transformation & operation across multiple industry sectors including Consulting, Government, Transport, Finance, Utility, Retail & HR. For companies such as HM Revenue & Customs, London Stock Exchange, National Australia Bank, Transport for Greater Manchester, United Utilities, Boots & Littlewoods.  

Currently Chief Information Officer for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the second most powerful & influential transport organisation in England after Transport for London, enabling 5.6 million journeys a day

Accountable for all aspects of Digital, Data & Technology that support & enable TfGM & the Greater Manchester Transport Network. Covering Strategy, Delivery, Engineering, Operations & critical national infrastructure. 

What path have you taken to your current position? 

Ever since my father brought home a personal computer when I was 13 years old I have been interested in technology and how it can be used to create things that can solve problems and make things better. Since then technology has been at the centre and forefront of my academic and professional career.

In my career have been fortunate to have worked across the whole life-cycle of digital technology covering strategy, design, delivery and live operations. In various roles, across multiple industry sectors including Consulting, Government, Finance, Utility, Retail, HR and most recently Transport.

Previous positions have included Senior Manager with Accenture, IT Director for a global Procurement Outsourcer, Chief Technology Officer and Digital Director for the Department for Work and Pensions.  Working at various organisational levels from operational IT, through design, development, strategic visioning, to Board level.

I am a passionate believer in putting the user first and creating user-centric digital teams and products with multi-disciplined teams using agile and iterative test-and-learn approaches. 

Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?

Not at all. I look for roles that are challenging, interesting and will make a difference. 

Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?

Not one particular person. I look for positive attributes in people and then take bits to shape me and how I interact and work. 

Change is accelerating. How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?

Change is all about people and making things better. Technology is easy but. Technology Leaders need to evolve to understand people's needs, wants, and desires. They need to be storytellers and influencers

What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?

Storytelling; Influencing; Empathy; Emotional Intelligence; Calm; Solution oriented; Political.

Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?

To give something back to the technology community and future leaders.

How do you measure and communicate the value and impact of technology initiatives to other business leaders and stakeholders?

Storytelling. Understand the drives, wants and needs of different business leaders and stakeholders and tell the story of technology initiatives in simple plain primary school English and how it will have a positive impact on their drives, wants and needs. Make it real for them and if possible show them something. 

What has been your most significant achievement or proudest moment as a technology leader?

Creating and leading Transport for Greater Manchester's first TfGM Ticketing & Retail business, Managing revenues and all of the ticketing strategy, operations & channels - paper, mobile, web, digital & contactless.

As part of this role introduced the UK’s first contactless ticketing, ‘pay as you go’ service on Trams and Buses outside of London. 

"Change is all about people and making things better."

A big thank you to Malcolm Lowe from Transport for Greater Manchester for sharing his journey to date.

If you would like to gain more perspective from Tech Leaders and CIOs you can read some of our other interviews here.