Ctrl Alt Lead

Bastien Parizot, Reckitt: Speed isn’t a Business Case for AI

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 [https://www.computing.co.uk/] LinkedIn: @computing-- [https://www.linkedin.com/company/computing--/] / Tom Allen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-allen-86782941/] / Penny Horwood  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhorwood/] Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com [tomallen@thechannelcompany.com]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ajay Pancholi, Carlsberg Britvic: Building the Foundations for Accountable AI

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 [https://www.computing.co.uk/] LinkedIn: @computing-- [https://www.linkedin.com/company/computing--/] / Tom Allen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-allen-86782941/] / Penny Horwood  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhorwood/] Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com [tomallen@thechannelcompany.com]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fabrizio Pilotti: Insights from the fast lane at Aston Martin Aramco F1

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 [https://www.computing.co.uk/] LinkedIn: @computing-- [https://www.linkedin.com/company/computing--/] / Tom Allen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-allen-86782941/] / Penny Horwood  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhorwood/] Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com [tomallen@thechannelcompany.com]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Siobhan Wilson, Oracle: AI agents rely on trust, not tech

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 [https://www.computing.co.uk/] LinkedIn: @computing-- [https://www.linkedin.com/company/computing--/] / Tom Allen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-allen-86782941/] / Penny Horwood  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhorwood/] Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com [tomallen@thechannelcompany.com]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter Brown: How is Lloyds Keeping AI Honest?

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 [https://www.computing.co.uk/] LinkedIn: @computing-- [https://www.linkedin.com/company/computing--/] / Tom Allen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-allen-86782941/] / Penny Horwood  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhorwood/] Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com [tomallen@thechannelcompany.com]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.