oliverbinns.com

Overview

I am an experienced senior business leader, with proven results in improving business performance using data.

I have designed and developed comprehensive data management software, processes and training programmes, which have brought tangible results in company performance. I have a passion for data and technology and enjoy coaching and helping others to develop practical skills.

I have worked with senior leaders across all functions of international businesses, in addition to managing and developing teams of technical specialists.

You can find my contact details here

Experience

Chief Data Officer, Tata Steel Europe

January 2020 - Present

(The Netherlands and United Kingdom)

Objectives:

In this role I am responsible for establishing and leading a Central Data Office in order to help the company to increase its business performance through the use of data. This has involved automating, rationalising and harmonising data processes, along with the deployment of standards and governance.

Main results:

• I have established a lean Central Data Office, using an efficient, federated operating model that allows company-wide data improvements to be made whilst maintaining business ownership.
• I have coached and developed data management skills in teams across thirty different business units and functions in the company.
• I have designed and developed industry-leading data management software and systems, that have led to thousands of metrics being brought under quality control in automated and documented processes.
• The data process improvements that I made have saved hundreds of thousands of hours of staff time, along with millions of pounds in outsourced spending.
• The resulting data availability and quality improvements have increased trust and usage of data, which has allowed the company's management to uncover and correct adverse performance trends – measurably improving business performance.

Group Chief Strategy Europe, Tata Steel Europe

November 2017 – January 2020

(The Netherlands and United Kingdom)

Objectives:

I was responsible for leading the development of the company's long-term plans and ensuring their implementation by monitoring the performance of the company. Reporting to the CEO, I managed a team of technical specialists and worked with senior leaders across the organisation.

Main results:

• I wrote business development plans for the entire company and individual business units. This led to implementation of plans worth billions of pounds, stretching over decades. I have initiated a collaborative approach to strategy design with local management, which has improved relationships, broken down silos and led to more detailed and accurate plans.
• I created an analytical performance management app, which automatically compiled hundreds of metrics from across the company. The app uncovered pervasive organisational performance issues, leading to the re-prioritisation of the company's plans.
• Through intensive coaching and development, I built a high-performance strategy team with strong analytical capabilities. The team can independently handle all of the organisation's performance data and build new analytical systems. I have implemented agile working methods, modern software development standards and automated data quality assurance.

Strategy Manager, Tata Steel Europe

July 2012 – November 2017

(The Netherlands and United Kingdom)

Objectives:

In this role I was responsible for performing research and analysis on the company, its operating environment and competitors. I had to manage the work of others across the company in order to combine information into business cases, which I then evaluated financially. I was responsible for writing papers on these cases to communicate recommendations to the Executive Committee and board members.

Main results:

• Managed and contributed to a project that led to the restructuring of a large part of the company (business disposals, closures and turnaround). This restructuring prevented business losses on the order of hundreds of millions of pounds.
• Created innovative analytical strategy tools, including:
  • A machine-learning model to predict company profitability
  • An interactive app that displays competitor assets and financials
  • A program for making bespoke visualisations of supply chains, showing implications of different strategic options
  • An app mapping global trade flows and other macroeconomic and market data
  • An analysis tool for visualising margins by product, business unit and sales region
  • A physical gauge displaying live steel and iron ore prices, which raises awareness of market conditions

Details of the tools I have developed can be found on my portfolio

Business Analyst, Tata Steel Long Products

December 2010 – July 2012

(Scunthorpe, United Kingdom)

This role involved the collection, analysis and presentation of information to support the decisions made by the Managing Director. I supported the successful implementation of a business turnaround project worth tens of millions of pounds, for which I built an analysis system to monitor project progress. I also worked with sales staff to build and implement a pricing-control system, based on analysis of customer purchasing behaviour.

Researcher, Corus Research, Development & Technology

August 2007 – December 2010

(Rotherham, United Kingdom)

This position involved solving technical problems in the steelmaking process using electron microscopy and analytical chemistry techniques, with a strong emphasis on problem solving and experimental design. I improved laboratory work speeds by developing systems to automate equipment and perform automatic analyses. I also developed a performance management system for the research organisation.

Education

MSci in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge

September 2006 – June 2007

Specialising in Physical Chemistry and a research project using transmission electron microscopy.

BA in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge

September 2003 - June 2006

Though ultimately specialising in Physical chemistry, my Natural Sciences degree covered topics in Physics, Materials Science, Mathematics and Chemistry.

During my degree I completed two summer internships in Corus Research & Development (2005 and 2006), where I developed new methods of surface structure measurement.

Additional development

• R Programming, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, November 2014
• Process Mining: Data Science in Action, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, January 2015
• Machine Learning Stanford University, February 2016
• Algorithmic Toolbox University of California & Higher School of Economics, April 2016
• UK winner of the Steel University Challenge 2010
• Finalist in the IOM3 Young Persons' lecture competition 2009