The short version

What I do

I help organisations move from AI experimentation to operational adoption. That means the hard parts most people skip: redesigning workflows, building governance that enables rather than blocks, embedding AI into how teams actually work, and measuring whether it's creating real value.

I've led this work directly — not as an external advisor, but as the person accountable for making it happen inside the organisation. At Verimatrix (EU-listed cybersecurity SaaS), I was appointed by the CEO to architect and execute enterprise-wide AI transformation. At Cotswold District Council, I co-authored the AI Policy and oversaw the rollout of Microsoft Copilot to around 250 officers and elected members.

Before that, I spent over two decades in enterprise technology leadership, including running a £430M EMEA Public Sector business at Cisco.

How I can help

The delivery model is flexible

I work with organisations in whatever way makes sense for the situation. Some need a senior AI leader embedded in the business — a Chief AI Officer, AI Transformation Director, or VP AI. Others need an experienced practitioner working alongside their leadership team on a consulting or advisory basis.

The work is the same either way: designing AI governance, building operating models, running structured adoption programmes, and making sure the organisation ends up more capable — not more dependent on external help.

Mike McKeown
Track record

Measurable outcomes, not just advice

Results from direct AI transformation leadership at Verimatrix and Cotswold District Council.

~£1M
Engineering productivity improvement (annualised)
~£3M
Revenue impact from AI-enabled commercial transformation
~250
Officers and elected members onboarded to Microsoft Copilot
£430M
EMEA Public Sector P&L led at Cisco
Verimatrix — EU-listed cybersecurity SaaS

Enterprise AI transformation

Appointed by the CEO to lead enterprise-wide AI transformation. Designed and delivered the company's Responsible AI governance framework — aligned to EU AI Act, GDPR, DORA and NIST AI RMF — and secured board approval. Established the AI Steering Group and operating model, embedding AI across engineering, sales, support, product and marketing.

Key outcomes

~1hr/day engineering productivity uplift from governed AI-assisted development

~10% SaaS win-rate improvement through AI-enabled proposal and sales processes

50–60% reduction in proposal workload through AI-accelerated RFP responses

Board-approved Responsible AI governance institutionalised across a nine-country organisation

Positioned Verimatrix as a trusted AI integrator in regulated markets — governance became a competitive differentiator, not a compliance burden. Reseller partners reported Verimatrix AI-enabled sales support was "best in the industry".

Cotswold District Council — Cabinet Member

Public sector AI governance

Elected Cabinet Member with democratic accountability for Digital Services and Climate policy. Co-authored the council's AI Policy, oversaw the enterprise rollout of Microsoft Copilot Business Chat to approximately 250 officers and elected members, and sponsored AI deployment within statutory consultation analysis — achieving around 85% officer time reduction in that workflow.

AI adoption in local government involves genuine design constraints: political accountability, public trust, resource limitations, and a highly varied workforce. That experience directly complements the commercial transformation work — and vice versa.

Cisco, Synamedia, Kaltura

Enterprise technology leadership

Over two decades leading large commercial technology organisations. At Cisco, held responsibility for a £430M EMEA Public Sector business with 20% revenue growth. Managed $1B strategic accounts and closed a $20M CDN deal with BT. Recognised on Cisco's Accelerated Development Programme.

This is the business context within which the AI transformation work is grounded — not a background in research or theory, but in making technology work inside real organisations at scale.

Working together

Two ways I can help

The same expertise, delivered in whatever way suits your organisation.

As a senior leader in your organisation

Embedded AI leadership for organisations that need a senior practitioner leading the transformation from inside.

  • Chief AI Officer (CAIO)
  • AI Transformation Director
  • VP AI / Head of AI
  • AI Governance & Strategy Lead

As an external advisor or delivery partner

Consulting engagements for organisations that want experienced guidance without a permanent hire.

  • AI readiness assessment and roadmap
  • Governance framework design
  • Structured pilot programmes
  • Operating model design for AI at scale
Capabilities

What I bring to the table

Deep, practical expertise across the full AI transformation lifecycle.

AI Governance Design EU AI Act Alignment GDPR & DORA Responsible AI Policy AI Operating Models Workflow Redesign Board-Level Communication AI-Enabled Commercial Transformation Enterprise AI Platforms AI-Assisted SDLC Change Management Public Sector AI Regulated-Sector Compliance Financial Services AI Governance P&L Leadership Partner Enablement
Background

Education and credentials

BSc (Hons) Computer Science, Economics & Psychology. Mini-MBA from INSEAD. Cisco Accelerated Development Programme. Over 25 years in enterprise technology and AI transformation leadership.

Learn more

Explore the full picture

Everything on this site reflects the work I do — whether that's as a consultant or as a senior leader inside your organisation. The approach, the frameworks, and the sector expertise are the same.

Have a look around. It'll give you a much fuller sense of how I think about AI transformation and what a structured engagement looks like in practice.

How I approach AI adoption Services & engagement model Sector experience Insights & thinking

Let's have a conversation

If your organisation is working through AI adoption — or you know someone who is — I'd welcome a conversation. Whether that leads to a consulting engagement, a senior role, or simply a useful exchange of ideas.