Cloud Acceleration & Transformation Leader

I specialise in cloud acceleration, enterprise IT strategy, and large-scale digital transformation. With over 30 years of experience, I have led complex technology programmes that enhance business efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Currently, I lead Cloud Acceleration & Transition at WPP, delivering strategic cloud adoption initiatives at scale. My expertise bridges architecture, technology operations, and programme leadership, ensuring businesses maximise the value of their digital investments.

Expertise: Cloud Transformation | Enterprise IT Strategy | Programme Leadership
Impact: Driving Efficiency | Modernisation | Operational Excellence

About Keith Bennett
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WHAT I DO

For over three decades, I have been at the forefront of enterprise technology transformation, guiding organisations through complex cloud migrations, IT strategy shifts, and operational improvements. My career has evolved from architectural leadership to driving large-scale programme execution, always ensuring that technology aligns with business goals.

Approach to Leadership

I believe in data-driven decision-making, strategic execution, and fostering high-performing teams. Whether leading enterprise cloud transitions or advising on technology modernisation, my focus remains on delivering measurable business value.

Key Career Highlights

  • Cloud Acceleration at WPP – Spearheading global cloud adoption initiatives to improve efficiency and scalability.
  • Enterprise IT Leadership – Bridging architecture, operations, and business strategy.
  • Transformation & Delivery – Ensuring seamless technology transitions in complex environments.

Strategic & Leadership Capabilities

Leading Agile Teams To Deliver Solutions

Successfully delivered cloud migrations, cyber recovery, storage replatforming, and connectivity projects across WPP, ensuring smooth implementation and operational efficiency.

Manage & Motivate Teams In A Matrix Env

Led onshore and offshore teams across multiple regions and partners within the Cloud Acceleration programme, working alongside external partners to drive successful project outcomes.

In-depth Knowledge Of IT Infrastructure

Extensive experience in both on-premises and cloud platforms, helping businesses make informed decisions on the right technology to use, when to use it, and at the optimal cost. I have a growing understanding of AI through hands-on testing and exploration, gaining insights into its potential applications.

Relationship-building, Collaboration & Influencing

Experienced in building strong professional networks within organisations, engaging effectively with CxO-level executives, partners, and engineers to drive alignment and shared goals. Skilled in fostering a collaborative culture that enhances cross-functional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and strategic decision-making.

Financial & Commercial Acumen

Secured investment funding for five projects, ensuring strategic allocation of resources and delivering measurable business value. I treat every pound as if it were my own, making sure spending is efficient, justified, and delivers maximum return.

Service Management Frameworks

I have a strong understanding of ITIL and service management frameworks, allowing me to collaborate effectively with teams responsible for ITSM processes and helps ensure a structured approach to service planning, operation and improve delivery capability.

CAREER HISTORY – WPP PLC

What I Do

My Work at WPP

WPP is considered the world’s biggest advertising agency group, offering every discipline of modern marketing through global integrated media and creative agencies, public relations firms and specialist communications companies.
Visit WPP.COM
WPP Plc

Cloud Acceleration & Transition Lead

Jun 2024 to date
  • Insourced the Cloud Acceleration Programme into the internal WPP Cloud team, delivering the service as BAU rather than via a programme, reducing cost and removing our reliance on partners and contractors.
  • Established the Cloud Acceleration & Transition team, taking end to end ownership of migrating and onboarding workloads from on-premise or cloud environments into the WPP Cloud Manage & Operate function.
  • Developed a comprehensive 2025 project pipeline, strategically expanding our multi-cloud capabilities to include GCP and AWS workloads, complementing our existing Azure expertise.
  • Established a project prioritisation process (Must Do, Should Do, Could Do) to align with strategic cost reduction objectives and drive improved TCO.
Tags
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
AZURE
AWS
GCP
OPTIMISATION

Head of Cloud Acceleration Programme

Jul 2023 – Oct 2024
  • Promoted from Workstream Lead to Programme Director after early setbacks and minimal migration progress.
  • Led a programme reset, improving collaboration and increasing migration throughput.
  • Built 3 new IBM Cloud based Private Cloud data centres to replace 11 regional and legacy DCs resulting in over £1m+ of annual savings
  • Dispositioned an estate of over 10k servers, successfully migrating over 3,500 servers to Azure Public Cloud and IBM Private Cloud
  • Decommissioned over 5000+ no longer required workloads due to migration and consolidation resulting in a reduction of over 540 Metric Tonnes of CO2
  • Managed programme finances and leadership across multiple partners, including Kyndryl, Rackspace, and TCS, overseeing a team that scaled up to 150+ people.
  • Programme awarded WPP IT Collaboration Team of the Year in December 2023.
Tags
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
AZURE
IBM CLOUD
MIGRATION
COLLABORATION

Global Solution Architecture & Engineering Lead

Jan 2022 – Jun 2023
  • Led the initial discovery phase and defined the scope for the Cloud Acceleration Programme before being asked to manage the Private Cloud Migration workstream.
  • Delivered and managed the RFP process for selecting a Managed Service Provider to support the on-premise server and storage estate, as part of a proposed outsourcing exit.
  • Programme managed the recovery and cloud migration of a core financial reporting platform following a cyber incident, reporting daily to the CIO, WPP Legal, and providing weekly updates to senior leadership.
Tags
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
AZURE
IBM CLOUD
MIGRATION

Distributed Global Transformation Lead

Apr 2021 – Dec 2021
  • Joined WPP permanently to complete data centre exit projects, followed by defining and delivering multiple infrastructure refresh projects, covering servers, storage, and end-of-life management with Kyndryl delivery teams.
  • Successfully delivered over 250 file server migrations to Azure File Sync reducing on-premise footprint and costly hardware refresh.
Tags
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
AZURE
TRANSFORMATION

Global Transformation Lead (Contract)

Feb 2018 – Mar 2021
  • Returned to WPP Strategy & Architecture to complete the data centre exit and formalise core transformation and refresh processes for a more globally structured programme.
  • Programme managed the exit of five EMEA-based data centres for the Grey Operating Company, ensuring a smooth migration with minimal disruption.
  • Worked within WPP Service Delivery to apply my data centre exit experience to develop a global DC exit programme with Kyndryl as our delivery partner.
Tags
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
ON-PREMISE
MANAGED SERVICE

WPP Parent Company Transformation Lead (Contract)

Apr 2017 – Jan 2018
  • Engaged within the WPP Parent IT team to develop and implement tools and processes for the IBM Transformation Programme, supporting WPP Parent Company and associated Operating Companies.
  • Delivered architectural designs for Infrastructure and Desktop services to be onboarded into IBM managed service.
Tags
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE
ON-PREMISE
MANAGED SERVICE

Enterprise Transformation Architect (Contract)

Jul 2015 – Mar 2017
  • Provided architectural assurance for the £1.2 billion outsourcing of Service Desk, Service Management, End User Computing, Infrastructure, and Network Services to IBM.
  • Produced the Infrastructure Transformation Framework which defined the patterns and processes required to migrate services to IBM.
  • Worked with the WPP Application Development team to oversee the deployment of a multi-million-pound SaaS-based global ERP platform (Deltek Maconomy), ensuring architectural integrity and alignment with architectural standards.
Tags
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE
ON-PREMISE
PATTERNS
What Else I’ve done

My Work Elsewhere

I’ve been privileged to have worked at a variety of companies and in a variety of roles. My early career was very architecture focused, with initial roles focusing on Oracle technologies before moving into Infrastructure and Solution Architecture

WHAT AND WHERE

WHEN

TYPE
Global Solution Architect, British American Tobacco, London Jan 2012 – Apr 2015 Contract
Solution Architect, EE, Bristol July 2011 – Dec 2011 Contract
Project Solution Architect, British American Tobacco, London Sep 2010 – Jun 2011 Contract
Infrastructure Solution Architect, Nokia UK, Bristol Mar 2010 To Aug 2010 Contract
Technical Spaces Lead, Guys and St Thomas’ NHS, London July 2009 to Dec 2009 Contract
Infrastructure Architect, TalkTalk Group, London Oct 2008 to Mar 2009 Contract
Infrastructure Architect, AOL Broadband, London Dec 2007 to Sept 2008 Contract
Senior Infrastructure Architect, Beacon Home Loans, Marlow July 2007 to Nov 2007 Contract
Lead Infrastructure Architect, Virgin Mobile UK, Trowbridge Feb 2003 to June 2007 Permanent
Oracle DBA Consultant, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Bristol Mar 2001 to Dec 2002 Permanent
Oracle Internet Consultant, E-Net Software, Bristol Aug 2000 to Mar 2001 Permanent
Oracle DBA Consultant, SWEB (now EDF Energy), Plymouth Nov 1995 to Jul 2000 Contract
Oracle DBA Consultant, Devonport Mgt Ltd, Plymouth Jul 1995 to Nov 1995 Contract
Production Support DBA, Cellnet (now 02), Slough Sept 1994 to July 1995 Contract
Database Consultant, Oracle UK, Bracknell Sept 1993 to Sept 1994 Permanent
Database Support Analyst, Amerada Hess Ltd, London Nov 1992 to Sept 1993 Permanent
Software Engineer, Devonport Management Ltd, Plymouth Jan 1990 to Nov 1992 Permanent
My Life

QUOTES I ASPIRE TO LIVE BY

Whilst the team is always bigger than the individual, sometimes you need to think in a new way and try something different

Driven By Data, Data, Data … Understand The Data, Manage The Data, Report On The Data

Volunteer Work

West Wiltshire Youth Sailing Association

West Wiltshire Youth Sailing Association (WWYSA) is a charitable trust based at a lake in Westbury, Wiltshire, with the primary aim of introducing young people aged 8 to 18 to the sport of sailing.
Visit wwysa.org.uk
WWYSA

IT Admin & Safety Boat Crew

Apr 2023 to date

Outside of my day job, I volunteer my IT and sailing expertise to a small non-profit youth sailing organisation. I provide general support at training events, including driving the safety boat as a qualified PB2 powerboat handler.

I also manage their IT infrastructure and worked with the Microsoft Non-Profit team to secure a grant of 10 Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences and over £2,000 in Microsoft Azure credits.

Using this grant, I set up and manage an Azure-hosted WordPress website and migrated the WWYSA committee members to Microsoft 365 Exchange Email and Microsoft Teams which has improved collaboration and reduced risks.

Outside Of Work

Home & Family

Home Life

Husband, Father, Geek

I’m married with three adult children and one teenager still living at home and we’ve lived in Wiltshire for over 20 years. In my free time, I enjoy watching Liverpool FC and Formula 1, and attempting to play golf.

  • Dedicated home office with dual screen setup and Business broadband
  • I have a passion for Home Automation and experimenting with various AI tools and LLMs
  • My preference is using Apple hardware, macOS, iPadOS and iOS, but also very familiar with Windows 11 OS and Android
  • Extensive experience with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace