Albert Hitchcock, COO/CTO at Pearson

Episode Overview

• How Albert took on COO responsibilities beyond the CIO role by identifying the need to streamline not just the companies underlying technology, but the operational processes as well.
• Albert’s responsibilities, which in addition to IT and digital transformation include product development, procurement, supply chain, customer service, and real estate.
• The evolution of the CIO role from the back office to the front office and Albert’s view that the role has become transformative to the point where it needs to encompass the operating model of the business
• The three-phased transformation Albert is leading, which includes radical simplification, platform strategy, and execution strategy
• How Pearson is working towards a single platform, similar to Netflix for education, which would be highly scalable, global in nature, high-quality, and one that can deliver all of their experiences around the world to millions of learners.
• An overview of the changes occurring at Pearson, including radical simplification and consolidation of systems, moving from data centers to the cloud, and people and culture changes.
• How Pearson has looked to an innovation ecosystem for idea generation
• How the company is using AI and augmented reality to make a difference in education and the workforce.
• How Pearson is preparing for the skills revolution with its Technology Academy, and how they are working to assist other companies in doing the same.
• Albert’s view on companies needs to re-equip their workforce and the challenges that arise with it.

Albert is the Chief Operating and Technology Officer at Pearson, the 174-year-old, £4.5B British education and publishing company. In this role, Albert has been responsible for overseeing the company’s multi-step digital transformation, as well as procurement, supply chain, customer service, and real estate.

Prior to joining Pearson, Albert was the Group Chief Information Officer at Vodafone. Before Vodafone, Albert was the Chief Information Officer at Nortel Networks.

Albert received his Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering at South Devon College of Arts and Technology and his MBA from Exeter University.

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