Ruth Almandras

I specialise in leading global IT portfolios and bridging the gap between business needs and technology delivery. My focus is on aligning IT strategies with business objectives, overseeing service delivery, and applying strong governance to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes. With extensive experience in stakeholder management and relationship building, I bring a people-first approach to complex programmes, making sure delivery is both strategic and practical.

A career built from the ground up — from hospitality and manufacturing to executive support, IT coordination, and global transformation leadership — bringing real-world perspective, resilience, and empathy to executive leadership.

Recognised for mentoring and coaching leaders, building succession pipelines, and fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures where employees thrive and clients remain loyal. Led the Internal Business Relationship team, treating agencies as clients and ensuring internal solutions delivered measurable value, adoption, and satisfaction.

Trusted to deliver global governance, people engagement, and change frameworks for internal solutions and SaaS adoption — progressing from supporting IT rollouts as a coordinator to designing and embedding global change models as Director.

Above all, I am a company person — committed to organisations that truly live their values. I thrive in environments that are genuinely People First, where inclusion and wellbeing are more than metrics, and where diverse strengths (including neurodivergence) are seen as opportunities for growth and innovation, not just numbers on a graph.

Over 20 years with Omnicom – TBWA Worldwide, progressing from IT Coordinator to Global Director of Governance, Programs & Support. Trusted advisor to the CIO and executive leadership, shaping global governance, service delivery, and transformation strategies.

Strategic Leadership: Partnered with senior executives on governance, change, and transformation frameworks, ensuring technology adoption aligned with business goals across agencies worldwide.

Governance & Compliance: Designed and embedded global governance frameworks, including the SBOX model with KPMG, sustaining adoption and compliance across regions for nearly two decades.

Service Delivery: Advanced IT service maturity by implementing ITIL-aligned processes, structured global helpdesk systems, and stronger incident/change management.

Vendor & Contract Management: Negotiated multimillion-pound vendor renewals and agreements, balancing cost efficiency with service quality at a global level.

People & Culture: Championed engagement, recognition, and inclusion initiatives; coached managers and future leaders; and fostered long-term career pathways within global support teams.

Change & Transformation: Directed the global change management framework, supporting adoption of SaaS and internal solutions across multiple regions.

Key Career Achievements:

Built TBWA’s global governance and audit framework (with KPMG), still in use today.

Maintained and optimised the SBOX governance model, strengthening global compliance.

Designed and deployed global change and recognition frameworks, improving adoption, retention, and employee satisfaction.

Recruited, developed, and retained offshore IT support talent, embedding career mobility and people-first leadership.

University of Life – Career built from the ground up, spanning hospitality, manufacturing, executive support, IT coordination, and global transformation leadership.
The King’s Hospital, Dublin – Leaving Certificate