Simon Asplen-Taylor

Simon Asplen‑Taylor is an award‑winning data and AI leader with more than 35 years of experience delivering enterprise‑scale transformation across global organisations. He has served as Chief Data Officer for multiple FTSE firms-including Bupa, Tesco, Rank Group, UBS, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch leading data, analytics, and AI strategies that have driven significant revenue growth, cost reduction, and regulatory compliance improvements.

A recognised industry thought leader, Simon is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of Data and Analytics Strategy for Business and the founder of VALSTR, the world’s first Enterprise Data & AI Planning solution. He advises boards, CEOs, and senior leadership teams on data and AI strategy, coaching organisations on how to realise value while managing risk. 

He has led some of Europe’s largest data‑driven transformations, including:

• Driving Rank Group’s data‑driven turnaround, increasing market cap from £660m to over £1bn and supporting revenue growth from £550m to £1.2bn. 
• Delivering the data and analytics capabilities that enabled the first‑ever insider‑dealing detection for the UK regulator. 
• Leading multi‑country data modernisation and governance initiatives at Cushman & Wakefield and Regus. 

Simon is also a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and serves on its AI Task Force, contributing to national‑level thinking on safe and ethical AI. 

His career spans data strategy, AI transformation, governance, data architecture, and analytics innovation - delivered across financial services, insurance, retail, technology, real estate, and global regulatory environments. With a track record of building high‑performing data capabilities from scratch and shaping multi‑billion‑pound business cases, he is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most influential experts in data and AI strategy.

I hold an MBA from the University of Durham, which strengthened my leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation capabilities. 

I am a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (FRSS) - recognitions that reflect my professional expertise and long‑standing contribution to the fields of data, analytics, and AI. 

To deepen my technical foundation, I completed advanced training in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at MIT in 2019. 

I also hold an ILM7 postgraduate‑level coaching qualification, completed in 2020, which supports my work coaching boards, executives, and data leaders.