Jonathan Whiteside

CTO

United Kingdom25 yrs 4 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Global technology leader with 25+ years of experience.
Expert in driving digital transformation for top brands.
Pioneering Growth Invention at DEPT®.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a technology leader in the digital marketing and creative technology industry.

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Skills

Core Skills

Technology Leadership

Other Skills

AI & Automation for MarketingDigital StrategyUser ExperienceWeb Content ManagementTeam ManagementInformation ArchitecturejQueryCMSWeb ApplicationsAgile MethodologiesStrategyStart-upsProject ManagementXSLTASP.NET MVC

About

I lead technology globally at DEPT® - shaping how we combine creativity, data, and engineering to drive customer growth for some of the world’s biggest brands. My role is about creating clarity in a complex landscape. Turning strategy into direction, connecting teams across regions, and ensuring our technology foundations enable faster, more scalable growth. I also lead our largest technology partnerships, helping us co-invent new ways to deliver value. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve helped brands like Nikon, United Airlines and Triumph Motorcycles evolve from digital transformation to true self-sufficiency. What motivates me most is helping organisations move faster by removing friction – whether that’s through better platforms, stronger collaboration, or smarter decision-making. At DEPT®, we call this Growth Invention – pioneering how technology and creativity work together to build durable foundations and dynamic experiences. It’s a privilege to help shape that vision globally, ensuring our teams, clients, and partners can innovate with confidence and scale with speed.

Experience

25 yrs 4 mos

Total Experience

4 yrs

Average Tenure

8 yrs

Current Experience

Dept®

5 roles

Global EVP Technology

Promoted

Aug 2025 – Present · 9 mos

Defining DEPT®’s global technology vision and capability strategy – ensuring we deliver pioneering, scalable solutions that drive client growth faster.
Lead the global technology organisation and craft community across 20+ markets
Shape the services and capabilities portfolio, connecting technology services
Partner with the global exec team to align technology direction with business ambition
Oversee DEPT®’s largest global technology partnerships (Adobe, Shopify, Salesforce, Google)
Represent DEPT®’s technology voice in the market, with clients, and at industry events
Focused on making technology a multiplier - of creativity, efficiency, and growth.

Technology LeadershipAI & Automation for Marketing

Global SVP, Technology & Engineering

Promoted

Sep 2021 – Oct 2025 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Responsible for the engineering craft globally, comprising of 1,500+ engineers in over 12 countries.

Technology LeadershipAI & Automation for Marketing

Principal Consultant

Feb 2020 – Oct 2021 · 1 yr 8 mos

Work across our teams providing strategic technology advice to clients and prospects as well as providing thought leadership for marketing and sales.

Technology Leadership

Managing Director

Jan 2019 – Feb 2020 · 1 yr 1 mo

Stepped back into an MD position for 1 year as we transitioned to a new management structure. I led the 70 person Design & Technology team for Dept in UK.

Technology Leadership

Strategy Director

Apr 2018 – Dec 2018 · 8 mos

I am Strategy Director at Dept, predominately working with UK and US based clients.

Technology Leadership

Connected thought ltd

Board Member & CTO

Oct 2010 – Feb 2013 · 2 yrs 4 mos

I was also CTO and sat on the board of Connected Thought, developing a software platform that enables anyone to create engaging real world experiences using digital tools. http://www.connectedthought.co.uk and http://www.spontaniac.com

Building blocks

Co-founder

Apr 2007 – Mar 2018 · 10 yrs 11 mos · Manchester Area, United Kingdom

I co-founded the company in 2007 and grew it until the acquisition in 2016 and integration and rebrand with the new owners, Dept, in 2018. Building Blocks was a digital agency specialising in large, global, digital projects and have a specialism in complex Content Management and Digital Experience platform projects.
I am extremely proud of what Building Blocks achieved in its 11 years. We built an international agency from a small Manchester office, to become a company employing over 130 digital professionals across Europe and USA. We supported solutions in over 14 countries, working with some of the most well-known brands in the world.

Technology Leadership