Ben Stopford

CTO

United Kingdom25 yrs 11 mos experience

Highly Stable

Key Highlights

Led CTO function at Confluent, focusing on strategy.
Designed and built a central data platform at RBS.
Authored a book on event-driven systems.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS and Fintech expert with a focus on data architecture and engineering.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Apache KafkaStrategyDistributed SystemsEvent-driven ArchitectureData Platform DesignTeam BuildingHigh Performance ComputingAgile DevelopmentJava DevelopmentAgile

Other Skills

Competitive AnalysisThought LeadershipDeveloper ExperienceJavaTechnical WritingIntegrationArchitectureArchitectural EngagementsTDDOracle CoherenceGrid ComputingContinuous IntegrationLow LatencySOAMultithreading

About

My last role was at Confluent, a key company in the Data in Motion space, and known for Apache Kafka. Previously I worked at Thoughtworks and a number of financial institutions. I work as a manager running a small department but my background is in software engineering and architecture.

Experience

25 yrs 11 mos

Total Experience

4 yrs 6 mos

Average Tenure

3 yrs 1 mo

Current Experience

Career Break

May 2023 – Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

Carpe diem

Confluent

Lead Technologist

Aug 2015 – May 2023 · 7 yrs 9 mos · London, United Kingdom

I led Confluent's CTO function, reporting to the CEO. The team focuses on strategy, competitive analysis, and thought leadership. I also ran the Developer Experience functions.
In the early days of the company, I worked as an engineer on Apache Kafka focusing on the replication protocol and related areas and I wrote the book Designing Event-Driven Systems, O'Reilly 2018.

Apache KafkaStrategyCompetitive AnalysisThought LeadershipDeveloper Experience

Rbs

Director / Distinguished Engineer

Jun 2009 – Dec 2014 · 5 yrs 6 mos · London, United Kingdom

Designed, built, and ran the bank's central data platform. Initiated the project. Built a high-profile development team. Integrated the product bank-wide (Front Office through to Risk & Finance).

Data Platform DesignTeam BuildingIntegration

Rbs global banking & markets

Architect, High Performance Computing

Jul 2007 – Jun 2009 · 1 yr 11 mos

Bank-wide Architect working in the High Performance Computing Team

High Performance ComputingArchitecture

Thoughtworks

Consultant

Apr 2006 – Jun 2007 · 1 yr 2 mos

Worked on a variety of agile development projects, architectural engagements and quick-starts.

Agile DevelopmentArchitectural Engagements

Barclays capital

Technical Lead

Sep 1999 – Mar 2006 · 6 yrs 6 mos

Built the Prime Brokerage section of the BARX online trading platform. Led the Java development team from POC to three years in. Had fun with Agile and TDD. Other engineering roles in Front Office Equity Finance and Development Tools teams.

Java DevelopmentAgileTDD