Shaine Ismail
Head of Asset Management Data Architecture at HSBC
Based in United Kingdom · 27+ years experience
Summary
CTO | Technology Strategy & Engineering Leadership | Cloud, Data & AI | Co-founder, Bigspark
About
I'm a technology leader, engineer and entrepreneur with extensive experience building, transforming and scaling technology platforms, from early-stage startups to major financial institutions.
My background spans software engineering, enterprise architecture, cloud, data platforms, AI and technology strategy. I've held senior technology leadership roles at NatWest and HSBC, combining technical expertise with responsibility for engineering teams, multimillion-pound budgets and business outcomes.
At NatWest, I helped lead a major technology programme with a budget of approximately £5 million and around 100 people. I also led technology delivery across three workstreams for NatWest's customer due diligence platform. My work at HSBC focuses on enterprise data architecture, technology products and strategic data capabilities.
I'm a co-founder of Bigspark, a technology and data consultancy, where I've gained direct experience of building a business, growing teams, developing commercial relationships and delivering technology solutions for clients.
Previously, I was CTO of Carsift, an automotive aggregation platform that became a significant player in the French market. We established a commercial relationship with BNP Paribas's consumer finance business, demonstrating our ability to build technology that supported meaningful commercial partnerships and market growth.
I've also been involved in other technology ventures spanning digital platforms, energy technology and software products. I continue to build and experiment with new technologies, particularly AI and emerging software engineering approaches.
I enjoy working where technology, business strategy and delivery meet. Whether helping a startup establish its technical foundations or a larger organisation modernise its platforms, I bring technical depth, commercial judgement and a pragmatic approach to getting things delivered.
I'm particularly interested in CTO, fractional CTO and technology advisory opportunities where I can help organisations turn ambitious ideas into working, commercially valuable technology.
Skills
Software Architecture, Cloud & Infrastructure, M&A / Due Diligence, Platform Modernisation, Engineering Leadership, DevOps, Governance & Risk, Data & AI
Regions covered
Industry experience
Not-for-profit, Government, Fintech, Manufacturing, Retail, SaaS, Education, Healthcare
At a glance
Shaine brings hands-on experience across Software Architecture, Cloud & Infrastructure, M&A / Due Diligence, Platform Modernisation, Engineering Leadership, DevOps and 2 other areas. Available for engagements across Europe. Industry experience includes Not-for-profit, Government, Fintech, Manufacturing, Retail and 3 more.
How fractional CTO engagements with Shaine work
Shaine works on a fractional basis — typically one to three days a week for an agreed engagement length — so you get senior technical leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. Engagements commonly include technical due diligence, board reporting, engineering team leadership, technology strategy, architecture reviews, hiring support, and stepping in as interim CTO during a transition.