To stay ahead of the curve, IAG Cargo is undergoing a transformation process across all business functions, and our IT department will be recruiting over 60 talented team members, from data analysts and service operations to project managers. David Walker, Chief Digital and Information Officer at IAG Cargo, is spearheading this recruitment drive and shares his insights.
If you have an interest in IT, now is your opportunity to pursue it. Explore career opportunities within IAG Cargo’s IT department here.
Tell us about your role as Chief Digital and Information Officer.
Within Cargo IT, I’m accountable for everything relating to IT; IT Run (ensuring service stability and reliance), Change (driving new projects and initiatives across all business functions), and Transform (moving our organisation into a digital and innovative way of working and redesigning our operating model for the years to come). As Cargo is part of International Airlines Group (IAG), it’s also my responsibility to drive the Cargo agenda as part of the Group IT strategy and initiatives, whilst ensuring we are building a Cargo IT estate that is fit for future.
What attracted you to the logistics industry?
Prior to joining IAG Cargo, I spent 25 years in multiple roles within the logistics industry. I love the practical nature of logistics and identifying suitable IT solutions to support critical business outcomes.
How is your department structured, and why are you growing it now?
My team structure comprises of eight core areas:
- Business Partnering, Innovation, and Digital
- Business Enterprise Architecture
- Data Insights & Operational Research
- Solution Delivery & Assurance
- Service Operations & Infrastructure
- Cyber & Information Security
- Portfolio Management Office
- IT Transformation
Our team members are based across London Heathrow, Madrid, and Dublin, with each of the core IT domains working with multiple IT partners. To ensure service stability and deliver transformational solutions, at the same time as delivering our own IT strategy and transformation, we are increasing our internal capability and capacity.
What qualities are you looking for in new hires?
Individuals who will bring their experience, are keen to learn and develop their skills, and will seek new technologies and ways of working. Team members should challenge the norm and status quo, and have a continuous improvement mindset.
IT by nature is at the core of all business functions, with many interlocking systems, and numerous stakeholders, so we need people who are self-motivated, proactive, and collaborative.
Why is now an exciting time to join the department?
There are currently more than 100 projects and initiatives in motion, with a healthy pipeline of projects to commence over the next year. Team members could work on projects that are customer facing, or within commercial, operations, finance, or HR. Projects range from redeveloping websites, driving operational and commercial efficiencies through robotic automation and AI, and implementing new IT service capabilities.
Our plan over the next five years is to modernise our full IT estate. This means we’ll be investing in our people, processes, systems, and data, with a need to have the right team members in place.
Have there been any team achievements in the past year?
Over the last year, we’ve made considerable progress. New Premia, our climate-controlled facility for handling Premium freight, has opened. Inside New Premia, we’ve gone live with multiple IT operational systems, which interact with both the mechanical handling system and our airside drivers.
Our transition to the cloud has started, with currently 50% of our Cargo IT applications and infrastructure already running in the cloud. The journey for our data migration is well underway and is a key focus for 2024-2025. From an IT-operating model perspective, we’ve built a new Business Partner, Innovation and Digital team, with plans to expand in all these areas.
How will Cargo IT be able to reflect a more modern, digitalised age?
With a skilled, determined, and resilient team at the core, we will firmly establish and position ourselves as a ‘future ready’ organisation. We will transition to a modern IT estate, leveraging the latest tools and technologies, embedding a digital and cloud first approach, with a focus on driving value to market faster.
It’s an exciting time for IAG Cargo, and an even more exciting time to join our Cargo IT team.
Read more about career opportunities within IAG Cargo’s IT department here.