Kevin Baxter is Group CIO for KPMG UK and Switzerland. He has held IT leadership positions for some of the world’s biggest brand across a wide variety of industries such as Finance, Media, Energy, Pharmaceuticals and Professional Services. He has led diverse and global teams, running many large programmes of technical, digital, business and operational change. He was previously Chairman of the British Computer Society Standards Committee and has a Master’s Degree in ‘IT Service Management’.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with CIO Magazine, Kevin shared insights into his journey in technology, the evolving role of the CIO, and the opportunities for innovation in professional services. He also shared his passion for exercise, travel, and giving back to the community. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Kevin. How did you first become interested in technology and what propelled you into it?
My very first job was working on a first-line IT Service Desk, trying to fix corrupted structured query language databases within an impossible service level agreement! We worked in long shifts across 24 hours and to this day, it was by far the hardest job I’ve ever done. In many ways, it was the perfect first job, as after a few months, I was completely hooked on the pressure and adrenaline but also became convinced that technology could be managed in a much better and much more proactive way; I’ve been implementing those proactive principles in various organisations and various industries ever since.
What do you love the most about your current role?
I was a KPMG customer for a decade before I became a KPMG employee and always admired their approach to business challenges. It is the most ambitious company I have worked for and some of the things we have done in my two years at KPMG UK include a full data centre exit to the cloud, re-sourcing all of our managed service agreements and merging the entire UK firm with the KPMG Swiss firm. It’s been really fun, and I’m working with exceptional people.
What do you believe are the most significant opportunities for technology to drive innovation in professional services?
It’s impossible to think of a limitation to the opportunities that are available to us now and there has never been a more exciting time to be working in professional services. Every aspect of the work KPMG does for our clients has already been enhanced by a mixture of AI, Automation and Integration from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Some of the technology changes we have made over the last 18 months mean that KPMG can provide faster, more accurate and more efficient services than ever before. That work continues and there are some amazing developments in the pipeline.
How have you seen the role of the CIO change in the last 5-10 years, and what changes do you see on the horizon in the years ahead?
Being a CIO has never been easier than it is today, as there are just such an incredible amount of opportunities to drive improvements through the business. We no longer need to ‘sell’ the benefits of technology to our business colleagues and customers, they already know it, they feel it and they want the help of the CIO to fulfil the potential of that technology. That is a big and exciting change for me.
Can you share a book, podcast, or resource that inspires you, and why?
The book I return to again and again is Hans Rosling “Factfulness”. It’s an incredible read and it lays out our place in the world in the clearest way possible.
What does the term “authentic leadership” mean to you?
Authentic leadership is a bit of an older term now but still relevant as we all aspire for a world based on an agreed set of values. At KPMG, one of our core values is “Trusted to Make the Difference,” which means we strive to help our clients, our people and the communities we live and work in. This is what Authentic Leadership feels like to me.
Can you share a mentor or role model who has had a significant impact on your career, and what advice they gave you?
My father probably had the biggest impact on my career, although he never touched a computer in his life! He ran his own plant-hire business for decades through various economic climates and multiple recessions. He had an amazing way of dealing with people and an incredible work ethic. I’m still aspiring to get to that level.
What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do in your time off?
My role involves being sat down for most of the day so outside of work I like to do as much exercise as I can. I do Crossfit each day, play tennis whenever I can and I’m a keen supporter of my local football team, Reading FC. Travelling has also been important to me too and I’ve enjoyed visiting slightly more unusual places likes Uzbekistan, Alaska, Iceland, Costa Rica, Cambodia etc.
What is your biggest goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
I am a bit embarrassed to say that even though KPMG give us dedicated free time to spend in the charity sector, I simply haven’t done enough of that. KPMG UK’s current national charity partner is Fareshare, which is a fantastic organisation specialising in surplus food distribution to other frontline charities and so my biggest goal over the next few years is to try and maximise the time I spend helping them.
What advice would you give to aspiring CIOs or technology leaders?
It’s a bit of a cliché but I would say that you should always try to be the most optimistic and positive person in the room. Be someone who people enjoy working with. Be supportive of other people and supportive of new ideas. In my experience, the best and most talented people in the team also happen to be most enthusiastic about new technology, new ideas and new ways of working.