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In further evidence that Atos UKI CEO Michael Herron means business in his endeavours to put the foundations in place for a return to profitable revenue growth next year, the company has announced the appointment of Mike Hill FBCS as its new Head of Data & AI for UK & Ireland.
This strategic hire represents another key piece in Herron's transformation puzzle, as he continues to build his leadership team with the right individuals to drive change. As Herron outlined in our recent "View from the Top" podcast (see *Watch now*: View from the Top - Atos UK&I's new CEO Michael Herron | TechMarketView), 2025 is about "fixing the foundations" to return to growth in 2026 – and Hill's appointment directly supports this vision. It also aligns with Herron's focus on "building a culture of a disciplined business and winning behaviours," a key pillar of his transformation strategy now entering the operational phase.
Hill brings impressive credentials from previous senior ICT roles in government, including Chief Digital Information Officer at the Cabinet Office (2022-2024) and Director of Police & Public Protection Technology at the UK Home Office (2020-2022). In the latter role, he delivered the CIO function to the Home Office Public Safety Group and Homeland Security Group Missions, while serving as Senior Responsible Owner for the National Law Enforcement Data Programme (NLEDP) and the National ANPR Service (NAS) Programme.
The appointment has particular significance for Atos's public sector ambitions. When Herron was at CGI (leading the UK Central Government business unit), the company secured significant strategic partner contracts with both the Cabinet Office and Home Office during Hill's tenure at these organisations, suggesting a strong working relationship and potential alignment in approach.
As Herron builds his executive team, he's following a deliberate strategy: one-third previous leadership picks, one-third from Atos's emerging talent pool, and one-third external hires bringing fresh perspectives. Hill falls into this third category, bringing not only data and AI expertise but also an established network across central government that could prove invaluable as Atos rebuilds momentum.
In his LinkedIn announcement, Hill expressed enthusiasm about joining "a fantastic Atos team" and noted that his early interactions revealed "a lot of passion, commitment and capability; supported by a positive and empowering culture."
This appointment comes as Atos works to overcome recent challenges (Atos Q125: Reflection of 2024 client caution | TechMarketView). However, as noted in our recent coverage, Herron has hit all UK&I Q1 financial budget targets he inherited and is progressing in exiting low-margin contracts while positioning for a 2026 revenue rebound. Evidence that his actions are taking effect transpired in Q1 with the UKI rolling 12-month book-to-bill standing at 104%, and a significant reduction in the cost base.
For more insights on Atos's transformation journey and Herron's leadership approach, listen to our recent "View from the Top" podcast featuring an in-depth conversation with the UK&I CEO.
Posted by: Georgina O'Toole at 09:27