Opencast appoints Jason Kay as Digital & Technology Services Director

Technology consultancy Opencast Software has appointed Jason Kay as Digital & Technology Services Director. The digital transformation specialist has held leading roles amid a number of public and private sector digitalisation drives, including the creation of HMRC’s flagship digital delivery centre in Newcastle.

Founded in 2012, Opencast Software is an enterprise technology consultancy, specialising in building and running systems for global financial services, the government and other public bodies. The Newcastle headquartered firm employs more than 100 staff across the UK, with offices in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It delivers practical and measurable technology solutions for clients including Central Government departments, JP Morgan, Sage, Morgan Stanley and the NHS.

The firm boasts ambitious growth plans in the years ahead, which include employing 300 people by the end of 2025. As part of this tripling of its headcount, Opencast will be looking to increase its presence in the Government services arena – something its latest hire represents important progress in.

Joining as Digital & Technology Services Director, Jason Kay brings over 25 years of experience in digital transformation and technology to the firm, with his expertise spanning both public and private sector organisations. Before joining Opencast, he held a number of senior leadership and executive roles, including CTO, CIO and CDIO, at companies such as Bupa, BP, Citizens Advice, the Home Office, NHS Choices, Benenden Health, and the Ministry of Defence.

Opencast CEO Tom Lawson commented, “Hiring someone of Jason’s calibre will enable us to build upon the success we’ve experienced over the last few years and in 2020 in particular. At Opencast, we are committed to hiring the best talent and developing our existing team members. We want to be a place where technology specialists can thrive, where clients return because our approach gets results, and where our collaborative approach to technology services is clear to see.”  

Most notably, Jason was enlisted by HMRC to head up and lead the creation of its flagship digital delivery centre in Newcastle, leading the vision for how HMRC should digitise its operations and enable customers to access services digitally. As part of this, he delivered a new modern agile digital capability that could not only deliver customer centric digital products and services, significantly changing how HMRC engaged with its customers, and saved millions of pounds in efficiencies. He grew the centre from start-up to 400 people in a year.

Due to its success, the Newcastle Digital Centre became the blueprint for further delivery centres for HMRC in the UK, and the wider adoption of Government Digital Services.

Kay himself stated, “I have known the Opencast team for quite some time and have always been impressed by their approach to digital and technology transformation. The team are not only committed to delivering a great and innovative client service, but also to ensuring that technology can be used as a force for good to help society and the region’s tech community. Opencast has ambitious plans for the future, and I am pleased to be joining the team at such a pivotal time in its growth.”