Olu Ade

I’m a strategic Data Governance & Data Risk leader with 10+ years’ experience designing and embedding enterprise-wide governance, privacy, and AI risk frameworks across global financial services. I build governance capabilities from inception to maturity—establishing data ownership models, privacy-by-design practices, and operating mechanisms that stand up to audit and regulators.

In my current role at Santander UK, I’m accountable for delivering an enterprise Data Governance and Data Risk capability across cloud and on-premise environments. I expanded scope to include AI governance and model risk oversight, and I work as a trusted advisor to CDO, CRO, DPO, and CIO stakeholders to drive executive accountability, regulatory alignment, and organization-wide adoption.

Across governance, privacy, and risk programs, I’ve operationalised GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act requirements through practical controls: DPIAs for high-risk use cases, RoPA coverage aligned to UK GDPR, data classification and PII controls enforced via tooling and access controls, and data quality dashboards tied to regulatory datasets. I also structure governance operating models using RACI, role charters, governance forums, and risk registers aligned to risk appetite—mapping controls to ISO/IEC 27001 for control assurance.

Previously at AXA Insurance, I helped transition from ad hoc governance to a structured, GDPR-compliant operating model—improving reporting accuracy and delivering measurable savings through automation. Earlier at PwC UK, I delivered data governance, data quality, and MDM programs for multiple clients, embedding ownership models and data lifecycle documentation into large-scale transformations, and at Expleo Group I supported Agile product delivery and regulatory-aligned data handling for a digital investment platform.