IAN IRELAND

Programme Leadership for Complex Change

Singapore +65 8123 7511 ian [at] ianireland.com linkedin.com/in/ianireland ianireland.com

Profile

Senior programme recovery and transformation leader with 25+ years across Europe and Asia: programme recovery, enterprise governance, data transformation, AML/KYC, nearshoring and process excellence. Brought into complex, in-flight programmes where delivery has stalled, governance has broken down or executive confidence has been lost — and restores all three. A regulated financial-services grounding, now applied to fast-growing, complex businesses in any sector.

Recognised for rapidly identifying the underlying organisational, governance and behavioural constraints preventing delivery — often before they become visible through conventional programme reporting.

Selected delivery outcomes

  • USD200M, 40+ markets: transaction monitoring roll-out that contributed to resolving a compliance monitorship (Standard Chartered).
  • USD70M, 32 countries: AML CDD solution deployed, reaching 10M clients and 30,000 employees (Standard Chartered).
  • USD13M: stalled credit card rewards programme revived; first market launched within 12 weeks (Standard Chartered).
  • USD30M: delayed data transformation at risk of write-off stabilised, with TMO and cloud data platform in place (Eastspring).
  • 60+ roles nearshored across five executive functions while maintaining regulatory compliance and risk posture (Eastspring).

Core capabilities

  • Programme and project recovery
  • Executive judgement and decision-making under pressure
  • Governance, PMO/TMO and operating-model design
  • AI-enabled delivery and programme intelligence

Experience

Aug 2026 – present

Independent Programme Control and Assurance Consultant (direct contract)

Digital Edge, Singapore · PE-backed pan-Asia data centre platform

Programme control and assurance on a live multi-SI enterprise systems transformation (ERP, CRM, financial consolidation, integration) ahead of a December 2026 go-live, advising the CFO (sponsor) and CEO on risk and readiness. Built the first integrated cross-SI delivery schedule and dependency model, and authored the programme’s delivery controls. First role outside financial services — the same work.

Apr 2023 – present

Executive Director (fractional)

Innovation Programmes and Projects (Singapore) Pte. Ltd

Resident director with company secretarial and governance responsibility for the Singapore entity. Advises the Hong Kong leadership team on business development, engagement shaping and governance uplift.

Jul 2023 – Jan 2026

Director, Strategic Projects (contract)

Eastspring Investments, Singapore

Brought in to stabilise a delayed USD30M enterprise data transformation at risk of write-off: diagnosed the true delivery position, redefined scope and restored executive confidence. Designed the enterprise Common Data Model and data governance operating model; led the Azure/Databricks cloud data platform. Established an enterprise-wide, KPI-driven Transformation Management Office, and stabilised a nearshoring initiative covering 60+ roles within MAS outsourcing guidelines.

Apr 2021 – present

Co-Founder, independent ventures and product development

Singapore

Co-founded Cornerstone (2021–2023), a transformation consultancy for FinTechs and VC-backed scale-ups in Southeast Asia, and ProjectONE (2022–2025), a workflow, governance and analytics platform for programme execution. Now building AI-enabled delivery tools, including the Programme Recovery Playbook (in development).

May 2013 – Apr 2019

Managing Director

Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore

  • Senior Delivery Lead, SAIL (2018–2019): co-led a USD200M transaction monitoring programme across 40+ markets and the transformation of a 400-person delivery organisation; contributed to resolving a long-standing compliance monitorship.
  • Senior Programme Director, ICDD (2014–2017): rebuilt the Retail AML CDD programme office and deployed a USD70M solution across 32 countries, reaching 10M clients and 30,000 employees.
  • Project Director, Project Virtue (contract, 2013–2014): revived a stalled USD13M credit card rewards programme; first market launched within 12 weeks.

Aug 2009 – Apr 2012

Director, Regional Head Asia Pacific, BARX Client Services Group

Barclays Capital, Singapore

Led regional e-commerce client service, FIX connectivity and client onboarding teams; delivered a leaner service mandate and operating model.

Feb 2000 – May 2009

Executive Director

UBS Wealth Management, Jersey and Singapore

Head of Project Management, then Head of Centre of Excellence, Operational Excellence (WMIT Asia Pacific). Took on a 120-person technology team and a failing project portfolio; introduced change discipline and governance standards adopted across the region.

Professional affiliations

Fellow, Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (FCSI) · Member, Project Management Institute · ITIL Foundation · Six Sigma Green Belt

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