Ashton Thorogood

About Ashton Thorogood

I am a versatile and results-driven professional with extensive experience in developing and executing transformative IT strategies that align with business goals across diverse environments. I excel in leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, blockchain, and cloud computing, to deliver innovative solutions and enhance operational efficiency.With a strong leadership background in implementing Agile methodologies, I foster a culture of innovation and optimize IT solutions to support scalability and growth. I am known for building strategic partnerships and driving digital transformation initiatives that propel organizational success. Passionate about using technology to achieve a competitive advantage, I consistently deliver exceptional value to stakeholders.Areas of Expertise:• Enterprise Architecture• Cloud-Native Solutions• Agile Transformation• Talent Development• DevSecOps• AI/ML Implementation• Strategic IT Leadership• Business-IT Alignment• FinTech Domain Knowledge• Blockchain/Digital Assets• Innovation Management• Data Strategy

Experience

1. AVP, Chief IT Architect

   Venerable

   Nov 2019 — Present · West Chester, PA, US

   In this role, I conceptualize and deliver platforms that democratize data access and solve critical business challenges. I engage directly with Quants, Actuaries, and Portfolio Managers within Finance and Risk Groups to understand business needs and opportunities. I formulate enterprise modernization strategies and execute the development of self-service data management, Master Data Services, vertical teams, and co-development frameworks. I advocate for and support the transitioning from traditional project-centric and functional teams to Agile Product Delivery Teams. Additionally, I sponsor bi-monthly Venerable Tech Talks to foster knowledge sharing and innovation.Key Accomplishments:• Successfully integrating cutting-edge tools, such as Jetbrains Datalore, Sigma Computing, GitHub CoPilot, and AWS Q/Developer, by identifying deficiencies in the existing toolset, conducting investigations, and piloting solutions.• Leading successful proof-of-concepts, including pioneering an AI-enabled Enterprise Search initiative and facilitating joint brainstorming sessions to identify and prioritize AI use cases.• Steering the development of Venerable’s AI Adoption Framework (Governance), aligning with strategic objectives.• Formulating comprehensive strategies for Data Management and DevSecOps that encompass technical advancements, staffing realignments and cultural transformation.

Education

• University of Pennsylvania

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science

• Drexel University

  Master of Science - MS, Information Systems

Skills

• Architecture
• Business Analysis
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Market Data
• Analysis
• Databases
• Pl/Sql
• Architectures
• Agile Methodologies
• Brokerage
• Sql
• Service-Oriented Architecture (Soa)
• Business Intelligence
• Software Development
• Trading Systems
• Database Design
• Accounting System
• C#
• Oracle
• Requirements Analysis
• Finance
• Web Services
• Data Warehousing
• Data Modeling
• Distributed Systems
• Sdlc
• Enterprise Software
• Enterprise Architecture
• IT Strategy
• Commercial Banking
• Requirements Gathering
• Soa
• Software Project Management