Mike Clowes
Digital Transformation Leader & Business Strategist
35 years of experience developing digital enterprises for global corporations and advising boards, executive teams, and investors across a wide range of industries.
Profile
Board level & advisory leadership – large corporates to angel startups.
Extensive experience in operational management, leadership and digital transformation across both commercial and public sectors.
35 years of experience developing digital enterprises for global corporations and advising boards, executive teams, and investors across a wide range of industries.
Career has evolved from guiding the BBC into the emerging digital era in the 1990s, as first Editorial Director for BBC Online, to building a transformation-focused health organisation delivering solutions to the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Experience
CEO
Islington GP Federation
Leading an award-winning national exemplar of at-scale primary and community care, employing 300+ staff, delivering services from 20+ locations.
- Grew organization into leading example of NHS Multi-Neighbourhood Provider model
- Implemented major digital transformation programmes including WhatsApp bot trials and AI voice/scripting pilots
- Serve on Islington's Health & Wellbeing Board and co-chair the Borough Partnership
Consultant
Business & Digital Transformation
Helped organisations apply digital technology to transform their business, create new products and services.
- Secured funding and led delivery of award-winning NHS Extended GP Access programme
- Conceived and developed the world's first Digital War Memorial with British Library and Imperial War Museum
- Steered complex technical turnaround for DC Thomson's Findmypast.com
Co-founder & COO
askpeopleyouknow.com
Founded, scaled, and successfully exited a pioneering social media platform built around the collaborative economy.
- Secured multiple funding rounds and strategic partnerships
- Built platform around collaborative economy principles
VP Consumer Publishing
AOL (UK & Europe)
Led AOL's expansion from market-leading internet service provider to a top UK & EU media company.
- Achieved >10× revenue growth in three years
- Delivered exclusive UK launches of Google Search and Apple Music on AOL
- Oversaw largest global internet live stream in history at that time - London's 2005 Live8 event
Editorial/Creative Director
BBC Digital
Worked with BBC Director General to implement the BBC's first internet publishing initiatives.
- Secured technology partnerships with Microsoft, Fujitsu and other suppliers
- Oversaw delivery of infrastructure to make BBC Online the biggest website of the early digital era
- Established foundational culture of BBC Digital
Key Skills
Leadership
- Strategic leadership
- People leadership & development
- Stakeholder management
- Results orientation
Strategy
- Innovation and strategic thinking
- Collaborative design & decision-making
- Political and system awareness
- Digital transformation
Communication
- Effective communication
- Integrity and professionalism
- Resilience and composure
- Board-level advisory
Testimonials
"Mike is a uniquely constructive disruptor in a system that needs exactly that."
Jonathan O'Sullivan
Islington Director of Public Health
"Mike is great at understanding people and how they use digital technology in a very insightful, human way."
Graham Bednash
Google UK Marketing Director
"End of a very positive era."
Tim Hodgson
MD of UCH/Specialist Hospitals Board
"Mike is a courageous, strategically focused and inspirational collaborator. His continuous effort in navigating through a complex and slow system are inspiring and a lesson for us all in fantastic stakeholder management."
Anonymous
Islington GP Federation board member, 360 appraisal feedback 2024/25
Get in Touch
Interested in discussing digital transformation, board advisory, or strategic leadership opportunities?
Education
Mini MBA - Ashridge (1996, BBC)
BA/MA Typography & Graphic Communication - 2.1