Mercator Digital – a digital consultancy that designs, builds and delivers digital services for organisations globally – has created two senior leadership roles as part of plans to deepen its customer relationships and invest in emerging technologies including AI.
The new roles see two internal promotions, with Sheldon Gold appointed Chief Innovation Officer and Gillian Bates (pictured) appointed Chief Strategy Officer.
The appointments come as Mercator continues to scale its work transforming digital services for both public and private sector organisations worldwide, delivering solutions in the most straightforward way to create a more connected society.
Sheldon, previously Head of Design at Mercator, will lead the company’s Innovation and Efficiency strategic pillar, focusing on how emerging technologies, including AI, can support more efficient ways of working, enhance service delivery and help clients solve increasingly complex digital challenges.
With more than 25 years’ experience in design leadership, including 12 years working across UK public sector organisations such as HMRC, DSIT, DVLA and Cabinet Office, he has extensive experience helping complex organisations deliver meaningful digital change.
“Taking on this new role of Chief Innovation Officer is a shift in focus for me, and one I’m really excited about,” comments Sheldon. “But more importantly, the very creation of the role says a lot about where Mercator is heading and how seriously we take innovation as a driver of real value, rather than simply a buzzword. I’m looking forward to helping shape what comes next, and plan to lean heavily into AI, both in how we work and how we deliver for our clients and partners.”
Gillian, previously Head of Transformation at Mercator, brings more than 35 years’ experience in technology and digital delivery, including a decade at HMRC where she helped establish its first Digital Delivery Centre.
Having played a key role in supporting organisations through complex transformation programmes, as Chief Strategy Officer, she will lead on Mercator’s Strategy Formulation and Execution pillar to create consistency and alignment across the business. This involves analysing market trends, risks, and opportunities to drive growth and ensure organisational alignment and performance. Gillian will also lead on the company’s ongoing transformation programmes.
Gillian added: “Having worked in one of the largest central government departments for so long, I believe I have insight into how they approach challenges, how we can bring SME agility and innovation to even their largest projects, and how we can play a key role in our service integration partners’ ecosystems. For me, strategy is a set of choices that are based on our capabilities and ambition, and I am excited to support Marc and the team on the next phase of our success story.”
The creation of these roles forms part of Mercator’s plans to double down on maintaining its SME status for public sector procurement, and expand and diversify into new industry verticals and markets, such as sport.
“Mercator has always been built around bringing together deep technical expertise, strong partnerships and a genuine understanding of the challenges our clients face,” says Marc Churchouse, CEO and Co-Founder of Mercator Digital. “Creating these roles reflects both the strength of our existing leadership team and our ambition for the future. Sheldon and Gillian have already made a significant impact at Mercator, and these new positions will help us continue to innovate and deliver meaningful transformation for our clients.”
Mercator’s commitment to its people remains central to its growth, with the company regularly recognised as a Great Place to Work (GPTW), including being ranked #3 among the Best UK Medium-Sized Workplaces, in Europe’s top 100 and recognised as a Best Workplace for Women, Development, Wellbeing and Tech.