Get to know… Our CEO – David Tuck

As of September 2nd, you became Waracle CEO, but for those who don’t know… could you tell us about your career before joining Waracle?

I have worked in technology services for 25 years, across a wide range of different roles and companies including Gartner, Thoughtworks, Scott Logic and The App Business, which over the course of the last five years became Kin + Carta . During this time, I’ve seen first-hand some amazing leaps forward in our industry from Agile, mobile  & cloud to more recent developments with data and AI.

My most recent role was as Group Chief Executive – Europe for Kin + Carta, where I led the integration of our UK businesses and expansion into new industry verticals, new services and new countries across Europe.

I’ve always been passionate about how, the application of technology can make a positive difference on people’s lives.

I feel a great sense of pride knowing that digital products and experiences that my teams have built are being used by millions of people.

What did you see in Waracle that made you excited for the challenge?

In short… A great culture with talented people working to deliver transformational outcomes for clients.

I’ve known Waracle and some of the Waracle leadership team for a while now and I saw the potential for the business to accelerate it’s growth trajectory and increase the impact of the work our teams are doing.

I think my skillset and experience aligns to the the three to five year vision for Waracle perfectly.

What do you think the key components of a successful technology services business are going into 2025 and beyond?

Deep industry expertise and knowledge, technical and design excellence, and a passion for driving our clients success! Alongside that, a culture of learning that aligns with a coherent set of brand values, principles and work practices.

In my opinion, that is what creates a great employee experience and an environment where people care about the quality of the work.

The final ingredient for success, is in ensuring that we are always one or two steps ahead, so we can help our clients navigate emerging technologies and trends.

How would you describe your leadership style?

My management style involves supporting, advocating for and inspiring others to create positive change in the business.

I’m a big believer that we should want to win and, as such, we should set out a clear direction towards success that everyone can align with. If we do that correctly then my job as CEO, alongside the management team around me, should be to model the right behaviours, operate with integrity, set the bar for quality… then serve our people.

I have always had a positive, optimistic outlook. Like Bob Iger of Disney once said “Optimism sets a different machine in motion… The people you lead need to feel confident in your ability to focus on what matters, and not to operate from a place of defensiveness and self-preservation.” I would like to think I have the ability to maintain both a pragmatic and enthusiastic outlook, even when I am faced with challenges.

You are a voracious reader, especially of business and leadership books, what one book that you have read recently has had the biggest impact on you?

I won’t necessarily refer to ones I have read recently, but two that had a big impact on me, were ‘Shoe Dog’ and ‘Unlearn’.

Shoe Dog is a tale of unrelenting business vision in the pursuit of success. Phil Knight is a genius entrepreneur and hearing first hand the intricacies of growing a business from a shoe importer working to get Onitsuke Tigers into the U.S through to starting his own shoe company and signing athletes like Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi, is a testament to the human spirit, as much as it is an ode to business acumen.

Unlearn is an amazing book by Barry O’Reilly that shows why business leaders can’t let past success define their future value. It’s a book that really isolated for me why it is so important to rethink strategies, tactics, capabilities and approaches in service of revitalising an organisation.

It‘s full of powerful statements that focus you on lifelong learning and a need for humility in your work endeavours.

Outside of work, what are you passionate about? Tell us about a perfect weekend day off.

I am a husband and father to two incredible daughters, which is a privilege and a joy.

I am also a sports fan and love being active. So…

The perfect day would consist of cycling, football, good food, a movie and a nice glass of wine, in the company of my family… and my dog!

If you were to encapsulate your first week in Waracle in a single statement, what would it be?

Busy, productive and full of great conversations.

I am loving getting to know the people, the processes and the digital products we’ve built on behalf of our amazing clients!