About me

My Story

I’m Rick Stock, a technology and digital transformation leader with wide experience across start-ups, corporate, and public sector environments.

I specialise in strategy, product and programme delivery, with strong team and stakeholder management skills.

At the beginning of my career I led both large and small teams delivering software and services into markets across Europe and globally. I then worked at at board level as a CTO and Director of Technology for a series of successful venture-capital backed start-ups.

Although I started work in the private sector, I’ve concentrated in the last 10 years or so around the public sector, working in a wide variety of senior roles in major UK government departments, as well as performing a number of consulting and training engagements for other governments internationally.

I bring an in-depth understanding of digital technologies and agile service development, along with real-world experience in managing people and major programs. I’m adept at getting organisations and teams in order, delivering services, systems and content, and implementing digital strategies end-to-end.

Since 2006 I’ve worked as an independent consultant through my company, RS Digital Ltd, whose website you’re reading this page on.

For most of that time I’ve worked as either an interim or contractor, and my natural preference is still for those types of roles. Note I’m always open to a conversation about becoming a full-time employee if the role is interesting, possible and rewarding, I have been successfully persuaded previously.

Over my career I have done things like:

• Led European product and technology teams for a FTSE100 Telco that introduced innovations like Europe’s first over the air music download service
• Worked in a VC start-up and launched the first major Hollywood Studio online video service in Europe
• As CTO and then General Manager for another digital start-up worked with all of the major label music labels to launch a white-label streaming platform with a series of major brands in the UK
• Designed, set-up and ran the first DWP Digital Academy, one of the first major digital capability building initiatives in UK Government which went on to be adopted by the Government Digital Service and train thousands of civil servants across the UK
• As an interim programme lead, ran the digital transformation programmes at two major UK Government departments, DEFRA, and then UKRI, steadying the ship as well as delivering many innovative services like Rod Licensing
• Worked on numerous other projects and programmes for UK Government including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Centre for Digital Public Services in Wales and HM Land Registry.

In 2024 the things I did included:

• Finishing up a multi-year contract to build and lead a special operations team for the UK Ministry of Justice focussing on service delivery into UK prisons. Optimising digital delivery and management processes, and acting as a portfolio and strategy adviser.
• A consultancy engagement reviewing current operations and looking at ways to grow government digital skills and capability for a Caribbean Government.
• Working with a multi-national publishing company on a project to optimise productivity by linking up the exchange of work and data between their clients and suppliers.
• Completed numerous fractional consultancy engagements.

You can check out my LinkedIn profile to see an overview of the roles I’ve done working on an interim or contract basis, as well as my broader career history.

Rates and Availability

My standard interim rate is surprisingly reasonable and probably less than you think, I’m based in London in the UK, and I’m open to flexible, remote, or hybrid working arrangements.

Currently I’m available from around the end of January 2025 with the possibility of an immediate start.

If I can help out with something you’re working on, or you just fancy a conversation to hear more, get in touch to schedule a chat via my appointments booking page.