A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in Culture and Ownership.

My role, as CEO of NTT DATA Inc. in the UK and Ireland, is to be the chief strategist, the chief cheerleader, and the chief storyteller. I want to help build a unique position in the market leveraging our Japanese heritage and our technological advantages; get the team excited with a genuine sense of ownership in what we’re building and finally share with our clients and partners the successes we are having and the problems we are helping solve.

Leadership is about more than setting direction – it’s about creating an environment where people feel ownership of their work and are empowered to make an impact and culture is the foundation of business success. I believe that the best ideas emerge when people feel a genuine stake in what they are building. My approach is centered around three key principles:

• Strategic Clarity: Making sure that NTT DATA’s mission and direction are clear to every employee.
• Empowered Teams: Encouraging autonomy, decision-making, and entrepreneurial thinking at every level.
• Storytelling & Influence: Sharing successes, internally and externally, to inspire confidence in NTT DATA’s vision and capabilities.

If we can create a culture where people take something valuable home with them every day – whether it’s a lesson, an achievement, or a new idea – we are building something truly special.

This philosophy doesn’t just apply within NTT DATA; it extends to how the company partners with clients, fostering long-term relationships built on trust, shared vision, and innovation.

The CEO-COO Dynamic: Leading Through Partnership

No CEO leads alone. One of the most important aspects of leadership is having the right partnership with a strong COO. I see the CEO role as focused on the big picture; where we want to go, how we differentiate, and how we stay ahead in the market. The COO, meanwhile, ensures that our vision is executed with precision and discipline. A great CEO-COO relationship is built on mutual challenge and trust. The COO makes sure we don’t just think big, but that we deliver.

At NTT DATA, this balance allows us to drive innovation at scale while maintaining operational excellence. This is a crucial dynamic for our clients, particularly in financial services, where regulatory pressures and AI-driven transformation are reshaping the landscape.

Building a Competitive Edge in Financial Services

Financial institutions are at a critical inflection point. The next wave of innovation is being driven by Generative AI, which is transforming every layer of banking, from back-office operations to front-end customer interactions. This shift is creating immense opportunities, but also significant pressure on budgets. More than ever, banks must ensure they are investing in the right partnerships to navigate IT adoption and transformation efficiently and effectively.

At NTT DATA, we have witnessed firsthand how Generative AI is embedding intelligence into every facet of the banking industry. It is redefining the relationship between banks and their data, unlocking faster and deeper analysis of structured and unstructured information. This transformation is enhancing decision-making, improving operational efficiency, and driving more personalised customer experiences across retail banking, investment banking, and wealth management.

Our recent research shows that banking C-suite leaders not only recognise the disruptive potential of Generative AI, but they are also highly ambitious in their plans to adopt it. However, successful implementation requires more than just technology, it demands the right expertise and strategic partnerships. Banks are increasingly seeking trusted partners who can help them integrate AI in a way that drives real business outcomes for shareholders, employees, and customers alike.

Most executives we work with see Generative AI playing a key role in three critical areas:

• Collaborative AI-human workflows: AI will augment human workers rather than replace them, enhancing productivity and decision-making.
• Hybrid integration: Banks will need to combine Generative AI with existing systems, leveraging a hybrid approach to maximise efficiency without disrupting core operations.
• API integrations – AI solutions will be seamlessly connected to existing software and databases through APIs, ensuring interoperability across banking ecosystems.

At NTT DATA, we share this vision. Our global capabilities, combined with deep domain expertise in banking, allow us to tailor AI solutions to the specific needs of the UK&I financial services market. More importantly, we believe in a partnership-driven approach, where we invest in our clients’ success as much as they do, ensuring that AI and digital transformation drive measurable impact and long-term value.

Navigating the Future: AI, Innovation, Sustainability and Culture

As a leader, I have to balance immediate priorities with a long-term vision. Right now, I see three forces shaping the future of financial services: AI, sustainability, and culture.

AI has the power to embed intelligence into every layer of banking, from core systems to customer interactions. But realising this potential requires more than just deploying the technology. Strong governance, ethical considerations, and workforce readiness are all critical factors in ensuring that AI enhances decision-making rather than creating new risks.

The financial services sector is uniquely positioned to take advantage of AI’s capabilities, but success will depend on how well banks and institutions integrate it into existing workflows. This is where collaboration becomes essential, with banks increasingly looking to trusted partners to help them bridge the gap between ambition and execution.

Sustainability remains a business imperative. The financial sector is under growing pressure to align with ESG goals, and technology plays a crucial role in making that happen. Whether it’s modernising legacy infrastructure to reduce energy consumption, using AI to optimise risk management, or developing sustainable finance strategies, the decisions being made today will shape the industry for decades to come. Technology can be an enabler of sustainability, but only if organisations take a proactive approach and build sustainability into their digital transformation strategies from the outset.

Finally, culture is just as important as technology when it comes to driving lasting change. The companies that will succeed in the future are those that invest in their people, create a culture of learning, and empower employees to lead transformation. No matter how advanced AI or digital platforms become, businesses will always be powered by people. Investing in the right talent, the right partnerships, and the right ideas is what will determine long-term success.

At NTT DATA, we believe in building a future where technology, sustainability, and culture come together to create lasting impact. Leadership is not about predicting the future, but about creating the conditions for success. If we focus on innovation, responsible AI, and empowering people, we’ll drive meaningful change.

Ultimately, my vision for the future is one of partnership and growth. We need to invest to deepen our knowledge of our clients’ operations and challenges. That is the only road to become their trusted advisor and that goal is the North Star that guides everything we do.

Niccolo Spataro’s career has taken him around the world, from Italy to Latin America, the US, and now the UK and Ireland. As CEO of NTT DATA, Inc. in the UK and Ireland (UK&I), Niccolo brings a global perspective, entrepreneurial mindset, and a relentless focus on culture and leadership. Under his guidance, NTT DATA is not only delivering technology-driven innovation to clients but also cultivating a high-performance culture that empowers people to take ownership and drive transformation. Niccolo believes that technology alone is not enough. Success hinges on leadership, collaboration, and an adaptive, learning-focused culture. Niccolo’s philosophy is clear: NTT DATA isn’t just about providing solutions, it’s about enabling clients, partners, and employees to thrive in a complex, digital-first world.