Chris Tilbury

Chris Tilbury

Programme Manager · PMO Director · Transformation Lead

info@christilbury.uk · London, UK

Download CV (PDF)

Professional Profile

Senior Programme Manager and PMO Director with a 25+ year track record of delivering complex, high-stakes programmes across financial services, the NHS, central government, and consulting. Proven expertise in programme and portfolio management, PMO setup and leadership, programme recovery, change management, and benefits realisation — across both Agile and Waterfall environments.

Recently led major NHS cloud migrations, M365/Azure transformations, cyber security programmes, and large-scale systems builds for UK government bodies. Trusted to take on the toughest engagements — those with ambiguity, political sensitivity, or delivery risk — and stabilise them, rebuild stakeholder confidence, and drive results. Known for a calm, pragmatic style, strong RAID discipline, and the ability to align teams, suppliers, and senior stakeholders around a clear plan.

Core Competencies

Delivery & Governance

  • Programme Management
  • Portfolio Management
  • PMO Setup & Leadership
  • Project Recovery
  • Risk & RAID Management
  • Benefits Realisation
  • Change Management
  • Governance Frameworks
  • Full Lifecycle Delivery

Technology

  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure
  • SharePoint Online
  • Power Platform (Apps & Automate)
  • Tenant-to-Tenant Migration
  • Cloud Transformation
  • Cyber Security
  • Infrastructure Programmes
  • MS Project / EPM

Sectors

  • Financial Services
  • Banking & Insurance
  • NHS
  • Public Sector & Central Government
  • Consulting
  • Oil & Gas
  • Telecoms
  • Pharmaceuticals

Leadership & Stakeholder

  • Senior Stakeholder Management
  • Supplier & Vendor Management
  • Resource Management
  • Cross-functional Team Leadership
  • Offshore Team Management
  • Executive Reporting
  • SLA / OLA Definition

Methodology

  • Agile
  • Waterfall
  • PRINCE2
  • PMP
  • MSP
  • Hybrid Delivery

Career History

Programme Manager · Trustmarque

Aug 2022 – Present · Remote

  • Delivered two Azure tenant-to-tenant migrations for NHS Connect — 7,500 and 9,000 users — each completed end-to-end in under nine months on budgets of £500k–£750k, against tight NHS deadlines.
  • Led a three-year M365 implementation for Coventry Building Society (25,000 users, multi-million-pound budget), including full adoption of SharePoint Online across the organisation.
  • Programme-managed an on-premises SharePoint and file migration to SharePoint Online for a major reinsurance company, including a new SharePoint Online intranet.
  • Oversaw critical Cyber Security and AI initiatives for NHS organisations, enhancing operational resilience and security posture.
  • Recovered a multi-year Power Platform development project for a UK government arms-length inspectorate — taken on at risk, stabilised, and returned to confident delivery.
  • Programme-managed the migration of legacy Lotus Notes applications to Power Platform for a large international engineering company over a multi-year engagement.
  • Joined initially to recover several high-profile, at-risk projects — all successfully resolved — before being appointed Programme Manager.

Founding Partner / Principal Consultant · Tilbury-Watson Associates (Self-employed)

Aug 2015 – Mar 2021 · London · Remote

  • Co-founded a software consultancy focused on business development and assured technology delivery for SME clients.
  • Scoped and sized diverse software development projects, ensuring sound governance, effective resource allocation, and successful outcomes.
  • Acted as account manager, navigating budget constraints while maintaining client satisfaction and project integrity.

Programme Manager – Reducing Reoffending Partnership · Ingeus (Contract)

Jun 2016 – Jul 2017 · London & Birmingham

  • Managed technical enablement for the Reducing Reoffending Partnership in collaboration with the UK Ministry of Justice.
  • Oversaw multiple workstreams across London and Birmingham, ensuring compliant integration with confidential MOJ data.
  • Refocused and recovered the programme workstreams, making them a critical enabler for probation operational efficiency in the Midlands.

Senior Programme Manager – AML · Royal Bank of Scotland (Contract)

Sep 2011 – Nov 2015 · London

  • Led delivery of the eFlex CPB AML programme from inception, establishing infrastructure, toolsets, governance, and remote team working practices.
  • Managed a portfolio of 40+ projects (£50k–£5m) with cross-functional teams of up to 100 people, including offshore teams in India.
  • Addressed FCA Section 166 findings relating to AML compliance, delivering across all workstreams over a four-year programme lifecycle.
  • Delivered complex data integration from internal bank systems and external suppliers, defining SLAs/OLAs essential to ongoing system health.

Senior Project Manager · Microsoft Consulting (Contract) — Client: Nationwide Bank

Apr 2011 – Sep 2011 · Reading

  • Led a critical, at-risk workstream within the Faster Payments programme, ensuring delivery of Payment Services Directive obligations.
  • Led teams of up to 15 FTEs through final delivery, managing senior stakeholder communication and transitioning Microsoft Consulting projects into the client portfolio.

PMO Director (Interim) · Smiths Group plc

Oct 2010 – Feb 2011 · Slough

  • Established demand management controls, delivery monitoring, quality assurance, and benefits realisation frameworks for the group PMO.

Programme Manager / Project Office Lead · BG Group (British Gas)

Sep 2008 – Oct 2010 · London

  • Led the Global Project Office for the Infrastructure strand of a major IT Transformation programme, managing direct budgets of £1m+ and indirect budgets of £2.5m+.
  • Established and led an effective PMO while implementing systemic improvements to programme management and governance practices globally.
  • Engaged with the Enterprise Portfolio Office to deliver updated processes and best practice aligned to group standards.

Portfolio Management Consultant · Mizuho Corporate Bank

Mar 2008 – Aug 2008 · London

  • Assessed and developed options for improving the bank's MI and planning capabilities at portfolio level.

Project Manager · Lloyds Banking Group (Contract)

Jul 2007 – Feb 2008 · London

  • Managed a workstream within the Basel II compliance programme, delivering regulatory change to required standards and timescales.

Project Manager · HSBC Investment Bank (Contract)

Oct 2006 – Jun 2007 · London

  • Refreshed the PMO function for the FIERCE Programme and provided hands-on delivery leadership across critical workstreams.

Earlier Career

Legal & General · Project Manager

Dec 2005 – Sep 2006

Implemented MS Project Server across the organisation.

Shell · Release & Development Manager

Mar 2005 – Dec 2005

Managed global enhancement requests and implementation for the PM toolset platform.

Avanade · Senior Manager, Project Management Practice

Apr 2004 – Dec 2005

Delivered projects across banking, pharma, and oil & gas sectors.

Pfizer · Project Manager

Apr 2004 – Oct 2004

Delivered programme management toolset and reorganised PMO function.

DPR Consulting · Head of eCommerce Delivery

2001 – 2004

Led eCommerce delivery across financial services, asset management, and wealth management clients.

Open Business Solutions · Senior Consultant

Jan 1999 – Dec 2001

Delivered technology projects across the international telecoms sector.

Education

  • MSc Astrophysics (Merit) · Imperial College London
  • BSc Computing Science (2:1) · University of Greenwich

Certifications

  • PMP · PMI · Nov 2002
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner · Aug 2001