I am a Digital Health Innovator with 25 Years’ NHS experience across Best of Breed, Best in KLAS and Mega-suite EPR Strategies. With experience across systems integration, Major Project, Programme implementation and Strategy Development.
My career includes multiple 1st of types across the full spectrum of Acute Health Care Systems including Audio and Imaging Artificial Intelligence and Smart-Wearables.
Neil Perry
1 min read
Related Insights
SmartCo launches first white paper in new AI series
SmartCo has launched the first in a new white paper series exploring the real-world challenges and opportunities organisations face as AI adoption accelerates. The first paper, The Delivery Intelligence Gap: Why organisations are accumulating Delivery Intelligence Debt and how to close the gap with AI, examines how businesses can move beyond productivity gains and begin building the structured delivery intelligence needed for long-term success. The paper marks the start of a broader thought leadership series focused on enabling organisations to navigate AI. The series will look at the operational, delivery and governance questions leaders need to address if they want AI to create sustainable business value. Callum Campbell, Head of Clients & Growth at SmartCo, said: ‘This series is about helping organisations have a more practical conversation about AI. There is a lot of energy around the technology, but the real question is how that momentum translates into better decisions, stronger delivery and lasting organisational learning. We wanted to start by addressing one of the most important gaps we are seeing in the market.’ Callum Campbell, Head of Clients & Growth at SmartCo Sahar Khan, Transformation and AI expert in financial services added: ‘What matters now is not just whether teams are using AI, but whether they are using it in a way that improves how delivery is run, understood and governed. That is where many organisations still have work to do, and it is where this paper aims to offer a practical and experience-led perspective.’ Sahar Khan, Transformation and AI expert in financial services
SmartCo recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2026
We are thrilled to announce that SmartCo has been officially recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2026. The recognition was revealed at the UK’s Best Workplaces™ Awards held at the iconic Grosvenor House in London last night, 12th March 2026. The list celebrates organisations that go above and beyond to cultivate a workplace culture built on trust, inclusivity, and innovative people management. How we won this recognition To determine places, Great Place To Work® performed a rigorous, independent assessment. This involved analysing confidential feedback from our own team regarding their experiences of leadership effectiveness, company values and their ability to reach their full potential. The data insights gathered were then benchmarked against the UK’s most successful organisations. Only those businesses that achieve the highest scores for their employee value proposition and actual lived culture receive the “Best Workplaces” status. Our MD, Oliver Kane comments: ‘Being recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces is a brilliant milestone for SmartCo. As we’ve grown, we’ve worked hard to build an environment where everyone feels empowered to be innovative and grow. This recognition is a real reflection of the team we’ve built, a team that continues to push the boundaries of what we can achieve’. Oliver Kane Looking ahead We look forward to using the valuable insights provided by Great Place To Work® to continue evolving our culture, enhancing employee satisfaction and ensuring SmartCo remains a place where talent can thrive. We want to extend a huge thank you to every member of the SmartCo team for making this possible. Onwards and up.
Winners of the Business Awards UK for Best Customer Focus
We are incredibly proud to announce that SmartCo has been named the winner of the Business Awards UK for Best Customer Focus. This award recognises our commitment to prioritising client needs, demonstrating exceptional service, and building the long-term trust required to navigate complex digital landscapes. For us, this win validates our core philosophy of working as true partners rather than a third-party vendor. At SmartCo, we’ve always believed that relationships are the priority. Being recognised for the level of service and dedication we bring to every engagement is the ultimate win for our team and our culture. The judges assessed SmartCo on our hands on approach to delivery, particularly within high-risk programmes where continuity and reliability are critical. Our ability to maintain a 100% repeat business rate with FTSE 100 companies was a key factor in this achievement, showcasing that we don’t just deliver projects, we sustain excellence. Winning this award is a testament to the high calibre talent we’ve built at SmartCo. It validates our commitment to relationship driven partnership. Seeing our team’s dedication recognised at a national level is a proud moment for all of us. Well done team Adam Pizzie (Partner) This recognition marks an exciting step forward as we continue to scale our impact as a digital enablement partner. We remain committed to ensuring that every engagement isn’t just a successful project, but a transition to a more optimised future for our partners.
Welcome to Ana Maria Olaru
We’re excited to announce Ana Maria Olaru has joined SmartCo as Managing Consultant. Wishing you a warm welcome from the entire SmartCo team. We sat down with Ana Maria to ask her a few questions about her career path, her new role at SmartCo and what she’s most looking forward to about joining. Hi Ana Maria. What has been your career leading up to SmartCo? I’ve spent the last ten years across both consulting and industry in luxury and CPR, specialising in business transformation. I’ve led big programmes and supported global brands on digital and data initiatives, usually in roles that sit where strategy, operations, and technology need to line up. My focus has always been on making change clearer, more practical, and easier for teams to deliver day to day. What is your new role and key responsibilities? I have joined SmartCo as a Managing Consultant, leading client work in CPR as well as working alongside the Business Development team to support them with growing across Consumer Products and Retail. SmartCo is on a big growth journey, so my role is a mix of guiding delivery, building strong client relationships, and helping shape where we go next as a team and company. What excites you most about this new chapter in your career? What excites me most is the people and the culture. SmartCo is collaborative, straightforward, and refreshingly free of ego or jargon, just teams focused on doing good work together. It also feels like a place where you can bring your whole self, which is when I do my best work. Being part of a growing business on an exciting journey is also a major plus, and that mix is what drew me in. What makes SmartCo stand out? SmartCo stands out for its clarity and pace. The team focuses on what genuinely matters for clients and keeps things moving without unnecessary complexity. There’s a sense of energy and purpose in the work that feels inspiring rather than overwhelming, and that combination of focus and momentum is something I really value. How do you like to spend your free time? Outside of work, I love travelling, discovering great food, and finding any excuse to end up at a festival. I’m a committed Liverpool supporter (emotionally exhausting), a Dallas Cowboys fan (also emotionally exhausting), and I follow Ferrari and Hamilton in F1 which, unsurprisingly these days, is also emotionally exhausting. Safe to say I’m a big fan of chaos. When I’m not doing any of that and trying to somehow find peace, I’m usually with my dog, deep into a TV binge or helping my partner on his golf journey!
