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New Chief Product and Technology Officer to lead xDesign’s evolution

xDesign, the Edinburgh-headquartered owner-operated product and software engineering company, has appointed Jeff Watkins as its first chief product and technology officer.

Jeff has joined xDesign’s executive team, where he will lead and help to evolve the award-winning firm’s technology and engineering capabilities, ensuring closer integration with the company’s products. A self-confessed “lifetime technologist” – having started coding when he was six years old – Jeff’s career has taken him from working in financial services to healthcare and retail as a principal architect. Most recently, he was chief for technology at AND Digital.

Jeff’s appointment follows a record year of growth for the software engineering organisation which has also seen its team quadruple to over 200 since opening a new office in Leeds last July. Euan Andrews, CEO of xDesign, said:

“Jeff’s appointment marks the next phase of xDesign’s evolution as we continue to scale at pace. Our people remain a key focus and we invest in the team’s learning, development and wellbeing as a priority. Jeff brings a wealth of experience that will provide valuable support to our product and engineering teams as we work to achieve ambitious growth plans. It’s clear that technology is in Jeff’s DNA and he will be applying his vast knowledge across our teams, but he also has the enviable capability to inspire people and to help achieve commercial growth. With these attributes, he will be a vital addition to our team.”

Jeff Watkins, chief product and technology officer at xDesign added:

“Joining xDesign was a no brainer - its people-focused approach was a huge draw, as well as its commitment to uniting product, design and technology. I am passionate about technology being a great leveller that benefits the human experience. We have seen how the pandemic has driven more people to use technology and apps, and it is the responsibility of organisations like xDesign to create a compelling and engaging experience for users. The potential for xDesign to lead in this area is huge and being part of that journey is something I can’t wait to get my teeth into.”

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