Jason Ricks

Move faster. Protect margin.Grow revenue.

I help ambitious businesses use technology and AI to accelerate growth: board-level strategy and hands-on build, from one operator.

A razor-sharp thinker: not only how to think correctly about driving growth, but how to skilfully execute. Oren G  ·  AI GTM Engineer
// The Problem

Technology alone doesn’t fix a broken business.

Most digital transformation programmes don’t fail because the technology is weak. They fail because the business around it isn’t ready. Layer new technology onto flawed data, broken workflows and an unchanged operating model and you can end up compounding existing problems.

Scattered experiments

Tools get licensed, pilots get launched, everyone dabbles. Twelve months later there’s activity everywhere but a lack of process for tracking and managing ROI.

Broken foundations

The businesses that see success get the foundations right first: digital literacy, unified data, modernised platforms. Skip the basics and every technology investment becomes an additional problem to fix.

Narrow specialists

Programmes led by technologists or project managers alone can stall on adoption. The technology is rarely the risk. The operating model and implementation across the business is where the real challenges lie in wait.

// AI Maturity

From AI experiments to a growth engine

Every business sits somewhere on the same maturity curve. Knowing where you are, and what needs addressing before you take the leap, is the difference between optimising for AI success or failure.

Most businesses get stuck here
Tools

AI as a tool

Chat assistants, copilots, and the AI features switched on inside your existing software. The starting point for most businesses. Useful, but the gains stay personal and unevenly distributed.

The ceilingProductivity is trapped inside individuals.
Teammates

AI as a teammate

Purpose-built AI that owns a slice of real work: a briefed assistant, a forecasting model trained on your data, a document pipeline that runs itself. This is where AI starts managing a specific job.

The unlockValue becomes repeatable and shared.
Systems

AI as a system

LLMs and the AI in your SaaS stack, connected into workflows that run from trigger to outcome. This phase changes your operating model as AI helps create a new system.

The prizeWorkflows are aligned to customer outcomes.
// How I Can Help

Digital transformation with AI at the centre

Technology strategy, digital transformation and AI, led by someone who has done all three.

I’ve spent 20+ years across startups, scale-ups and global transformation. That experience, sharpened by Stanford GSB’s executive programme on AI, is the foundation of the AI Growth Operating System: a structured methodology for helping businesses move AI from experimentation to real operational value. It’s built around a simple principle: AI only delivers when the strategy, data and operating model around it are ready to support it.

DiagnoseDesignBuildEmbed

It starts with a 60-minute consultation: you leave with your AI maturity score and three proposed quick wins.

Request an AI Consultation →
// Who I Work With

Leaders putting Tech & AI at the front of the growth agenda

I work as a fractional Chief Digital Officer: board-level digital and technology leadership, embedded in your business for the days you need. That covers the full scope of digital transformation, technology strategy and AI, typically in one of three settings:

AI-native startups & scale-ups

Series A/B. Digital leadership for businesses building with AI or product innovation at the core: sharpening GTM, scaling commercial operations, and building the tech infrastructure to grow.

Marketing services businesses

PE-backed or founder-led firms rewiring their operating model or value proposition. Not just picking new software, but restructuring how the business runs on technology and enhances the client-facing proposition.

PE / VC portfolio operations

Operating partner for funds that need strategic digital leadership plus hands-on builder capability across the portfolio, from tech due diligence to post-deal integration and de-risking transformation.

// Why Me

Founder, operator, transformation leader

I’ve worked in both fast-growth startups and later-stage transformation and restructuring environments, which gives me a unique blend of experience and expertise when it comes to delivering impactful change.

20+
Years
Startup scale-ups to global digital transformation
250+
People
High-performing teams built, coached and led
£2.5M
Investment
Commercial lead, AI SaaS fundraise
£1M+
Cost Optimised
Technology consolidation and rationalisation savings
Beyond AI

What I Offer

Every business has different needs and priorities. Some need commercial acceleration, others need their tech foundations rebuilt, some need both. Here’s the full scope of what I can cover.

Grow

Commercial Growth & GTM

Pipeline & Revenue GrowthBuilding demand generation engines, accelerating sales cycles and creating repeatable commercial growth.
Product & Proposition CommercialisationPricing, packaging and go-to-market for technology and AI-native products, from early traction through to funded scale.
Sales Enablement & PositioningSharpening the value proposition and equipping market-facing teams with the tools and story to sell with confidence.
Build

Technology & AI

Technology Strategy & ArchitectureSelecting, consolidating and modernising platforms, data infrastructure and cloud productivity stacks to support growth.
AI Strategy & DeploymentIdentifying the AI investments worth making and building them end-to-end: from use-case identification through to production systems and ROI tracking.
Vendor & SaaS EnablementEvaluating, integrating and governing third-party technology and AI tools to deliver clear commercial outcomes.
Transform

Transformation & Value Creation

Cost Optimisation & ConsolidationRationalising technology spend, removing legacy cost exposure and rebalancing investment to protect margin.
Operating Model & ChangeRestructuring teams, processes and delivery workflows so new technology is adopted, not just installed.
M&A Tech Integration & PE Value CreationTechnology due diligence, post-deal integration and de-risking transformation across portfolio businesses.
Built from zero
Founder & CEO, Vidify · 2010–2018

Scaled Video Service

White-label custom video service for SMEs, partnered with global business directories. Bootstrapped to UK market leadership: 50+ remote filmmakers, 250+ productions a month, full P&L ownership.

7-fig
Revenue
5,000+
Commercials
0→50
Team
8 yrs
Built & scaled
Chief Commercial Officer, Trint · 2017

Commercialised AI SaaS

Hired to commercialise an AI transcription platform. Built sales, marketing and CS teams to 8,000+ customers and £2M ARR within 12 months. Secured oversubscribed £2.5M Pre-Series A.

£2M
ARR
8,000+
Customers
5→20
Team
£2.5M
Investment
Jason is one of those rare people who has the skills, experience and know-how to take a business from zero to multi-million in revenue. Mo R  ·  Leadership Coach
About

I’ve spent 20+ years building, scaling and transforming digital technology businesses, from Sales & Business Development at industry-defining companies such as ValueClick and DoubleClick, to founding and scaling the UK’s largest SME video production service, to commercialising the world’s first AI transcription platform. I’ve experienced both success and failure along the way, having intentionally worked in both scaling and crisis environments to enrich my learning and ground me in the fundamentals of business success. More recently I’ve led digital transformation and technology strategy for global organisations including Tag Worldwide, ADM Indicia and Paragon Global Brands, where I oversaw a multi-million-pound programme spanning an ERP migration across 20+ markets, an AI-ready cloud data platform, and a productivity stack overhaul for 400+ employees.

I lead from the front and like to roll my sleeves up. I’ve built and coached commercial and technology teams during times of disruption and rapid transformation. I’ve battled to win the hearts and minds for new ways of working across global organisations, because successful digital transformation ultimately rests on adoption, not technology.

Today I combine that founder, operator and transformation experience to help businesses accelerate growth and navigate technology change with confidence, with AI increasingly at the centre of every engagement. I’m a passionate lifelong learner and an alumni of various educational institutions and executive communities.

Exec. Education
Stanford GSBExec. Course: Digital Transformation & AI
PavilionExec. GTM School: AI Tools & Systems, AI GTM Operators
Section 4AI & Strategic Leadership (2024–2026)
Connect on LinkedIn
Jason Ricks
// Get in touch

Let’s work together

The common thread across everything I do is helping businesses use technology to move faster, protect margin, and grow revenue, whether from the boardroom, the build environment, or both.

Jason always has a great capacity for driving new ideas and making things happen. He sees opportunities others miss and then not only goes for them but is able to take people with him on the journey. Toby B  ·  Leadership Coach