By Héloïse Chaudot 
Peter Rose is TEKenable’s co-founder and Group CIO, with over 40 years of experience delivering enterprise software, technology strategy and business transformation. An expert in AI, data, cybersecurity and low-code platforms, Rose is a trusted advisor to executives and boards. He brings strong governance, cybersecurity and risk management expertise, and is a recognised advocate for responsible AI as a co-pilot to drive sustainable business value.
What was your first job? I had a paper round from the age of 11, a babysitting service and then a sideline in writing software for local businesses from the age of 15. I also worked as a waiter in a seaside café and on a production line in an ice-cream factory. My first ‘real’ job was when I joined Praxis Systems in Bath, UK, aged 18, as a tester in the software QA team. Praxis became my home for the next 10 years. What are your main priorities and goals in your current role? As Group CIO, I am responsible for steering the technology ship of TEKenable, selecting the technologies that we will use and deliver to customers and agreeing on best practices for how we will apply them. This is under constant review. I also work to continuously strengthen governance, risk, compliance and cybersecurity. I advise customers, using technology as a tool for growth, and also support our other teams, such as Marketing. My goal is to always be knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies, but to avoid hype and cut quickly to the underlying business value, as well as risk, to make reasoned decisions with a solid foundation. Our customers need solid, reliable solutions with managed risk, not trend chasing. What pushed you to pursue a career in this field? Star Trek initially. I have always been fascinated by STEM subjects and remember pestering my father, who was an engineer, with science questions from a very early age, but the futuristic technologies in Star Trek really inspired me. How do you motivate yourself and your team? We all love solving complex challenges, and almost everything we do is exactly that: balancing business needs with technology capability. Celebrating success and telling people when they are doing a good job is essential, but ultimately, we are all delivery-focused and customer success is our key motivation. In one sentence, how would you define success? Happy colleagues and customers. How do you relax? I like to read books on challenging topics that I do not need to understand. I finished reading a pathology book recently and a book on the origins and techniques of calculus. It keeps my mind working and open to new ideas. You would be surprised how often something I have read actually has become useful! What is your favourite (non-business) book? The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Hire people who know how to do things better than you do and get out of their way. How do you handle adversity? Take a step forward every day. It can be a tiny step, but they all add up. Don’t be afraid to abandon everything you thought you knew and see things from a totally different perspective if it helps to reframe a problem and see a way forward. What are the aspirations for the future of the business? We are aiming to be the largest independent Irish software provider in Ireland and the UK, and to have some fun on the way.
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