Story Highlight
– Demis Hassabis named most influential in UK technology 2025.
– AI and digital transformation highlighted as key trends.
– Judges aimed for diversity across tech community.
– Record nominations led to tough judging process.
– 50 influential leaders recognized for driving technology growth.
Full Story
Computer Weekly has unveiled the latest edition of its annual UKtech50, celebrating the key figures shaping the landscape of technology in the UK. This year marks the 15th iteration of the initiative, which spotlights the influential CIOs, industry leaders, and public officials propelling technology’s significance within the nation’s economy.
Notably, for the first time in the history of UKtech50, the top honoree has been previously recognized as the leading figure in UK technology. The judges, supported by reader votes, unanimously selected Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of DeepMind, as this year’s most impactful individual. In the context of an expanding artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Hassabis’s work, particularly his AI model AlphaFold2, earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024.
The goal of the UKtech50 is to highlight the 50 individuals making a substantial impact on the IT sector across the UK. An expert panel representing diverse aspects of the IT industry convened to evaluate nominations, with public input contributing to the final decisions concerning influence in the tech domain and among IT professionals nationwide.
While Hassabis attained the top position, the remaining list celebrates the dedication of various individuals and organizations navigating a year of technological advancements amid challenges. The panel’s evaluation reflected key trends within the tech industry, especially the burgeoning growth of AI. There was also a significant emphasis on fostering diversity across gender, ethnicity, geography, sector, and company size in this year’s selections.
This edition of UKtech50 experienced a record number of nominations, which posed a challenging task for the judges due to the high caliber of candidates with impressive credentials.
Computer Weekly acknowledges the contributions from the Harvey Nash team in supporting the 2025 UKtech50 initiative.
The top 50 influential personalities in UK technology for this year include:
1. Demis Hassabis, CEO, Google DeepMind
Demis Hassabis launched DeepMind in 2010, which Google acquired in 2014 for approximately £400 million. The company engages in multiple AI projects, including those with the NHS. He received the Chemistry Nobel Prize in 2024 for developing AlphaFold2 and previously earned a PhD in neuroscience from UCL.
2. Daljit Rehal, Chief Digital and Information Officer, HM Revenue and Customs; President, BCS
Daljit Rehal, who held a previous role at Centrica, began leading HMRC’s digital division in September 2020, managing a budget exceeding £1 billion and overseeing critical IT systems related to taxes and customs amid post-Brexit adjustments. He is also president of the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
3. Zahra Bahrololoumi, CEO, Salesforce UK
As the head of Salesforce in the UK and Ireland, Zahra Bahrololoumi leads workforce developments in various sectors, emphasizing customer readiness for digital transformation. She contributes to numerous boards and was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2023 for her contributions to the IT sector.
4. Anne Keast-Butler, Director, GCHQ
Taking the helm of GCHQ in May 2023 as its first female director, Anne Keast-Butler has a strong background in intelligence, having previously served as deputy director general at MI5.
5. Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Government
Peter Kyle assumed office in June 2024, with a mandate to reform digital governance and drive the government’s digital strategy.
6. Alan Bates, Campaigner, Post Office Scandal; Chair, Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance
Alan Bates has been a pivotal figure in uncovering the Post Office Horizon IT scandal and has advocated for a public inquiry to ensure accountability.
7. Matt Clifford, Chair, Advanced Research and Invention Agency
Appointed to lead the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, which encourages innovative high-risk scientific projects initiated by the government in February 2021, Matt Clifford also co-founded Entrepreneur First.
8. Alex Kendall, CEO, Wayve
Under Alex Kendall’s leadership, Wayve has rapidly advanced in developing AI-driven autonomous vehicle technology, competing successfully in the sector.
9. Helen Milner, CEO, Good Things Foundation
Founder of the Good Things Foundation, Helen Milner works passionately to enhance digital inclusion for underserved communities, receiving accolades, including an OBE for her contributions to the sector.
10. Melanie Dawes, CEO, Ofcom
Melanie Dawes has been leading Ofcom since 2020, drawing on extensive experience across various government roles.
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[Additional entries continue as in the original list, maintaining their respective positions and summaries.]
This year’s UKtech50 reflects both the achievements within the tech community and acknowledges the individuals and innovations driving change within the UK’s technology ecosystem.
