Peter O'Connor CEO

Our leadership

Our purpose is to transform customer experiences. We’ll do that by developing exceptional colleague engagement, industry leading customer service and delighting our clients, working as true partners with their business.

Peter O'Connor
CEO
Target Group
Board

Vivek is the Global Head for Enterprise Verticals Solutions and Portfolio Companies at Tech Mahindra and Non-Executive Director at Target.

He is responsible for creating a robust and differentiated portfolio of offerings for clients in each vertical, and organic and in-organic investments for building capability. He has been with Tech Mahindra since 2004.

As an established Board Executive, Aileen has expertise in digital business transformation across retail and commercial banking.

She has more than 10 years’ experience in executive and non-executive roles, helping to leverage growth opportunities for several leading financial services organisations including Co-operative Bank, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banking Group (CYBG), and global technology service provider Cognizant.

Most recently, Aileen held the role of Chair of The Co-Operative Bank ESG Outsourcing Committee, providing strategic guidance to its £17bn lending business. She was also a Board Director at Yorkshire Bank Home Loans with specific responsibility to oversee and govern the £21bn lending division.

Andrew had an executive career with EY, where he was a partner for 28 years and was a board member and trustee of the firm’s pension schemes, before retiring in 2016.  He is now a non-executive director of Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, C. Hoare & Co., and Ecclesiastical Insurance Group plc. He's previously served on the boards of Southern Housing Group, National Bank of Greece and the Centre for Economic Policy Research. 

At EY Andrew served as the auditor of many of the firm’s largest audit clients, during which time he spent six years in Switzerland leading the audit of the UBS banking group. 

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

In my role as Chief Executive Officer, I'm focussed on ensuring I create a working environment for our colleagues to thrive and develop whilst working closely with our clients to delight their customers. In my role as part of the Target Board and leading the Executive Committee – I lead on the strategic direction of the company and ensure that we deliver our business plans with a relentless focus on our colleagues, customers and clients through a purpose-led leadership style.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

I admire Seb Vettel (Formula 1 driver) not because he has won four World Championships but because, whilst he hasn't won for a very long time, he still has the passion and drive to keep going and working hard. He's recently been an inspiration in terms of focusing on the green agenda, not just saying the right things; he took action, such as collecting litter personally at the British Grand Prix. It made me reflect and acknowledge you can't win at everything, but it's how you keep moving forward and learning.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

My passions outside work are my family. I'm married with two young children. I enjoy all sports including running but in particular motor sport. I race go-karts and cars across Britain and Europe.

Executive Leaders

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

In my role as Chief Executive Officer, I'm focussed on ensuring I create a working environment for our colleagues to thrive and develop whilst working closely with our clients to delight their customers. In my role as part of the Target Board and leading the Executive Committee – I lead on the strategic direction of the company and ensure that we deliver our business plans with a relentless focus on our colleagues, customers and clients through a purpose-led leadership style.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

I admire Seb Vettel (Formula 1 driver) not because he has won four World Championships but because, whilst he hasn't won for a very long time, he still has the passion and drive to keep going and working hard. He's recently been an inspiration in terms of focusing on the green agenda, not just saying the right things; he took action, such as collecting litter personally at the British Grand Prix. It made me reflect and acknowledge you can't win at everything, but it's how you keep moving forward and learning.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

My passions outside work are my family. I'm married with two young children. I enjoy all sports including running but in particular motor sport. I race go-karts and cars across Britain and Europe.

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

As Chief Financial Officer, I provide financial guidance on the organisation's strategic direction, specifically regarding the Group's business strategy and corporate plans to support delivery.

I'm also responsible for advising on the financial implications of pricing strategies through modelling the profitability of new business opportunities and re-pricing of existing contracts. This insight informs and supports decision-making by the Executive team and Board.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He's one of the most successful investors in the world and the world's sixth wealthiest person. I admire him because of the principles he lives by, which have contributed to his success. He embodies ambition, discipline and drive. He started investing at the age of 11!

He also demonstrates how loyalty, patience and a long-term investment approach can bring success, evidenced in the following quote; "Successful Investing takes time, discipline and patience. No matter how great the talent or effort, some things just take time: You can't produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant."

He's also humble and gives back to causes that matter to him. He's promised to donate over 99% of his wealth, and despite his success, he still lives in the same house he bought in 1958 for $31,500.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

Being the best mother to my daughter and showing her what strong female leadership looks like, if that's the path she chooses.

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

As Chief Growth Officer, I'm responsible for our business development function, solutions team, and Bids. I also focus on the alignment of go-to-market activity between Target and our parent Tech Mahindra. My focus is to bring together the broad areas of ITO/BPO and CX expertise across our group portfolio. This unique offering allows our clients to create transformational solutions for their customers that solve complex business issues.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

Actually an individual who is both a business and sports leader –  Arsène Wenger OBE. Why? He successfully managed to build something brand new and market-leading at the time (The Emirates Stadium), run highly successful teams (Champions League participants) and maintain sustainable income for the business/club – all at the same time.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

My family; watching and supporting their successes, is my main passion. I'm happily married and have five wonderful children who keep me young. Oh….and Arsenal Football Club, if you hadn’t guessed!

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

As Chief People Officer, my responsibility is to wake up thinking about our colleagues and what we can do to drive a workforce that feels supported, empowered and engaged. When colleagues are happy and enjoy what they do, they delight customers. We're shaping a workforce that is obsessed with our purpose of positively transforming customer experiences.

Some of my strategic priorities are Talent Acquisition, Engagement, Reducing our Carbon Footprint, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership, Development, Marketing and Communications.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

Henry Engelhardt, the Founder and former CEO of Admiral Group. Henry built an organisation with its colleagues at the heart of the business. I relate massively to his phrase, ‘People who enjoy what they do, do it better’. Henry has created a culture that is diverse, inspiring and inclusive, and this culture has enabled its colleagues to deliver great results and growth. 

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

Outside of work I love spending time with family, friends, my husband Paul and my beautiful cat Troy Benitez! I’m a keen walker and especially enjoy going on lots of coastal walks at weekends.

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

As Chief Risk Officer, I help the business support and delight our clients and customers by providing fair and compliant experiences and outcomes, allowing us to grow quickly and safely.

Some of my priorities are: embedding proportionate risk and compliance frameworks, open and collaborative regulatory engagement; building a diverse and engaged function; and team coaching and development.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why?

Lyndsey Edgar - Vice President of Operations at Monzo. 

Lyndsey is the type of leader I want to be. She thinks strategically but understands the detail. She pays attention to data, focusing on business needs. She maintains a keen eye on colleague development, team engagement and delivering customer outcomes.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

I absolutely love fitness. It's a real passion - I compete in CrossFit competitions and have run a few marathons over the years.

I also love spending time with my husband, dog, cats (too many animals!) and my friends at home in Halifax and scattered all over the UK!

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

My primary role is to ensure that we have contracts that enable us to deliver for our clients and other stakeholders. 

I transform customer experiences by ensuring we engage our clients with innovative commercial solutions that foster a partnership approach. This allows Target to deliver the best business outcomes for clients and their customers whilst enabling our own continued growth.

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why? 

Steven Bartlett, the founder of Social Chain. He's also the youngest dragon ever to appear on Dragon’s Den. 

For me, representation matters. Steven's story shows that hard work and dedication beat talent if talent doesn't work hard.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

Spending time with the kids especially taking my son to football on Saturdays.

Music is also a passion of mine.

Tell us about your role at Target and how you focus on our purpose of transforming customer experiences

I help Target manage and deliver the strategic priorities of the business. I’m also responsible for an amazing team of Personal Assistants and a Project Management Officer (PMO) who ensure the business runs efficiently and smoothly, supporting the leadership team in staying organised, progressing their strategies, and carrying out work that aligns to our company purpose. 

As a business leader, could you tell us about someone you admire in business and why? 

Can I pick a sportsperson? If so, it would have to be Rafa Nadal. I admire many sportspeople, and I'm in awe of their drive to succeed and be the best in their field. Rafa embodies all the qualities of a true champion. Even when he's down in a match, he never believes he'll lose and will keep fighting and believing he can win.

This quality is hugely important to me in business: to keep believing in yourself and strive to be the best you can be. To have that focus and determination is something I admire and remember whenever I seek inspiration to keep driving forward and believing in myself.

Finally, can you share your passions outside of work?

I enjoy relaxing and having fun with my family and friends. I'm a huge movie buff and could wax lyrical for hours on end about anything film related. I also have a keen interest in history. I've recently joined the National Trust, so I'm enjoying spending weekends visiting the many beautiful locations the UK offers.