Axel Douchin - Transition Manager - CDO CTO CIO
Axel Douchin

Axel Douchin

Axel Douchin Consulting for France, the rest of Europe and Asia

References

Logo of Customer
Global Data Transition Manager
Pernod Ricard

At Pernod Ricard, I:
‍• Consolidated the group’s global data landscape across markets and domains.
• Simplified a fragmented ecosystem of BI products, reports, and data flows.
• Defined a unified data strategy to support migration to a modern cloud platform.
• Designed a new Data Landing Zone tailored to the group’s operational and analytical needs.
• Established best practices for data governance, delivery methodology, and team organization.
• Created a dedicated reference squad for data migration, setting the standard for future country rollouts.
• Combined technical leadership with change management to align global teams behind one goal:
making data consistent, accessible, and actionable for smarter decision-making worldwide.

Logo of Mano Mano
Chief Data Officer  Transition Manager
Mano Mano

At ManoMano, I:
‍• Led the full reinvention of the company’s data strategy for a fast-growing European tech-retail scale-up.
• Transformed fragmented initiatives into a unified, data-driven growth engine.
• Reorganized teams across data engineering, BI, AI/ML, and governance, embedding them directly within business units to eliminate silos.
• Built a pragmatic, business-aligned data governance framework.
• Designed and launched a self-service data platform to improve autonomy and speed.
• Turned KPIs into actionable, reliable decision levers instead of static dashboards.
• Drove a cultural shift: data as a product, value over volume, decisions over reporting.
• Strengthened trust in data and analytics, enabling both strategic and operational decisions.
• Achieved this transformation within a year, marking a major step in ManoMano’s digital maturity.

Logo of Customer
Head of Public and private cloud Transition Manager
Hermes

At Hermès, I:
‍• Stabilized and optimized global cloud and infrastructure operations across all regions.
• Managed four core teams: Public Cloud (AWS), Private Cloud, Data Platforms, and Network.
• Improved performance, security, and cross-team coordination across these environments.
• Ensured operational continuity for worldwide business operations.
• Simplified processes and strengthened communication channels between technical teams.
• Built a stronger foundation for upcoming cloud, data, and infrastructure initiatives.
• Identified structural gaps and reduced technical debt to increase long-term efficiency.
• Made the cloud strategy more cost-effective, scalable, and aligned with business needs.
• Confirmed that operational excellence and collaboration are the prerequisites for real digital transformation.

Luxury brand
Chief Data Officer Transition Manager
Largest Swiss luxury Group

As Chief Data Officer for a global luxury group, I:
‍• Defined and implemented the data strategy and governance model for a pilot “maison” on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Designed a scalable methodology intended for deployment across multiple luxury brands.
• Led multidisciplinary teams in data engineering, BI, AI/ML, and governance.
• Ensured strong alignment and collaboration between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Built autonomous squads capable of managing, operating, and evolving their own data environments.
• Introduced automated testing and validation pipelines to increase data reliability and trust.
• Delivered an AI product enabling buyers to identify and select products using visual and historical data.
• Demonstrated that a modern, business-aligned data strategy powered by AI can strengthen creativity, precision, and decision-making within the luxury sector.

logo of Europ Assistance
Head of Data Transition Manager
Europ Assistance

At Europ Assistance, I:
‍• Launched the company’s first structured, enterprise-level data program.
• Designed a cloud-based data foundation to align business objectives with reliable, actionable information.
• Built and led a cross-functional task force to unify teams and clarify priorities.
• Delivered early, visible results that rebuilt trust in data-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrated the value of starting small, proving impact quickly, and securing sponsorship.
• Established the cultural alignment required to scale future data initiatives across the organization.

Some of the services I offer

AI-driven analytics

Empower transformation with AI that’s built on trust, not hype. From deploying machine learning tools to enhancing legacy BI with generative AI, I focus on pragmatic, business-driven use cases, not proofs of concept that stay in the lab. AI only delivers value when governed, secured, and integrated with the right data strategy.

Details

Data-Driven Organizations

Being data-driven isn’t about dashboards,  it’s about eliminating silos, aligning squads with business outcomes, and embedding governance from day one. I lead organizations through real data transformation: merging scattered systems, enforcing trust in KPIs, and building operational teams that treat data like a product.

Insights

Cloud transformation

I support organizations in defining, implementing, and optimizing their cloud strategy. My approach focuses on making the cloud a true performance driver, not just a technological migration. I cover the full transformation cycle: assessing existing environments, selecting providers, designing hybrid or multi-cloud architectures, establishing governance, ensuring security, and controlling costs.

Overview

“Axel brought clarity and control to a complex transformation. His ability to align cloud, data, and business strategy turned our challenges into a clear roadmap. He operated as a true internal leader, not just a consultant, but a catalyst for lasting change.”

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My insights driving data transformation

Latest articles & expert analysis
Explore insights
From Data Chaos to Strategic Clarity
‍Explore hands-on insights from real transformation projects, where cloud strategy, data governance, AI deployment, and business alignment intersect. These are not generic tech blogs. They’re executive-level reflections, written from the field, for leaders navigating complex data challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Expert answers. Real results.

Direct insights on data, cloud, and leadership.

Supported Industries

I’ve led data and cloud transformations across

  • Banking
  • Finance
  • Insurance
  • Legal Services
  • Sourcing & Procurement
  • Industry / Manufacturing
  • Oil & Gas
  • Software & Technology
  • Telecommunications

    • I currently can relocate to most countries in Europe and Asia

    Cloud Migration

    Cloud migration is not just a technical shift, it’s a transformation of how the business operates. My approach begins with aligning cloud strategy to business value, not infrastructure. I advocate for secure, scalable single-cloud environments where possible, avoiding unnecessary complexity from multi-cloud models. I work with leadership to restructure teams, redesign governance, and ensure cloud adoption supports long-term agility, compliance, and cost control. Migration is just the beginning, the real value is in how the cloud reshapes your ways of working.

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    Program Director

    I do act as Program Director for large-scale data, cloud, and digital transformation initiatives. In this role, I provide both strategic direction and delivery oversight, aligning executive objectives with technical execution. I structure governance, define priorities, manage vendors, and ensure squads deliver iteratively and transparently. My focus is always on clarity, rhythm, and measurable outcomes, turning complex, multi-stakeholder programs into coordinated, successful transformations.

    Beyond the Program Director role, I bring the broader perspective of a CTO/CDO — combining strategic vision, architectural depth, and organizational transformation. I don’t just manage delivery; I help shape what should be delivered and why. This includes challenging priorities, aligning business and technology roadmaps, and building the internal capability and leadership structures needed to sustain progress long after my mission ends.

    In short, I don’t only run programs — I help organizations evolve the way they lead, govern, and deliver technology.

    Data Governance expertise

    Data governance has been a core part of my work for more than 15 years. I’ve designed and led governance programs across multiple industries, ensuring that data is trusted, compliant, and usable for analytics and AI. My approach is always pragmatic: governance must enable business value, not slow it down.

    I have helped large enterprises establish data governance frameworks that combined strategy, operating models, and technology implementation. I have led selecting and deployment of data governance and master data management (MDM) structures to unify golden data and operational data across regions.

    I focus on aligning governance with regulatory compliance and operational efficiency, using frameworks that scale across organizations. I make governance tangible with clear ownership, measurable outcomes, and integration into daily business workflows.

    AI isn’t a magic button — it’s a business capability that only creates value when it’s trusted, governed, and integrated into real workflows. My view is simple: AI must solve real problems, not chase hype. That means starting with clear use cases, assessing data readiness, and embedding governance from day one.

    I’ve been involved in AI and machine learning for over 15 years, leading and shaping programs long before generative AI became mainstream. At AWS, I helped enterprise clients design AI-driven data platforms and predictive architectures to improve decision-making and automation. At a global luxury group, I guided the creation of AI-enabled client personalization and demand-forecasting products based on assets and not data.

    Over the years, I’ve seen too many AI initiatives fail due to a lack of clarity, ownership, or compliance guardrails. The future of AI in the enterprise isn’t defined by the model you choose — it’s defined by how well you integrate it into your operations, empower your teams to use it, and align it with your strategic roadmap.

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    Global Organizations

    Absolutely. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve led global programs across Europe, Asia, and North America, managing cross-border teams, complex tech stacks, and sensitive regulatory environments. I’ve directed international squads of 100s of professionals, covering Cloud, data engineering, AI/ML, DevSecOps, cloud infrastructure, and ERP/CRM integration.

    At AWS, I supported the world's largest customers across industries and geographies, building reusable transformation models and leading Technical and advisory teams on cloud best practices. At Cognizant and Business & Decision, I managed multi-country data programs, including full MDM and data governance deployments in regulated industries like finance and life sciences.

    My consulting work in the US, South America, Asia and more particularly China and Hong Kong, required managing ERP, CRM, CMS, and MDM integrations for multinational firms navigating local compliance and localization requirements. I’ve led the full transformation lifecycle, from needs analysis and vendor selection, to implementation and global team enablement.

    Beyond technology, I bring the ability to align executive stakeholders across regions, restructure delivery models post-M&A, and ensure projects scale across business units while respecting regional constraints like GDPR, data residency, and local security frameworks.

    Whether it’s setting up cloud landing zones across continents, modernizing fragmented data platforms, or managing global change from the CDO seat, I deliver international programs with clarity, speed, and impact.

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    Connect with Axel Douchin in Europe and Asia