23rd April 2026
Driving Civica’s AI-powered technology and product strategy to transform public services
Civica, a global GovTech champion supporting the needs of citizens and those that serve them every day, has appointed Ian O’Brien as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Neal Watkins as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Both are joining the executive leadership team, reporting to CEO Lee Perkins.
At the start of the financial year, Civica separated its Product and Engineering functions to increase focus, investment and accountability in both areas. This shift accelerates innovation across product and technology, strengthening product strategy and advancing modern engineering practices to deliver secure, scalable and user-centric solutions worldwide.
Ian joined Civica in November 2023 with a recent tenure as CTO UK and SVP Engineering. He brings a strong track record from roles at Stint and Bohemia Interactive Simulations, where he led technology transformation and built high-performing teams. As CTO, he will lead global engineering across product development, platform and operations, with a focus on AI-enabled modern software delivery and operational excellence.
Neal brings extensive global experience leading complex, multi-product organisations, including senior roles at Sage and BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. With deep expertise in SaaS and AI-driven solutions, he will lead Civica’s global product strategy, shaping commercially focused roadmaps and working closely across product, engineering, customer and commercial teams to deliver high-impact software at scale. He will also drive the integration of AI into products, helping improve decision-making and overall user experience.
Commenting on the appointments, Civica CEO Lee Perkins said, “These appointments reflect our continued investment in product and technology, with AI central to our strategy. By strengthening our focus across both areas, we are advancing the use of AI and data to improve public services, making them more efficient, responsive and easier to use. Our aim is to support public sector organisations with intelligent solutions that simplify complexity and deliver better outcomes for citizens.”
Ian O’Brien added, “We have a strong foundation and a clear opportunity to further modernise our platforms and ways of working. My focus is on creating the conditions for great engineering to thrive, where teams are empowered, platforms are resilient and innovation can move at pace.”
Neal Watkins said, “I’m thrilled to join Civica at a pivotal moment for the industry as governments transform how services are delivered. Civica’s purpose to serve citizens strongly resonates with me, and there is a real opportunity to reimagine how public sector organisations engage with and protect communities by embedding AI-enabled services and intelligent workflows that drive faster, more informed decision-making for better citizen outcomes.”
About Civica
Civica is a global GovTech champion focused on developing critical cloud-based software and services that are integral to the everyday lives of citizens around the world. From central and local government to education, health and care, more than 6,000 customers trust and partner with Civica, using our software to deliver critical services to more than 100 million citizens. With operations in seven countries across North America, Europe and APAC and 25 years of experience, we’re passionate about supporting the needs of citizens and those that serve them every day. Find out more: www.civica.com