Christina Nicolaou
About Christina Nicolaou
Christina Nicolaou serves as the Group Functions IT Director at Legal & General, where she manages a budget of up to £40 million and oversees a team of 70 employees. With over 20 years of experience in IT and business change across various sectors, she specializes in establishing high-performing IT teams and operating models in regulated environments.
Work at Legal & General
Christina Nicolaou has been serving as the Group Functions IT Director at Legal & General since 2021. In this role, she manages a significant budget of up to £40 million. She oversees a team of 70 full-time employees, leading high-performing change teams that encompass various functions, including program and project portfolio management, business and IT architecture, and business continuity management. Her focus is on establishing effective IT teams and operating models within a financial and compliant environment.
Education and Expertise
Christina Nicolaou holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in IT and French, which she completed from 1987 to 1990. Prior to this, she attended Leyton Senior High School for Girls, where she achieved 8 O'levels and 3 A'levels in French, German, and Business Studies. With over 20 years of experience in business and IT change, she specializes in stakeholder and sponsor management, project and program management, and organizational transformation.
Background
Before her current position at Legal & General, Christina held various roles in different organizations. She worked at The Pensions Regulator in several capacities, including Design and Delivery Lead, Head of Business Engagement (Technology & Change), and Head of Business Transformation. Additionally, she served as Head of Business Change and IT at MGM Advantage and worked as a Hospitality Manager at The Law Society of England and Wales.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Christina Nicolaou has demonstrated expertise in establishing high-performing IT teams and operating models. Her experience spans multiple sectors, including financial services, hospitality, and property. She has a proven track record in project, program, and portfolio management, focusing on areas such as strategic portal development, process reengineering, and complex software development methodologies, including both agile and waterfall approaches.