About James Hobbs
I am a technology executive, founder and trusted adviser. My experience includes two exits: building and selling my own business, Fill My Weekend, and leading Remo’s technology organisation through its acquisition by Events.com. I have also led engineering for BBC News and World Service.
Today I coach and mentor CTOs and heads of engineering, advise boards on technology strategy, investment and risk, and partner with founders on the decisions that shape their companies. When it is needed, I take responsibility for difficult transitions as a fractional or interim CTO.
I have stayed close to the work: delivery, developer experience, observability, security and compliance. That is what lets me connect a board decision to the practical changes a team needs to make. I am based in London.
What it is like to work with me
I bring calm, direct leadership and an understanding of the pressures on businesses and their people. I value candid conversations, clear decisions and improvements a team can sustain.
I work alongside existing leaders, agreeing responsibilities and respecting their remit. I can be a sounding board for a founder or CTO, take ownership of an initiative, and work directly with engineers to carry decisions through.
Building my own business also meant personally hosting hundreds of events. Staying close to the people using what we build still shapes how I work: start with their experience, agree what a good outcome looks like, and work backwards.
Career at a glance
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Independent
Independent Technology Executive & Adviser | Fractional & Interim CTO 2023 to now
Advising founders and boards, coaching technology leaders and taking responsibility for delivery and change. More about my recent work.
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Remo
Chief Technology Officer 2021 to 2024
Led technology through growth, contraction and acquisition by Events.com. More about Remo.
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BBC
Senior Software Engineering Manager, News, Weather and World Service 2017 to 2021
Combined engineering leadership for News and World Service with organisation-wide digital strategy. More about BBC.
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Fill My Weekend
Founder & CEO February 2013 to December 2017
Built and exited my own profitable events technology business, staying close to its members and their experience. More about Fill My Weekend.
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Festicket
Interim CTO and Technical Lead 2015 to 2017
Took over technical leadership from the founding CTO and grew the engineering organisation through rapid business growth. More about Festicket.
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Earlier roles
Project director and technical project manager 2003 to 2016
Technology delivery and business leadership across education, energy and logistics. More about my earlier work.
Selected education and professional qualifications
- Degree Executive MBA Quantic School of Business and Technology, 2026
- Degree MSc Software Engineering The Open University
- Credential Public Leadership Credential Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education. In progress; expected completion January 2027.
- Executive education Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies for Success MIT Sloan Executive Education, 2022
- Executive education Fintech Certificate Harvard Business School Executive Education, 2021
- Executive education Leadership and Management Certificate The Wharton School, 2018
- Professional registration Chartered Engineer (CEng) Engineering Council
- Professional fellowship Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Writing and features
- Hiring engineers as a non-technical founder (opens in new window) Article, Digital Reference
- Fractional CTOs in London making things happen (opens in new window) Featured, Digital Reference
- Best fractional CTOs for startups (opens in new window) Featured, Digital Reference
- Full profile on LinkedIn (opens in new window)
Tell me what you’re working through. We can explore whether there’s a fit and discuss scope and timing.