Turn Challenged Financial Data Programmes Around

Azof Consulting helps Financial Institutions recover, deliver and transform complex Risk, Finance and Regulatory Data programmes.

BCBS239 / RDARR | Data Transformation | Programme Recovery | AI & Data Products

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About Azof

Azof Consulting provides independent, practical support for Risk & Finance Data Transformations. Our team can help with launching new initiatives or rescuing struggling projects.

Many businesses have suffered an enormous loss of expertise due to years of outsourcing. This has left data “trapped” in legacy, undocumented systems. In addition, regulatory demands have steadily increased, creating dependencies on these legacy systems. And now, AI has a growing and insatiable need to consume this trapped data.

Unlike generic consultancies, we specialise in navigating challenging delivery and complex legacy environments, giving us the edge in solving today’s AI, regulatory and cost-driven data challenges.

With 25+ years’ experience in Global Financial Institutions, our consultants work closely with Client teams to deliver tailored solutions. We can assist with the full transformation lifecycle, including assessment, strategy, architecture, vendor selection, delivery oversight, governance and build-operate-transfer (BOT).

Laptop displaying source code in a data environment

Who we are

Meet The Team

John McCarthy

Strategic Leadership & Transformation

With 25+ years of experience in financial services technology, John is an expert in driving complex transformations and restoring momentum in challenged programmes. He combines deep domain knowledge in Capital Markets, Risk, Regulatory Reporting, and Finance IT with a people-centric leadership style that delivers measurable outcomes.

David Grocott

CIO / COO & Technology Advisor

With 25+ years in the Financial Services Technology arena, David is a senior CIO/COO and technology advisor who builds and scales high-performance financial platforms, leading digital transformation across banking, fintech and deep-tech, from high-frequency trading and blockchain infrastructure to regulated global operations.

Sasha Diakonova

Business Strategy & Governance

Sasha is a results-oriented strategic leader with 15+ years experience in project management, operations, and organisational governance. Based in Madrid, she excels at optimising processes, strengthening stakeholder alignment, and scaling operational performance in complex environments. Her leadership is grounded in building high-performing teams and sustaining lasting impact.

Rob MacDermott

Technology Strategy & Delivery

Rob brings 25+ years of technical leadership to Azof Consulting, with proven expertise in delivering high-impact solutions across banking, consulting, and startup environments. He’s known for his disciplined execution, cost-efficient delivery, and ability to lead global teams through the full software development lifecycle.

Tero Salomaa

Regulatory Data & Architecture

Tero is a Regulatory Data Architecture and Management specialist with experience spanning the Regulator, Financial Institutions, and Consulting. This three-sided perspective gives him a unique understanding of how regulatory intent translates into data reality. With deep BCBS239 expertise, he delivers practical, sustainable outcomes in complex environments.

Brendan O’Hara

AI Strategy & Automation

Brendan is an AI Strategy & Automation specialist with experience spanning investment banking technology, cloud architecture, and enterprise AI delivery. This breadth gives him a rare ability to translate AI ambition into practical, ROI-led delivery for complex organisations. With deep expertise in agentic AI frameworks, he delivers hands-on capability that turns strategy into results.

What we do

Our Services

Data Transformation Strategy & Delivery

“Turn scattered data into a strategic asset”

We define the roadmap and then deliver it: launching new data initiatives or recovering struggling ones. Our teams take Risk & Finance from “data scavenging” to a working, compliant, data-driven capability.

Enabling Data Monetisation, Data Products and AI

“Turn your data into a product, not just a compliance cost”

We help Financial Institutions build BCBS239 compliant, reusable data products and AI-ready foundations from data that once sat trapped and undocumented.

Stalled Programme Recovery & Delivery

“Recover momentum, deliver outcomes”

We partner with your staff and existing providers to rescue stalled programmes and deliver transformations that stick. Having worked alongside many of the world’s leading vendors and consultancies, we know how to get a programme back on track, and keep it there.

Vendor Selection / Strategy

“Enable your business using outsourcing partnerships”

We offer independent advice on outsourcing, helping clients assess or improve their approach, from operating models and locations to pricing, execution, and accountability.

Our approach

How Do We Do All This

Senior Practitioners, Not Juniors

Our team averages 20+ years at Global Head / Programme Director level across Tier 1 financial services organisations. The people who engage at the outset are the people who deliver.

360° Perspective

Every Azof consultant has lived the Client, BIG4 and Outsourcing experience. That context is rare, and invaluable.

Clean Exit, Every Time

Every engagement is designed with a defined exit. We upskill client teams, document IP and step back consciously, ensuring our Client does not become a “vendor hostage”.

AI-Enabled Delivery

We use AI accelerators to move faster without cutting corners, speeding up assessment, documentation, and delivery on the legacy environments others avoid.

Proven delivery

Case Studies

European Retail Bank