Will Westwick: From Digital Visionary to Dechra’s Chief Digital and Information Officer

In an era when technology underpins every aspect of business, leaders who can bridge the gap between digital innovation and corporate strategy stand apart. One such figure rapidly emerging on the radar of technology and business observers is Will Westwick, a British executive best known for his senior leadership roles in digital transformation, technology integration, and innovation management. As of April 2025, he serves as the Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) of Dechra Pharmaceuticals, a global leader in veterinary pharmaceuticals.

Though he has spent years in senior positions across some of the UK’s largest and most recognized companies—Barclays, Tesco, Sky, and Haleon—his rise to prominence has been relatively quiet, defined more by results than publicity. Yet, his appointment at Dechra marks a significant moment for the company and for the broader pharmaceutical and animal-health industries, which are undergoing major digital transformations.

Career Journey: The Making of a Digital Leader

Will Westwick’s professional story is that of a technologist turned strategist—a person who understands both code and corporate growth.

He began his career in technology leadership roles at Sky PLC, where he helped shape the company’s early digital expansion. At Sky, Westwick was involved in technology programs that brought together data, cloud systems, and consumer experience—a foundation that would later define his leadership style.

From there, he transitioned to Tesco PLC, the UK’s retail giant, taking on the role of Group Technology Director (2017-2019). Tesco was in a phase of massive modernization at the time, focusing on e-commerce integration, supply-chain analytics, and digital retail innovation. Westwick’s work contributed to the company’s evolution toward a more data-driven and customer-centric retail environment.

After Tesco, he joined Barclays PLC as Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer (2019-2021). The move to the financial sector showcased his ability to pivot industries while maintaining a sharp focus on innovation. At Barclays, Westwick led key technology initiatives focused on digital banking, cybersecurity, and IT modernization—areas that were especially critical as global businesses navigated the pandemic’s digital demands.

But his most transformative chapter before Dechra was in the health-care sector.

Will Westwick and Haleon: Driving Digital Change in Consumer Health

In 2021, Will Westwick joined GSK’s Consumer Healthcare division, which was then preparing for one of the largest corporate separations in the health-care world—the spin-off that would become Haleon plc. Haleon officially launched in 2022 as an independent, publicly traded consumer-health company, with household brands such as Sensodyne, Panadol, and Centrum.

Westwick played a pivotal leadership role during this transition, helping shape Haleon’s digital and technology infrastructure. His expertise in integrating complex systems, managing global IT operations, and building digital platforms proved invaluable as the company sought to establish itself as a standalone entity.

According to executive profiles and industry sources, Will Westwick’s responsibilities included:

• Developing Haleon’s global technology roadmap.
• Overseeing digital and IT governance during the separation from GSK.
• Creating new data frameworks to unify consumer insights and product performance.
• Leading initiatives around digital commerce and consumer engagement.

At Haleon, Westwick demonstrated the rare ability to merge technical depth with business acumen. His work contributed to Haleon’s early success as a digital-first consumer-health company—a model that has since inspired similar strategies across the health-care industry.

Dechra Pharmaceuticals and the Next Chapter

In April 2025, Will Westwick was officially appointed as Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) of Dechra Pharmaceuticals Limited, a British multinational specializing in veterinary pharmaceuticals and animal health.

Dechra, known for its innovation in veterinary care, has been expanding globally, with operations across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company’s focus on specialty medicine and its strong research portfolio made it an ideal platform for digital transformation.

Westwick’s appointment is part of a broader strategic vision: to embed digital and data at the heart of Dechra’s operations. According to Dechra’s official press release, his role involves:

• Aligning technology initiatives with business goals.
• Driving digital innovation across global markets.
• Streamlining systems integration following recent acquisitions.
• Enhancing the customer and partner experience through data-driven insights.

In many ways, his arrival marks a turning point for Dechra. The company is positioning itself as a tech-enabled pharma enterprise, and Westwick’s cross-industry experience—spanning retail, banking, and health care—provides the diverse perspective needed to lead that transformation.

Leadership Philosophy and Impact

What sets Will Westwick apart is not only his résumé but his approach to leadership. His track record shows an emphasis on collaboration, scalable innovation, and empowering teams to solve complex challenges through technology.

Colleagues have often described him as “strategically technical”—a leader who understands the nuts and bolts of digital systems but also knows how to communicate technology’s value to non-technical stakeholders. This skill is particularly valuable in industries like pharmaceuticals, where technology adoption often requires balancing compliance, regulation, and scientific precision.

At Dechra, Westwick’s work will likely focus on building global platforms that streamline product development, manufacturing, and supply-chain operations, as well as enabling veterinarians and partners with better data tools. The impact of his leadership will be measured not just in digital systems but in improved efficiency and customer trust.

Is Will Westwick Related to Ed Westwick?

A frequent query online—“Ed Westwick Will Westwick”—reflects public curiosity about a possible family connection between Will Westwick, the executive, and Ed Westwick, the British actor famous for portraying Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl.

Some entertainment blogs, such as Kahawa Tungu and CelebSuburb, have claimed that Ed Westwick has two brothers, Guy Westwick and William ‘Will’ Westwick. However, it is unclear whether the corporate leader Will Westwick and Ed Westwick’s sibling are the same person.

None of the professional or corporate bios of Will Westwick (Dechra, Haleon, Barclays, Tesco, or Sky) mention any connection to the actor. Moreover, the executive’s professional history and public appearances are entirely distinct from the entertainment world.

Therefore, while the name similarity has caused speculation, there is no verified evidence that the two Westwicks are related. It is far more plausible that they are different individuals who share a common British surname.

Will Westwick’s Age and Background

Despite his high-profile corporate positions, Will Westwick has kept his personal life largely private. As of late 2025, no verified public records disclose his exact age, date of birth, or family background.

This discretion is not unusual among senior executives in Europe, where privacy is often maintained even at the top corporate level. His educational background is similarly understated in public filings, though several reports indicate he holds advanced qualifications in information systems and business leadership.

From his career trajectory—spanning over a decade in executive technology roles—it can be estimated that he is likely in his mid-to-late forties, but again, this remains speculative and unconfirmed.

A Vision for the Future

Will Westwick’s appointment at Dechra underscores the increasing convergence between technology and life sciences. As pharmaceutical and veterinary companies digitize their research, manufacturing, and supply-chain networks, leaders like Westwick become essential architects of this transformation.

His cross-sector background gives him a unique lens:

• From retail, he understands consumer behavior and logistics.
• From banking, he brings cybersecurity and data governance expertise.
• From consumer health, he knows how to scale digital operations across regulated global markets.

Combining these, he now stands poised to guide Dechra toward a more connected, data-driven, and digitally empowered future—where veterinarians, distributors, and pet owners can all benefit from smarter, faster, and safer systems.

Westwick represents a new breed of executive leadership—those who don’t simply manage IT but shape entire business models through digital strategy. In the years ahead, his influence is expected to extend beyond Dechra, impacting how the broader health-care industry approaches digital transformation.

Conclusion

Whether in retail aisles, banking systems, or pharmaceutical labs, Will Westwick has consistently been at the forefront of using technology to solve complex business problems. His journey from Sky and Tesco to Barclays, Haleon, and now Dechra illustrates the growing value of adaptable digital leadership in today’s interconnected economy.

While some aspects of his personal life remain private—and speculative claims about his relation to actor Ed Westwick circulate online—his professional record stands on firm ground. As Dechra accelerates its digital transformation under his direction, Will Westwick’s name is likely to become increasingly recognized not just within the pharmaceutical sector but across industries redefining what it means to be digitally intelligent.

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