Introducing our new PMO Lead, James Woodhall
At Definia, we’re always looking for ways to strengthen the support we offer our clients — and that means growing our team with the right people, at the right time. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce James Woodhall, who has joined us in a brand new role: PMO Lead.
What is a PMO Lead?
A PMO (Project Management Office) Lead is responsible for overseeing the function that sits at the heart of any well-run transformation programme. The PMO provides the governance, standards, reporting and assurance that keep complex programmes on track — and a strong PMO Lead ensures that function is not just running smoothly, but actively contributing to strategic outcomes.
For Definia, this role means James will be driving continuous improvement across our internal processes, leading our talented PMO team, and shaping the external PMO consultancy and managed service offerings we bring to clients. In short, he’s here to make sure transformation — ours and our clients’ — is done right.
Marketing Manager Alice Hankin sat down with James to find out more about the person behind the role.
Welcome to Definia! Can you tell us more about yourself and your professional background?
After studying Chemical Engineering at university, I started my career in the pharmaceutical industry, delivering a range of projects to support on-site drug manufacturing and packaging operations, including a major anti-counterfeiting initiative.
I eventually realised I was a better project manager than engineer, so decided to broaden my experience and join the world of Big 4 consulting. I worked on some major programmes for financial services and transport clients, including financial crime remediation, Digital Railway and Brexit. These roles involved advising clients on the set-up of their programmes, supporting when they had gone off-track, or leading and working in the PMO to drive delivery assurance.
Prior to joining Definia, I spent several years working across the creative services and technology sectors — setting up and leading PMO teams, working with C-Suite executives to define and deliver their strategic initiatives, and stepping into the role of Programme Manager where needed to deliver enterprise change.
What are you doing in this new role at Definia, and how do you help clients?
My initial focus is leading the talented internal Definia PMO team, to make sure they are empowered and continue to provide the high level of service they already deliver across our client engagements and internal business processes. The PMO team plays a key role across several finance processes, so I’ll be assessing these for continuous improvement opportunities.
All of that supports our client work, but I’ll also be looking specifically at our external consultancy and managed service PMO offerings — understanding client needs and bringing these capabilities to market.
Outside of work, what might people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m quite an open book, so no major secrets! Music is my main passion — whether that’s attending gigs across various genres, playing guitar, or in a previous life running an occasional club night across London venues. I’ve always loved watching and playing sport, particularly football. I’m a big Newcastle United fan (I lost my Geordie accent many years ago), and I successfully ran the London Marathon last year.
Want to find out how James Woodhall and the Definia team can support your transformation journey? Get in touch today to see how we can help!
