Sanja Franic
Independent Advisor – Data & AI Transformation
About
I work with leadership teams on data and AI transformation. My work typically sits at the intersection of strategy, technology, and execution. I lead the delivery of machine learning products, shape data and AI strategy linked to operational goals, and act as the connective layer between leadership, product, and data teams to ensure technical initiatives translate into real business outcomes. With 15+ years of experience spanning academic research, deep technical delivery, and consulting, I bring both technical depth and the ability to work effectively with leadership teams to build and scale machine learning systems inside complex organisations.
Recent work
Delivering an AI transformation within a PE-backed financial services platform
Restructuring a data organisation during a leadership transition in a scaling IT services company
Introducing customer value modelling within the marketing function of a PE-backed marketplace
Developing a client-facing data science offering within a professional services firm
Restructuring a data organisation during a leadership transition in a scaling IT services company
During a leadership transition, a scaling IT services company faced significant key-person dependency and a fragmented data setup. Supported the stabilisation of the data function, defining a target organisational and data structure and leading knowledge transfer to reduce risk and enable continuity.
Introducing customer value modelling within the marketing function of a PE-backed marketplace
Despite significant marketing investment, a leading online marketplace had no view of the long-term value of acquired users or a way to link marketing activity to value. Established customer value modelling as a core capability, building a scalable LTV framework and underlying data structures to link activity to future value and support ROI-based decisions.
Developing a client-facing data science offering within a professional services firm
Strengthened the data science offering of a professional services firm, developing a scalable analytics solution for client use and leading internal upskilling to support broader data science work.
Delivering an AI Transformation Within a PE-Backed Financial Services Platform
Supporting a PE-backed financial services platform in shaping and delivering its enterprise technology, data, and AI transformation agenda. Working across transformation strategy, operating model design, and AI-enabled operational capabilities to support scalable growth and improve organisational effectiveness. Helping define future-state architecture, prioritise value creation initiatives and establish the foundations for long-term operational modernisation.
Bio
2025–present: Third Horizon Advisory — Founder & Director
2024–2025: JMAN Group — Principal, AI Lead
2017–2024: QuantumBlack (McKinsey) — Senior Data Scientist, Engagement Manager
2015–2017: University of Oxford — Postdoc, Computational Genetics
2008–2014: VU Amsterdam — PhD, Statistical Genetics
Contact
M: +44(7)583045076
E: [email protected]