The Intersection of Product Strategy and Operational Velocity
David Kelsey – Transformational leader with over 15 years of experience turning organisational chaos into scalable business revenue.
Most digital transformations fail because they lack a cohesive bridge between high-level strategy and ground-level execution. Traditional consultancy often leaves behind a trail of “best practice” documents that lack the operational context required for actual growth. My approach focuses on eliminating the “noise” that exists between executive vision and engineering delivery, ensuring that every product decision is a commercial one. By identifying these structural gaps early, I enable organisations to move away from reactive fixes and toward a proactive, scalable product culture.
At Linchpin Advisory, the goal is to provide more than just oversight; it is to provide the structural clarity required to modernise product operating models. By focusing on data-driven maturity assessments and phased implementation plans, I help organisations reduce development timescales and align stakeholders around a single version of the truth. This methodology is built on a track record of driving significant revenue impact across complex global ecosystems. It is about creating a sustainable framework where product, engineering, and commercial goals are perfectly synchronised for long-term success.
PROVEN EXPERIENCE
| Years | Organisation | Role – Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 – Present | Linchpin Advisory | Director & Consultant – Delivering organisational improvements and providing fractional product leadership |
| 2024 – 2026 | KYND | Head of Product – Led the cyber-risk intelligence strategy for a market-leading SaaS platform |
| 2023 – 2024 | Corpay | Senior Product Manager – Redesigned lifecycles and enhanced governance for global fuel payment products |
| 2021 – 2023 | Orpheus Software | Software Product Manager – Reduced request-to-development lead times by 50% for FCA-regulated Insurtech |
| 2017 – 2021 | Firebrand Training | Head of Product Management – Managed and grew a £22M+ annual portfolio and modernised the product operating model |
| 2014 – 2017 | BCS, Chartered Institute for IT | Strategic Product Manager – Managed £10M partner portfolios and co-launched market-leading certification products |
ABOUT ME
A keen runner, when not working or running, I am usually throwing a ball for Bruno, our Labrador and consultant in training.
