Spotlight introduces the people behind Percayso Inform. This time it’s James Nightingale, our Chief Technical Officer, who leads the team that builds our products.
What a CTO actually does
Ask James to explain his job to someone outside tech and he keeps it simple. “It’s making sure we’re building the right things and giving the team what they need to do it well. You’re thinking about where the business is heading while helping solve the problems in front of you.”
That means keeping one eye on the long term and the other on whatever needs fixing today.
Start with the decision
James is just as clear about how we work with insurers’ data, and he doesn’t start with the data. “For me, it starts with understanding what they’re trying to achieve. Once you know the decision someone needs to make, you can work out which information will actually help them.”
It’s a useful check for any data project. Volume and coverage come second. What matters most is whether the information helps someone make a better call.
Making connections visible
The project he’s most excited about right now follows from that. “I’m excited about making our data more visual and interactive. Being able to explore how people, vehicles and properties connect should make complicated information much easier to get your head around.”
AI as an accelerator
On AI, James looks past the insurance use cases to how it’s changing the way we build. “For me, the opportunity goes beyond insurance. AI is helping us build great products faster and turn ideas that once felt out of reach into reality.”
From a Voodoo card to TypeScript
His route into technology started at home. “My dad made sure we had a PC long before we got online, and I remember helping him upgrade it with a Voodoo graphics card. Gaming led to building my own PC, and it all spiralled from there.”
The first computer that was his own was an HP Pavilion. “The blue and silver one with the chunky monitor and speakers hanging off the sides. Matching keyboard and mouse too: the full setup.”
These days TypeScript is his go-to language. Ask which one he’d happily never see again and the answer changes daily: “It usually depends on what I’ve spent the morning debugging.”
Away from the screen
If he weren’t in tech? “Probably something involving cars or boats. Although I suspect I’d still find a way to turn it into a technology project.”
At weekends he gets outside. “Road trips, walking the dog and going to the gym. Getting out and about is a good way to clear my head after a week in front of a screen.”
The team in three words
And the Percayso tech team, in three words? “Curious, capable, collaborative.”
