Get to Know Shaun
I’m Shaun and I am a Google Cloud Account Director at Devoteam, working with organisations across Retail, Finance and Travel to help them solve their business problems using Google Cloud technologies across AI, Data, Infrastructure and Digital Workplace.
A key focus of my role is acting as the strategic bridge between our clients and Devoteam’s deep technical expertise.
The underlying part of my role involves being an advisor, which I do through developing and executing growth strategies for key accounts.
Shaun Hudson,
Google Cloud Account Director at Devoteam
Other core responsibilities include:
- Identifying Organisation-Specific Challenges and Opportunities: I work closely with C-level executives to understand their business’s most pressing challenges and collaborate with them to develop high-impact solutions using Google Cloud’s AI and Data tools.
- Commercial Leadership: This involves leading the sales process for complex, transformational projects, ensuring the proposed solutions deliver exceptional business value.
- Customer Advocacy: I’m proud to be the voice of the customer within Devoteam and Google Cloud to ensure product and service roadmaps align with client needs.
- Thought Leadership: It’s crucial that I deliver and share industry-specific news, papers and best practices to clients so they’re informed on the latest insights that can help shape their future business decisions.
Finally, a major part of my role is enabling digital transformation through Data and AI. This involves helping clients move beyond simple cloud adoption to becoming a truly data-driven organisation. I translate complex, innovative technologies – like Generative and Agentic AI – into clear, tangible business outcomes, allowing clients to see a genuine return on their cloud investment.
A Typical Day in the Life of an Account Director at Devoteam
A typical day is highly dynamic and centres on strategic engagement. It involves a mix of:
- Client Engagements: Meeting with key decision-makers (both virtual and on-site) to review project progress, align on strategic priorities, and explore new growth opportunities.
- Internal Alignment: Collaborating with our Solutions Architects, Data Engineers, and Delivery Managers to ensure that our proposed solutions are technically sound and that ongoing projects are delivered successfully and on time.
- Market Analysis: Staying up-to-date on the latest Google Cloud innovations, AI trends, and sector-specific challenges in Retail, Finance, and Travel.
- Pipeline Management: Strategising on new opportunities, preparing compelling proposals, and ensuring a healthy pipeline of future business.
- Collaborating with Google Counterparts: Devoteam’s success is tied to the strength of our relationship with Google Cloud. We have multiple touchpoints throughout the week where we’re able to achieve this with all sides of the Google team such as Product, Project and Sales teams as well as Senior Leadership.
How an Account Director uses AI across their day-to-day
AI is a force multiplier for my own effectiveness, I leverage different tools in the following ways:
1
Gemini Enterprise and NotebookLM enable me to analyse large volumes of client and market data to generate deep insights on account performance, identify white-space opportunities, and predict client needs before they become explicit requests.
2
I leverage AI for task automation, like drafting personalised follow-up communication or synthesising meeting notes, which frees up my time to focus on strategic thinking and high-touch client engagement.
3
With Deep Research and NotebookLM, I can go into every client session fully prepped and ready to support my them through our partnership.
Examples of projects that Shaun has worked on as an Account Director at Devoteam
Over the part nine months working at Devoteam, there’s been some excellent projects so far but the two projects that spring immediately to mind are in the Retail & Travel space.
A large online grocery retailer
This company is the definition of what a forward-thinking, data-focused company looks like. They are constantly pushing the boundaries and asking ‘what’s next‘, in seeing how the Google Cloud environment is able to fuel their transformative change further.
The stand out projects within this partnership include driving the adoption of workplace transformation by enabling them with the tools of Google Workspace with Gemini, Gemini Enterprise and so many more across the entire Google Cloud Platform ecosystem.
The UK’s biggest travel agency
I’m also delighted to be in a long-term engagement with the biggest travel agencies in the UK, guiding them through their
Workplace AI adoption.
This project involves implementing a tailored approach to onboard, train and enable their staff in the Google Cloud technologies they have in situ (Google Workspace, Google Cloud Platform and Gemini Enterprise).
The Conductor of a Cross-functional Orchestra: What it is like to collaborate at Devoteam
I collaborate with all departments, working closely with our Sales and Marketing teams to refine our value proposition and identify target accounts.
My most critical collaboration is with Devoteam’s Google Cloud Technical Experts and the teams directly at Google Cloud such as their Cloud Architects, Data Scientists and AI/ML specialists. We operate as a unified team, where I translate the client’s business needs and they design the technical solution.
Shaun Hudson,
Google Cloud Account Director at Devoteam
This seamless collaboration, which is a major part of Devoteam’s culture, ensures we can deliver a full-spectrum service, from strategic consulting to technical implementation and change management.
Advice for Aspiring Account Directors from a Current Google Cloud Account Director
My advice is to be deliberate and strategic in your career development, learn the industries you are working in so you are a challenger and a thought leader, rather than a reactive seller.
Here are my top 4 recommendations:
Become a Business Polyglot
You must speak the language of technology (Google Cloud/AI), the language of business (Profit & Loss, Strategy) and the language of your client’s industry. Obtain technical certifications and continuously learn about market trends.
Master the Soft Skills
Account Directing is an art, not a science. Invest heavily in your leadership, negotiation, and deep listening skills. You must be able to inspire your internal team and earn the trust of the client’s C-suite.
Prioritise Relationship-Building
Your success hinges on the depth and quality of your relationships. Focus on becoming a trusted advisor who provides genuine value, not just constantly selling for the sake of it.
Use the Technology
The platforms we embed within our customer base are just as useful to us, work smarter with these solutions.
The Best Thing about being a Google Cloud Account Director
The opportunity to drive fundamental change. I am able to be at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and real-world business challenges. There’s immense satisfaction in helping a major client revolutionise their customer experience, optimise a global supply chain or uncover a massive competitive advantage, all powered by Google Cloud and Devoteam’s expertise.
The Personal Definition of ‘Go Big’ and an example of when Shaun went big
To me, ‘Go Big’ means having the ambition and courage to propose true transformation, not just iteration. It means:
- Bold Strategy: Challenging the client to move beyond safe, incremental steps and instead aim for game-changing outcomes that redefine their market position.
- Full Commitment: Being dedicated to the success of those bold strategies, backed by the full capabilities of Devoteam and Google Cloud, ensuring we deliver value at scale.
- Aim Big: 10x Google Mantra, don’t aim for a small change, aim big BUT and iterate! Get started quickly, iterate and go big.
A concrete example of when I went big is for a travel customer who was looking to rebuild part of their platform offering by integrating Vertex models to create marketing collateral. We applied the 10x approach, resulting in achieving the aim but also expanded their platform offerings beyond marketing collateral creation by building a full stack advertisement application allowing them to not just create ads, but target with greater penetration based on data.
Shaun’s Job in 1 Word
Transformation. I am constantly aiming to transform businesses across the UK, which is something I love doing.
Devoteam has been a global Google Cloud Premier Partner for many years, excelling in various product and engagement areas, including Gen AI Services, Managed Services and Managed Security Services. Our team of 650+ Google experts, holding 10 Google Cloud specialisations, has successfully migrated over 1 million users to Google Workspace and helped hundreds of organisations grow with Google Cloud.