Trevor Gordon named CIO of UK's Deposit Return Scheme operator

The UK's Deposit Return Scheme, branded 'Exchange for Change', is a large-scale national infrastructure project set to launch in October 2027. It aims to boost recycling of single-use drinks containers by adding a small, refundable deposit—likely 20p—to all in-scope PET plastic, aluminium, and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres. The scheme will be operated by the not-for-profit, industry-led body Exchange for Change, which was appointed as the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) in April 2025. Trevor Gordon's background includes roles as Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Save the Children and senior positions at Diageo, Vodafone, and Selfridges, indicating a track record in large-scale operational and digital transformation. His experience aligns with the challenge of building the DRS infrastructure, which involves complex logistics, reimbursement systems, and extensive stakeholder engagement across the entire drinks supply chain. Gordon was named one of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in both 2024 and 2025. The UK's tech scene saw a rebound in 2025, leading European investment with €21.5 billion raised. This momentum continues into early 2026, with UK startups raising $4.26B in the year to date, an increase from the same period in 2025. Record entrepreneurship was noted in 2025 with over 56,000 new tech companies incorporated, a 17% increase from 2024. London-based AI firm Wayve recently secured a massive £888m Series D round, highlighting significant investor appetite for AI. In the adtech space, 2026 is marked by the maturation of AI-driven bidding and optimization, with a focus on feeding business signals like lifetime value into programmatic platforms. The deprecation of cookies is forcing a strategic shift towards first-party data onboarding and privacy-first targeting solutions. Video, particularly short-form and connected TV (CTV), has become the dominant language for brand discovery and communication, making it a central pillar of advertising strategies. The concept of AI agents and agentic workflows is rapidly moving from theory to enterprise application, with platforms like ServiceNow and Salesforce embedding them to automate complex processes in IT, HR, and CRM. These systems go beyond simple automation by enabling autonomous agents to handle multi-step tasks, make decisions, and adapt to new information with minimal human input. Analysts predict that by 2028, one-third of all enterprise software applications will incorporate agentic AI. The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off with major regulation changes, including new power units with a 50/50 hybrid split and active aerodynamics, shaking up the competitive order. Pre-season testing suggests Mercedes and Ferrari have adapted well, while defending constructors' champion McLaren may face challenges. Lando Norris enters the season as the reigning drivers' champion after a close 2025 title fight. London is currently experiencing a rise in measles cases, prompting public health officials to urge families to check their children's MMR vaccination status. In local crime news, a south-London construction director received a suspended sentence for fraudulently claiming £150,000 in Covid Bounce Back Loans. Separately, the Metropolitan Police have made several arrests and laid 29 charges in a complex investigation involving guns and explosive materials in northwest London.