15 May 2025 Driving transformation together: inside Oak Group’s strategic shift with Jibran Ahmed and Will O’Dwyer
In the world of fiduciary services, where precision, trust and agility are paramount, transformation is not simply a change programme—it is a commitment to future-proofing excellence.
At Oak Group, this commitment is led by the dynamic partnership of Jibran Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer, and Will O’Dwyer, Transformation Lead. Together, they are propelling the organisation through a pivotal chapter of strategic evolution.
Since joining Oak in October 2024, Jibran and Will have jointly spearheaded a bold transformation agenda, working closely with a newly formed transformation team of talented professionals fully aligned with Oak’s strategic goals. Together, they have established a robust delivery framework, combining Jibran’s operational leadership with Will’s strategic drive to deliver tangible progress aligned with the ambitious five-year vision set by parent company Opera Limited.
A strategic vision: Project Overture
Oak’s transformation is part of a wider ambition. Opera is building a world-class portfolio of businesses renowned for exceptional client service and employee experience, guided by its group-wide strategy: Project Overture.
Project Overture focuses on three key pillars:
- Platform optimisation – strengthening operational foundations
- Organic growth – deepening client service and market presence
- Inorganic growth – expanding through strategic acquisitions
A clear example of this vision in action is the recent acquisition of Amber Trust Ltd, a fiduciary business in The Bahamas, broadening Oak’s global footprint and enhancing its capabilities.
A framework for transformation
Transformation at Oak is guided by three core principles that underpin every initiative:
1. Prioritising the right change initiatives
Jibran and Will lead a rigorous prioritisation process, ensuring resources are focused not only on solving today’s most pressing challenges but also on laying the groundwork for the strategic initiatives clients will value in five years’ time. This balanced approach ensures Oak isn’t just keeping pace with the industry—it’s positioning itself to set new standards of excellence.
2. Strong delivery discipline coupled with agility
Strong governance, disciplined execution and clear accountability are enabling Oak to deliver initiatives efficiently, with minimal disruption to daily operations whilst also allowing us to make decisions quickly and pivot to resolving the most pertinent challenges when they arise
3. Maximising benefits and driving continuous improvement
The focus is firmly on value realisation. Oak’s transformation team actively measures impact, optimises processes, and continuously refines delivery to sustain long-term success. This includes automating where possible, driving digital innovation, making the best use of the organisation’s technology stack, and leveraging data and AI to create smarter, more forward-thinking solutions.
Building a culture of ownership and agility
Beyond systems and processes, a cultural transformation is underway. Jibran and Will are fostering a culture of ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and agility—ensuring that every member of Oak’s team is empowered to contribute to the organisation’s growth story.
This cultural evolution is critical to ensuring Oak not only adapts to change, but thrives in a rapidly evolving global environment.
Digital innovation: reimagining client onboarding
A major milestone in Oak’s innovation journey is the launch of MeshID, a secure digital onboarding and identity verification solution fully integrated with Oak’s core system, Viewpoint.
With smart forms, automated identity verification, and real-time compliance tracking, MeshID streamlines client onboarding, eliminates redundant data entry, and enhances due diligence processes. It reflects Oak’s commitment to leveraging technology to drive efficiency, compliance, and an exceptional client experience.
Looking ahead: a future-focused Oak
As Oak accelerates its transformation journey, the path ahead is clear: scale thoughtfully, sharpen operational excellence, and stay deeply anchored in the Group’s core values of trust, service and integrity.
"This isn’t change for the sake of change," says Jibran. "It’s about building a future where Oak is even better positioned to support our clients, grow our people and expand our impact."
In partnership, Jibran Ahmed and Will O’Dwyer are demonstrating that with clarity, conviction and collaboration, transformation becomes more than a strategy—it becomes a powerful engine for sustainable success.
Oak Group’s journey is just beginning—and the best is yet to come. Stay tuned.
