Introduction

In addition to project delivery, Starling Consultancy was asked to step into an interim team management role within Robeco’s IT Delivery organization for Marketing and Distribution. Over a period of one year, we were responsible for leading a team of approximately 20 developers — spanning Web, Sales Enablement, and CRM/Dynamics — and transforming the team into a high-performing DevOps unit.

The Challenge

Robeco’s IT Delivery team for Marketing and Distribution was facing a period of transition. The team needed stronger leadership, clearer ways of working, and a shift towards a more agile, DevOps-oriented approach — while continuing to deliver on a demanding backlog of digital and data initiatives.

The key challenges were:

• A team of approximately 20 developers with diverse skills and backgrounds, requiring clear direction, alignment, and leadership
• The need to transition from a traditional delivery model to a modern DevOps way of working — improving speed, quality, and collaboration
• Managing budget responsibility for the team while maintaining delivery commitments across Web, Sales Enablement, and CRM/Dynamics workstreams
• Ensuring close collaboration with business stakeholders, data architects, and the broader data team to deliver integrated, data-driven solutions
• Maintaining data management processes and data governance standards across all team deliverables

What We Delivered

As Interim Team Manager, Starling Consultancy took full responsibility for the team’s leadership, development, and delivery:

• Led and managed a team of approximately 20 developers across Web, Sales Enablement, and CRM/Dynamics — with full budget responsibility
• Drove the transition of the team to a DevOps model, improving collaboration, deployment frequency, and delivery quality
• Maintained close alignment with business stakeholders, data architects, and the data team — ensuring all deliverables were technically sound and commercially relevant
• Established clear ways of working, team rituals, and a culture of continuous improvement
• Ensured data management processes and data governance standards were embedded in the team’s day-to-day delivery practices
• Managed priorities, capacity, and stakeholder expectations across multiple concurrent workstreams

The Result

Over the course of one year, the IT Delivery team for Marketing and Distribution was transformed into a mature, high-performing DevOps unit. Key outcomes:

• A team that operates according to DevOps principles — with improved speed, quality, and cross-functional collaboration
• Stronger alignment between IT delivery, business stakeholders, and the data organization — reducing friction and improving the relevance of technical output
• A clear, sustainable operating model with defined ways of working, capacity management, and budget control
• A foundation for continued digital transformation within Robeco’s Marketing and Distribution domain

Does this resonate with your challenges?

Whether you are implementing a new data platform, transforming your digital ecosystem, or scaling an IT delivery team — we would love to hear what is keeping you up at night.