Interview: Richard Corbridge, CIO, Segro

Why It Matters

Segro’s agile, value‑first digital agenda signals a rapid tech shift in real‑estate, setting a benchmark for efficiency and profit in a traditionally relationship‑driven industry.

Key Takeaways

• Corbridge leads Segro's digital agenda with three 2026 pillars.
• Partners IBM and HCL test‑and‑learn process simplification.
• Open Box integration reduces complexity of MRI property system.
• In‑house Sama app unifies data, supports local market nuances.
• Focus on value delivery, not static digital strategy, drives profit.

Pulse Analysis

The property market has long been viewed as a relationship‑centric business, but Richard Corbridge’s appointment as Segro’s CIO marks a decisive turn toward data‑driven efficiency. Drawing on stints at the NHS, Boots and the DWP, Corbridge brings a cross‑sector perspective that values speed, governance and tangible outcomes over technology for its own sake. His three‑pillar roadmap—process simplification, enterprise data exploitation, and point‑solution orchestration—mirrors the broader digital‑first wave reshaping asset‑heavy industries, where agility now outweighs legacy system inertia.

Implementation is anchored by strategic partners IBM and HCL, who are piloting a test‑and‑learn methodology to dissect and streamline high‑complexity workflows. Rather than embarking on a costly, monolithic ERP overhaul, Segro is layering technology incrementally, using Open Box to streamline its MRI property‑management backbone and the internally built Sama app to capture and share data across nine countries. This modular approach reduces integration risk, accelerates time‑to‑value, and ensures that each technology investment directly supports business outcomes, from asset‑manager insights to localized market adaptations.

For the wider real‑estate sector, Segro’s pragmatic stance offers a replicable blueprint: prioritize measurable efficiency, enforce robust data governance, and empower business units with tailored digital tools. As consumerisation spreads and generative AI tools become commonplace, firms that embed technology as an enabler—not a distraction—will capture higher margins and stronger stakeholder confidence. Corbridge’s vision positions Segro to lead this transformation, potentially redefining industry standards for digital adoption and operational excellence.