Two decades of
building what works.

I'm Mark Hartley, an IT architect and consultant based in the UK with over 20 years of experience across enterprise systems, web platforms, and infrastructure.

My career started in the deep end of C#/.NET and Java enterprise development, building web-based systems for organisations that couldn't afford downtime. That foundation — understanding what happens when systems meet reality — shapes every architecture decision I make today.

Over the years I've evolved from writing code to designing the systems that code runs in. I work with CTOs, engineering leads, and product teams to make technology decisions that balance ambition with pragmatism. Cloud migrations, platform modernisation, microservice architectures, DevOps transformation, AI integration — I've guided organisations through all of these, and I know where each one can go wrong.

I believe the best architecture is the simplest one that solves the actual problem. Not the trendiest, not the most impressive on a whiteboard — the one that your team can build, operate, and evolve.

When I'm not working, I'm running a self-hosted Kubernetes homelab (because I practice what I preach), going to the gym, and spending time with my family. I'm also deeply interested in AI and how it's reshaping the technology landscape — not as hype, but as a practical tool that changes how we build software.

Tom Hartley is Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at ColourTree, bringing seven years of senior Business Analysis experience in financial services — most recently as Senior Business Analyst at NFU Mutual, one of the UK's largest mutual insurers.

Tom has built deep domain expertise across insurance, billing, claims, policy, counter-fraud, and service design, leading large-scale transformation programmes from requirements through to delivery. His most significant engagement to date was leading the analysis workstream for an enterprise-wide, AI-driven counter-fraud implementation — exactly the kind of real-world AI adoption that ColourTree exists to help organisations navigate.

Alongside his delivery track record, Tom has five years of Business Analysis mentorship experience and has played a central role in establishing Agile ways of working within large organisations — designing frameworks, guiding teams, and stepping into Scrum Master and Product Owner roles where needed. He holds a Distinction in his Business Analysis apprenticeship and the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

At ColourTree, Tom operates across two dimensions. Commercially, he drives client relationships and business development — translating complex architectural capability into propositions that resonate with senior stakeholders and building the long-term partnerships that underpin the business. On client engagements, he brings his delivery experience directly to bear: leading analysis workstreams, managing stakeholder relationships, and ensuring transformation programmes stay grounded in real business outcomes rather than technical ambition alone.