DeAnna Dobosz: A Trailblazing Transformation Director and Partner to Kelly Smith
DeAnna Dobosz is a highly accomplished Technology Transformation Director with over 27 years of global experience in business, digital, and technology change. She is widely recognised not only for her professional expertise but also as the wife of former England football star Kelly Smith. This article explores the life and career of DeAnna Dobosz, including her impressive educational background, extensive career, and her relationship with Kelly Smith. We will also touch on her past association with Alex Scott and share insights about her age and personal achievements.
Who Is DeAnna Dobosz?
DeAnna Dobosz is a dual US-UK citizen based in London, England. She has built a distinguished career specialising in transformation leadership, working primarily within financial services, banking, insurance, and management consulting sectors. DeAnna’s expertise lies in overseeing large-scale business and technology transformations, including post-merger integrations, digital strategy implementation, and agile development methodologies.
Her professional approach is characterised by close collaboration with board-level and C-suite stakeholders to create and deliver impactful change portfolios. DeAnna is Accenture-trained, a testament to her solid foundation in consultancy and project management. She has a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time, spanning multiple industries and geographies.
Education and Early Career
DeAnna Dobosz graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Oakland University between 1991 and 1994. Her education laid a strong foundation for her communication skills, critical thinking, and leadership abilities, all of which have been vital to her success in managing large-scale transformation programmes.
Early in her career, she worked with Accenture in London for six years, where she gained experience managing complex projects and delivering technology-enabled business change. This formative period helped develop her deep expertise in programme delivery and technology transformation.
Extensive Professional Experience
DeAnna Dobosz’s career spans several prestigious roles across leading companies and sectors. Her current position is as Head of Change at McGill and Partners, a role she assumed in May 2025. Prior to this, she served as Technology Transformation Director at DUAL Group from March 2024 to May 2025.
Key Roles and Achievements
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DUAL Group: As Technology Transformation Director, DeAnna led various initiatives focusing on programme delivery, automation, digital strategy, and portfolio management. She worked closely with senior executives to drive technology-enabled business transformation.
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DD Management Consulting Limited: Since 2010, DeAnna has been the Director of her own consulting firm, specialising in change management and transformation programmes for diverse clients.
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Travelers Europe: Between May 2023 and March 2024, she acted as Programme Director, overseeing the delivery of strategic transformation projects.
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Marsh McLennan: Serving as Change Director for the Darwin team from December 2021 to April 2023, DeAnna led major change programmes that included operational optimisation and the creation of new target operating models.
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Programme Director – M&A: From 2018 to 2021, she was responsible for managing the end-to-end integration of three legal entities into a single new business, including platform migrations and transaction closure.
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Royal Bank of Scotland and Tesco Bank: Earlier in her career, DeAnna managed high-budget programmes including mobile banking infrastructure and branch rollouts, demonstrating her ability to handle projects with budgets in the tens and hundreds of millions.
Her career also includes senior roles in Monitise, IRESS, Al Khalij Commercial Bank, BT Group, Barclays, and Robert Whowell & Partners. Across these positions, her skills in stakeholder management, portfolio management, IT governance, and agile delivery have been consistently praised.
DeAnna Dobosz and Kelly Smith: A Strong Partnership
DeAnna Dobosz is known publicly as the wife of Kelly Smith, one of England’s most celebrated women’s footballers. The couple married in June 2016 in a private ceremony held at the Pergola on Hampstead Heath, London. Their wedding was attended by close friends and family, marking the beginning of their life together.
Kelly Smith is famed for her outstanding football career with England’s national team and various club teams. The couple share two children, Rocco Jude, born in May 2017, and Lucia, born in August 2019. Both children were conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), reflecting their openness about family planning and personal choices.
DeAnna Dobosz and Alex Scott: A Past Connection
Before her relationship with DeAnna Dobosz, Kelly Smith was in a well-known romantic relationship with Alex Scott, another prominent footballer and media personality. Smith and Scott dated from 2005 until 2013, a period Alex Scott has described as her “first love.”
Their relationship was kept largely private at the time but later revealed in Alex Scott’s 2022 memoir, How (Not) To Be Strong. Scott spoke candidly about the emotional intensity of their time together and the reasons for their separation.
While DeAnna Dobosz is not directly linked romantically to Alex Scott, the connection comes through their shared past with Kelly Smith.
DeAnna Dobosz Age and Personal Details
Born in June 1972, DeAnna Dobosz is currently 53 years old. Her age and life experiences have contributed to her mature and disciplined leadership style, which has been a key factor in her success leading large transformation projects.
She holds dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, reflecting her international experience and mobility throughout her career.
Specialties and Skills
DeAnna’s career highlights numerous specialties, showcasing her ability to lead diverse and complex projects:
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Start-up and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): She has spearheaded the end-to-end integration of business entities, managing multiple platform migrations and legal restructures.
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Target Operating Model Design: DeAnna utilises Gartner methodologies to design and implement new operating models that streamline processes and improve efficiency.
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Business and Technology Transformation: She is adept at managing digital transformations that enable organisations to adopt new technologies and enhance customer engagement.
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Robo-Advice Implementation: Demonstrating her expertise in financial technology, DeAnna has implemented robo-advice platforms that automate and optimise client advisory services.
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Agile Development & IT Governance: She promotes agile methodologies and robust IT governance to ensure project success and compliance with regulatory requirements.
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Portfolio & Programme Management: Her ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously, balancing resources and timelines, is a standout feature of her leadership.
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Change Management & Client Engagement: DeAnna excels at managing stakeholder expectations and driving organisational change to maximise business value.
Conclusion
DeAnna Dobosz is a remarkable professional whose career and personal life exemplify dedication, skill, and resilience. As a transformation director, she has successfully led major change initiatives for top-tier financial and technology firms. As the wife of Kelly Smith, she is part of a high-profile partnership that has captured public interest beyond the football world.
Her journey from Oakland University graduate to global change leader serves as an inspiring story of leadership and adaptability. For anyone interested in transformation leadership, management consulting, or the intersections of business and personal life in the public eye, DeAnna Dobosz’s story offers rich insights.
