Paolo Donà

About

I am the Chief Information Officer at Staycity Group, Europe’s leading aparthotel operator, where I lead technology strategy and digital transformation across our European portfolio. In my career I’ve built, led, and learned from technology teams across software engineering, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership.

I’m especially energised by AI and automation right now — how they reshape what a small team can ship, and how to apply them pragmatically to real business problems rather than as a fashion. My happy place is creating and leading small, fast-paced, world-class technical teams: the kind of group where great engineers can do their best work, decisions move quickly, and the bar stays high.

My background blends deep technical expertise with commercial acumen — I’m as comfortable in the boardroom of a €500M-a-year company as I am in detailed technical discussions with engineers. Having started as a developer and later founded and scaled my own ventures, I take a pragmatic, action-oriented approach to any challenge.

Outside of work

I’m a keen cyclist — road, gravel, MTB, all of them — and enjoy long rides and adventures with other “middle-aged men in lycra.” I divide my time between Ireland and Northern Italy, enjoying both the energy of Dublin and the beauty of the Italian mountains.