Welcome to my corner of LinkedIn. I’m Chris, an executive leader who specializes in harnessing technology and innovation to generate growth. For over three decades, my guidance and leadership have led global organizations, including IBM, to turn strategy into reality.As the CTO of Spiceworks Ziff Davis, I took a team lacking discipline and trust and turned it into a cohesive unit during a challenging period of low revenue and company confidence. In turn, this resulted in reducing technical debt by 90%, a stronger security disposition and empowering the team to own their products and technologies so they remained current and reliable for clients and users. I also acquired a deep understanding of lead generation and large-scale data processing, gaining skills in Snowflake, AI with Large Language Models (LLMs), data science, and RAG technology based on Vector databases. At IBM, I managed a team of 100 direct and indirect reports, driving hybrid cloud consumption by ISVs and cloud build partners. I created content and code for developers internally and externally, partnering with major companies such as SAP, Workday, New Relic, Vonage, and The Weather Company. Through direct Developer Relations, my remit was to enable technologists all over the world to become proficient with IBM’s internal technologies and products, as well as many Open Source technologies.I’m known as the ‘bridge’ between executive leadership and technology teams to unite problem-solving, drive change and support faster decision-making. I’m equally comfortable speaking with a board of directors about the company’s progress and figures, as I am rolling up my sleeves and getting into the weeds of data and coding with the technology team. A whole-hearted servant leader, I enjoy taking a dysfunctional organization and turning it into one built on openness, transparency and accountability that drives meaningful progress. Having led teams of more than 500 employees and contractors, I firmly believe that being people first leads to exceptional business outcomes. I encourage my teams to treat every piece of code like a work of art and to spend the company’s money like it is their own. It’s these small but mighty mindset changes that transform company cultures and bottom lines. The ever-evolving nature and immense power of technology will continue to captivate me and inspire my work. Thanks for taking the time to learn about my journey. Let’s see where we can take your company.
Listed skills include Software Development, Agile Methodologies, Integration, Web Development, and 11 others.
