John Forrest Email & Phone Number

Berkhamsted, Gb

Berkhamsted, Gb

Gatwick, England, United Kingdom

Gatwick, England, United Kingdom

As a key player in our Managed Services team, I take pride in my role in scoping and delivering end-to-end solutions for data centres. My areas of expertise include technology-led deployments like DCIM, energy and service management as well as data centre transformation and operational services. Let me help you with your data centre needs and take your business to the next level.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As the leader in charge of ARM's global datacentre estate, I developed and executed a comprehensive strategy to optimize utilization and reduce costs. In doing so, I drew upon my knowledge of the latest industry trends and identified opportunities to position ARM's datacentre capabilities for sustained success. Using streamlined processes, I maintained and enhanced ARM's datacentre facilities across maintenance, access, and capacity areas while managing relationships with both technical and project teams to ensure our datacentre capability informed product selection and IT strategy. My expertise in operating systems, server, storage and networking technologies was invaluable in coordinating any installs, moves, changes, and break/fix of physical assets. Furthermore, as the main point of contact with external co-location facility providers, I provided strong leadership and coordination to ensure seamless operation of our data centres globally.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As a member of the Operations team in a matrix management function, I have had the opportunity to mentor and share my expertise with my team of 6 line reports. I have also continued to develop my technical abilities by pursuing additional ITIL courses and professional certifications in Service Transition and Operational Support and Analysis, which have helped me apply new knowledge to my day-to-day work.In my role, I am responsible for supporting 3rd-party vendor maintenance agreements and support models for our organization's HPC environment. Additionally, I have collaborated with the Storage architect to establish a new worldwide standard for virtual storage solutions, which involved conducting vendor selection, technical analysis, documentation, and roll-out.Managing change requests is a key part of my role, and I rely on a change management system to successfully assess and implement submitted changes. In times of major outages, I take on the role of Major Incident Manager, communicating effectively to facilitate fast resolution and creating post-incident reports.I have also created a service improvement plan that outlines short, medium, and long-term strategies for improving our Platforms service. As a valued member of the Operations team, I regularly attend and contribute to data centre operations meetings, where I provide insights on installation planning, best practices, maintenance, and infrastructure remediation.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As a Senior Member of the team, I aim to leverage my experience and knowledge to guide and mentor the other staff members. My main focus lies in the virtualization field, leading and planning the development of high-performance compute platforms. I take pride in my ability to design and implement highly available systems, from the ground up, ensuring that they meet business requirements. Additionally, I am well-equipped to make major decisions related to compute hardware, specifications, build processes, and monitoring systems.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Throughout my contracting work, I demonstrated strong capabilities and subsequently landed a permanent position at ARM where I continue to play an important role in supporting a global high performance compute environment consisting of over 3000 servers and enterprise hardware. My expertise now extends across multiple areas, including Linux administration focused on Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Solaris, as well as hardware management from IBM and HP, specifically with BladeSystem administration. Additionally, I have become well-versed in virtualisation via the VMware suite of software and have contributed significantly to worldwide deployment initiatives. Thanks to practical experience in datacentre design and maintenance, I am comfortable addressing a range of operational issues as they arise. One particularly noteworthy accomplishment has been the installation, documentation, and rollout of a global system monitoring service complete with datacentre monitoring dashboards, performance metrics, and service level monitoring alerts and escalation processes.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As an expert in desktop deployment, I successfully managed the deployment process for the Cambridge campus. By creating a custom deployment system, I was able to streamline the building of desktop and laptop systems. This system was so efficient that it was later adopted by the Helpdesk team for global use. Alongside deployment, I also contributed to several software projects and addressed a variety of support issues on Windows 2003/XP/Vista systems.

London, United Kingdom

As a member of a dynamic helpdesk team, I directly supported over 1000 users by resolving both hardware and software issues escalated from 1st line support. My technical expertise extended to server support, specifically in-house software on mixed Windows NT/2000/XP workstations with Windows NT/2000/2003 server support. I also focused on empowering my teammates, providing essential technical documentation, and creating automation tools through scripted language to optimize reporting and streamline issue resolution. Additionally, I developed a content management system website to improve communication via the office intranet. My efforts contributed to maintaining strict adherence to service level agreements, ensuring timely responses to user calls.

London, United Kingdom

As the Hardware Repair Specialist, I reported directly to the Director of IT and was entrusted to oversee the repair and return of all point of sale computer equipment across five different territories. My day-to-day responsibilities included managing the work of a contracting Hardware Engineer, utilizing the RoyalBlue Helpdesk call logging system, advising and configuring network and security setups, and ensuring any hardware issues were resolved in a timely and efficient manner. Additionally, I documented procedures, installation methods, and network-attached storage configurations, ensuring that all information was properly communicated and introduced during each rollout.

London, United Kingdom

I spearheaded the development and implementation of a robust asset database utilizing Microsoft Access. In addition, I carried out successful installations of Windows NT servers and workstations, expertly configuring and installing SQL configurations for seamless data management.As a hands-on technician, I also took charge of various computer rollouts at cinema sites, ensuring optimal configuration and setup of Point of Sale equipment. Furthermore, I maintained a personal call list and expertly resolved any issues that arose, delivering unparalleled customer service to clients.

London, United Kingdom

As a Hardware Technician, I reported to the Senior Hardware Engineer and was responsible for repairing basic computer hardware faults. I also handled organising the repair and return of point of sale equipment. My technical proficiency allows me to produce hardware maintenance guides for cinema staff. I have also been responsible for liaising with customers, providing comprehensive hardware diagnosis, and fixing faults in a timely manner. In addition to repairing, I have also installed Windows NT workstation computers and in-house software, always ensuring that the user experience is top-notch.