I head up Operations and my partner Steve Wilson heads up Delivery. And together with our fantastic team we’re committed to building and growing our own business by ensuring we do a great job each and every time for our customers and helping them grow and succeed. We formed Optimum through a shared desire and passion for delivering great results and an ethos built on hard-work, taking responsibility and making things happen. We have a successful track record of managing businesses through a wide range of transformation activities, including:✪ Selection, implementation and optimisation of business critical systems✪ Getting to the root cause of under-performing businesses or divisions and driving through improvement programmes✪ Applying new processes and technology to deliver operational efficiencies and improved performance✪ Integrating the people, processes and systems of acquired businesses to ensure anticipated benefits are realised✪ Leadership and implementation of business change programmes at both strategic and operational levelFor more information on what we can do for you, feel free to contact us on info@optimumpps.co.uk

As part of Sage's Finance Transformation Programme they were implementing their own X3 ERP system and I was brought in to add some more project management around the areas of data migration, cutover and stabilisation.

DS Smith is a FTSE 250 company, operates across 25 countries & employs around 21,500 people.✪ Project Management ConsultantI was brought into DS Smith to help set up their project management function as part of their IT transformation programme.-Created a bespoke project management methodology, with full library of materials (Prince2 aligned)-Training of methodology across UK & Europe-Mentoring IT project management team-Project assurance across the IT project portfolio-Improved visibility, control & efficiency of all projects-Best practice project management, formalised governance & controls, standardised & consistent approach✪ Project Manager: Data Centre MigrationI was asked to pick up an IT project which was high risk, involved business critical systems, and had tight deadlines.-Decommissioned internal data centre & moved business critical systems to 3rd party data centre-3x24hr large manufacturing sites, several hundred users-Smooth transition with no adverse impact on business operations✪ Programme Manager/PMO: Shared Service Centre & SAP ImplementationMajor transformation programme to set up a new SSC for Finance, Procurement & HR functions with a parallel SAP implementation & standardisation of processes, with a combined budget of £16m.I initially got involved in this programme to set up the PMO function. This developed into project managing the HR transition. Then getting more hands-on with the project management of the Finance project, and then subsequently taking over the programme management. HR/Payroll/Pensions:-Moving people, processes, and systems to the new SSC-Smooth transition with no adverse impact on business operations providing services for 5,500 UK employeesFinance/Procurement:-SAP Implementation with complex interfacing to many operational systems-Transfer of finance & procurement functions to new SSC-Project Team of 30+-40+ sites across the UK-Programme built to enable an accelerating rollout approach

On client projects, my main role was that of programme or project manager. For all client projects I oversaw the project governance and programme office methodology. I provided project management mentoring and training for our consultants and drove through Prince2 accreditation across our consultant base. A big focus for me with Campion was on our own internal strategies, processes, and systems.Some of the areas I addressed include:- Implemented cloud business systems to improve flexibility, agility and convenience (Finance, Time & Expenses, CRM, Resourcing & Scheduling)- Introduced scheduling, resourcing and recruitment processes and systems - Re-developed our website and online presence as well as our offline sales and marketing strategy - Introduced mechanisms to expand our resource pool to increase our capacity and agility whilst at the same time introducing skills development for our internal resources I also ran the day-to-day operations which included looking after customer account management, resourcing and scheduling for our client projects, contract management, invoicing, internal resource and skill set management.

Overall responsibility for the IT Business Systems function, enabling business results to be achieved and alignment with business strategy. Overall responsibility for the portfolio of systems projects across the group with a team of project managers, business analysts and external consultants reporting into me. As well as the direct hands-on management of key projects and programmes, such as: ✪ Programme Manager: 3PL Distribution & Warehouse Management Switch-Key part of the role was ensuring the various parties worked effectively together to deliver a robust solution which met business requirements for both sides-Ensuring programme office methodology adhered to -Bespoke IFS solution for 3PL WMS-Successful 3PL provider transition with zero impact on customer service levels. This was business critical as dealing with the major multiples. ✪ Programme Manager: Business Transformation Programme & ERP ImplementationFollowing an acquisition that changed their whole business model, First Milk had to undertake a major transformation programme. Hugely complex undertaking to merge 2 businesses and replace the myriad of disparate systems with a fully integrated ERP systems, with a new organisation structure and a new way of working.-Overall responsibility for delivery of the programme and day-to-day hands-on project management and programme office-IFS ERP: Full end-to-end ERP implementation with process manufacturing, fully integrated supply chain, WMS and EDI plus Essbase BI/Reporting-£5m budget-Blueprint, System Selection & Procurement, System Implementation, Organisational Change Programme-Delivered a solid platform for future business growth and development✪ Project Manager: Microsoft Dynamics Nav Implementation-Hands-on management of the full project lifecycle-Microsoft Dynamics Nav: Finance, Manufacturing, Inventory, Purchasing, Order Management-Successful implementation of an integrated system solution for Finance, Sales & Manufacturing sites

Responsibility for all Finance and HR / Payroll division projects. - Implementation of Cedar Financials and Cyborg HR / Payroll to replace Oracle solution- Hands-on management of the full project lifecycle- Redesign and streamlining of business processes to meet new business objectives

Started as a graduate trainee with RM in the Information Systems department and worked my way through the ranks. RM were at the cutting edge of technology and had an impressive internal software development department set up to deliver tailored end end to business solutions across the group. This gave me a fantastic grounding in business systems, full project lifecycle, and invaluable experience across every business function as well as extensive business and soft skills training which set me up for the rest of my career. ✪ Development Group Leader-Managing all development activity for the Sales & Marketing division and the corporate website-Delivering multiple, large scale projects within demanding time, budget and resource constraints- Working alongside the business teams to align the software solutions with business strategies and improve sales force efficiency and customer service-Sales & Marketing System, Customer Contact System, Email Management System, Sales Briefings, Discounting, Online Ordering, Online Event Booking, Online Questionnaires✪ Development Team Leader-Managing the full software development lifecycle of projects-Managing deliverables and personal development of analyst/programmers- eCommerce Website, Content Manager, Search Engine, Customer Model, Customer Segmentation, CRM, Customer Profitability✪ Analyst/Programmer-Requirements, design, development, testing, implementation and support of software solutions-Manufacturing System, Order Management System, Contract Management System, Customer Service System, Customer Support System