Michael Forkin Email & Phone Number

Ireland

Ireland

Jacksonville, Fl, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

• Managed the relationship with the OEM of the range of VXC Thin Clients and outsourced supplier of VDI (Virtual Desktop Integration) Software used and sold by Cisco.• Drove delivery of key OEM software deliverables in successive releases, maintaining alignment with internal Cisco releases of Cisco VXME Unified Communications product.• Directed and managed collaboration of the OEM and Cisco teams to manage the new feature backlogs and reduce product defect and feature backlogs to improve Quality / Defect Metrics and product stability.• Held key role as the focal point / lead for geographically dispersed team members (OEM in San Jose and the Cisco VXME team in Belgrade, Galway and Dallas after development transferred to Belgrade from Galway).• Aided the Belgrade team in transition to Agile / Scrum methodology, forming two Scrum teams working in 2-week sprints.• Led and managed the interaction between the team and Cisco Technical Services in prioritizing new features / enhancements and communicating release dates, field trial dates etc. for key customers.• Worked with the BU escalations team and Product Owner to prioritize urgent customer issues for the Product Backlog.

San Jose, Ca, Us

• Led the initiative with Product Management / Product Owners within the BU to define product strategy for a range of converged Thin Client / Unified Communication endpoints supporting a range of Virtualization protocols and integrating HD Video (realtime interactive and streamed media playback).• Investigated and costed High-Level Design options for these devices involving Hardware and Industrial Design Requirements while taking account of Software Requirements and choice of Virtualization protocols (E.g. Citrix and VMWare).• Liased with third party suppliers building out a range of Accessories to complement the ergonomic requirements of Unified Communications while adhering to Cisco design language.

Dublin, Ie

• Decided on company and product strategy as part of the senior management team of 5 people. Involved in forecasting and production planning.• Led and Project-Managed cross-functional project teams that designed and executed the product strategies for ISDN and VoIP telecom products.• Successfully led the transfer of manufacture of PBX, Systemphone and IP Systemphone products from Ireland to subcontractors in U.K. and China. • Managed the Interface between MDS Gateways R&D and the Contract Manufacturers, with responsibility for all engineering, quality and test issues.• Maintained the documentation control system and revision control of BOMs and AVLs for all products from prototype stage to production.• Managed customer support for existing legacy PSTN / ISDN products as well as introduction of new VoIP products, ensuring excellent customer relations with key clients such as KPN, Belgacom and Eircom among others.

Dublin, Ie

• Transformed MDS’s technical direction and design capabilities by introducing Basic Rate & Primary Rate ISDN technology, leading the design and introduction to manufacture of a new family of ISPBXs, thereby trebling the company’s turnover in this main product line.• Oversaw all aspects of product design, approvals, and testing as well as design and commissioning of manual and automatic factory test equipment.• Successful patent applications for novel features in ISPBX designs.• Successful applications for research funding (Enterprise Ireland RTI fund).• Collaborated with W.I.T. and TSSG (Waterford) on the addition / integration of Ethernet and CTI into the (hitherto Voice only) PBX range. • Recruited, mentored and managed a team of (mostly Hardware) Engineers. Trained production and test operators (and trainers).• Transferred manufacturing to external subcontract manufacturers in Ireland when MDS ceased to manufacture in-house.• Worked with Industrial Designers on mechanical (plastic and metal) housings.• Product Management and technical support for Germany, Italy, South Africa, Netherlands, Ireland and USA. Site visits for fault diagnosis and resolution.• Led teams which carried out continuous improvement projects in the MDS manufacturing facility covering training, returns turnaround, housekeeping.

Roma, It

• Led the Hardware design of a number of ISDN U-Interface and S interface ISDN linecards for the Italtel UT10 and UT100 Central Office Digital Exchanges to facilitate the rollout of ISDN in Italy in the early 1990s.• Developed Prototype Hardware and Firmware for Network Termination (NT) and Terminal equipment (TE) units for pilot ISDN projects.• Managed the interface with the Central Office Software Design team and the Italtel production facilities on Design-for-Manufacture (DFM) and New Product Introduction (NPI) issues, test equipment development etc.• Led product approval and verification testing as well as design of test equipment. Worked with key client SIP (now Telecom Italia).• Managed a team of 3 Hardware Engineers covering all aspects of design and realisation from concept to production.• Registered an Italian patent for a delay measurement technique used in a public DECT linecard using ISDN U Interface technology.

Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ie

Worked as part of a team on the automation of the Communication System for Remote Operation and Maintenance of Lighthouses around the Irish Coast.

Mbs In Business Practice

Professional Diploma In Executive Coaching, Industrial And Organizational Psychology

Professional Diploma, Organisational Behaviour

Professional Diploma, Technology Leadership

Advanced Negotiation Skills

Certified Scrum Master (Csm)

Hetac Level 8, Certificate In Innovation And New Business Development

R&D Management Programme, Innovation

Honours Diploma, Electrical, Electronic And Communications Engineering

Bsc Eng, Electrical, Electronic And Communications Engineering

National Diploma, Electronic Engineering

National Certificate, Electronic Engineering