As Vice President of IT for a private equity-backed semiconductor company, I am leading a transformative overhaul of the IT function, focussed on driving significant improvements across Applications, Operations, Security, Governance, Risk Management, Data & Analytics, AI, Infrastructure and Cloud services. Key Achievements:• Spearheaded a comprehensive transformation of the IT department, restructured workflows, streamlined processes, and introduced agile methodologies, resulting in increased efficiency and enhanced collaboration.• Driving the adoption of state-of-the-art cloud and AI technologies, harnessing their potential to drive innovation, improve product development, and accelerate time-to-market. Achieved remarkable gains in operational agility and competitiveness.• Played a pivotal role in aligning IT initiatives with overarching business objectives. Developed and executed IT strategies that seamlessly integrated with the company's long-term vision, fostering growth and enabling effective decision-making.• Effectively led and managed cultural shifts within the IT team, promoting a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and adaptability. Empowered team members to embrace change and excel in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.• Cultivated robust partnerships with department heads and stakeholders. Collaboratively identified opportunities to leverage IT as a strategic enabler, resulting in optimised operational processes and enhanced customer experiences.• Implementing stringent performance metrics and KPIs to monitor IT department performance and ensuring all projects were delivered on time and within budget and meeting or exceeding stakeholder expectations.

AB Agri is a £1.5bn turnover international agri-food business (as of 2022) and a leader in the UK, occupying key positions in the food supply chain with a presence in more than 80 countries and providing a wide range of animal feed, supplements, data insights and technological innovations to farmers, food manufacturers and retailers.On appointment I started work defining, developing and implementing the IT strategy to deliver on growth and efficiency goals, leading a global IT department of 65+ people and driving digital innovation.Key Achievements• Restructured federated IT resources into a centralised function, leveraging skills and experience across the group, resulting in a reduction in overall IT headcount while improving project delivery and operations performance by implementing a global IT operating model based on professional standards.• Created a Risk and Security team to improve the organization's cybersecurity posture by providing governance, oversight, and risk management resulting in improvements in audit, legislation compliance, disaster recovery and business continuity planning, aligned with ISO27001 and the NIST framework. • Successfully led the technology workstream for the acquisition of a manufacturing business which had a heavy e-commerce footprint and delivering the integration activity resulted in improved operational efficiency and increased revenue streams.• Conducted the successful disposal of a precision farming commercial services business and a supply chain auditing business, resulting in an increased focus on new digital platforms better aligned with the commercial strategy.• Led a multi-million-pound transformation programme for a global business division located in the US, Singapore, Brazil, and Holland, successfully delivering all aspects of the business through SaaS products, including Microsoft D365 for CRM and ERP and SAP SuccessFactors for HRIS, resulting in increased productivity and revenue growth.

AB Agri is a £1.2bn turnover business (as of 2018) operating at the heart of the agricultural industry, providing products and services to farmers, feed and food manufacturers, processors and retailers. I had been engaged to build a new digital and data capability, managing an innovation pipeline and bringing a series of customer focussed digital products and data propositions to the market.Key Achievements• Successfully advocated for the creation of a digital capability and gained sponsorship from the board to build a high-performing team specialising in product development and agile project delivery. Led the team responsible for the e-commerce platforms that accounted for 80% of the group's transactions, contributing to significant revenue growth and customer satisfaction.• Proactively conducted horizon scanning for emerging technologies and led the research, prototyping, and validation of innovative solutions, including IoT, Blockchain, machine learning, RPA and digital twins. Successfully developed and implemented multiple proof of concepts, including a solar-powered IoT device equipped with hyperspectral sensors to monitor grain silos and provide real-time data and a handheld near-infrared device that analysed animal feed in real-time. These efforts resulted in increased operational efficiency and cost savings, as well as positioning the company as an industry leader in innovation.• Spearheaded the creation of a data capability, including business engagement, data architecture, and master data management using Azure data lake and Power BI, resulting in self-service and customer-facing data solutions, successfully delivering a trusted source of data, automating reporting and reducing reliance on expensive third-party BI consultants.

AB Agri China is a £200m turnover business (as of 2014) employing 1,000 people in ten sites across China. I was seconded to China to lead an ambitious change programme that included restructuring the IT function, implementing governance frameworks, rationalising project portfolios and delivering an enterprise transformation programme.Key Achievements• Drove the definition of IT strategy aligned with business objectives, including enhancing project governance, implementing talent management initiatives, strengthening security processes, improving business engagement and optimizing supplier management.• Conducted the successful Carve-Out of a manufacturing plant, resulting in an increased focus on core business operations.• Optimised project portfolio and resourcing by evaluating team skill sets, conducting training, and identifying strategic IT partners for outsourcing, successfully delivering multiple concurrent business activities, including business expansion and development of new product and service propositions.

Accountable for delivering a global expansion programme covering Europe, North America, South America and Asia:• Led the definition of the target operating model and structuring of the transformation programme• Set the technology direction and led the creation of a technology roadmap• Managed the delivery of global ERP, CRM and BI systems and infrastructure projects

Engaged as Enterprise Architect enabling the merger of two leading animal feed businesses:• Definition of the baseline processes for each business and developing the target state operating model• Development of the target state application architecture and identifying the projects required to migrate the business to the new model• Implementation of the transformation programme, including aligning multiple ERP (Microsoft Dynamics AX) systems and creating MIS capabilities across the newly formed division

Accountable for IT business partnering for leading agricultural commodities and animal feed businesses:• Stakeholder management across multiple businesses and head office functions• Managing a highly bespoke Microsoft Dynamics AX system• Developing a training and support structure •Managing process and system changes from testing to implementation

AB Mauri is a £1bn turnover global bakers’ yeast business operating from 48 plants in 27 countries. I was engaged as Interim Head of IT, responsible for:• Leading the definition of the target operating model• Recovering the Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 ERP implementation • Managing a data centre relocation from Holland to the UK• Outsourcing of IT function

In 2008, ABF acquired the Jordans Cereals business with the aim of merging it with the Ryvita business to create a new grocery food division.As IT workstream lead, my responsibilities included:• Managing the acquisition discovery phase, understanding the target software and infrastructure architecture • Development of the target operating model for the joint business and defining the solution architecture and breaking down the work packages to transition to the new model• Project management for systems implementation and data migrations including Microsoft Dynamics NAV to MFGPro• Change management, defining project benefits, communicating progress and supporting users in transition to new business operations

Ryvita is a £55m turnover popular FMCG business producing health food products.As IT Manager, my responsibilities included:• Setting the IT strategy to address the IT challenges and support the growth goals of the board• Management of IT departments operations and security• Delivery of projects including the implementation of the Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP, WMS, VoIP, Citrix, Payroll (BACS), e-commerce and BI platform

RPS Water Services is a £50m turnover leader in the water industry supporting local authorities with leak monitoring and water quality modelling services that are improving efficiencies across the UK's municipal network.I joined as a Junior IT Analyst and was promoted to Systems Analyst in June 2002 with responsibilities including:• Engaging with users to define requirements • Producing technical specifications to outline the solution, data, interfaces and test plan• Development and implementation (PHP / MySQL and Visual Basic / SQL Server 2000)• Test management including planning, coordinating and control of test activities• Creation of user training collateral and end-user training