Perfect Awnings is a small family company providing Quality Awnings for Caravans, Motorhomes and RVs.

Set up a new Ecommerce venture - www.perfectawnings.co.uk to better understand how new internet based retail business is initiated and profitably operated.

Setting up a new IT Services team for a well known retail client providing significant ongoing cost savings and enhanced service levels for a DMW client. The project involved carrying out due diligence and managing contract negotiations. The role also included embedding new processes into live operation and sponsoring and implementing an enhanced change framework to support the changes to a service led change implementation approach.Successfully managed two re-procurement processes for WAN and Telecommunication Services providing significant cost savings and enhanced services for a DMW client.The role included benchmarking services and negotiating reduced costs with the supplier whilst providing enhanced services and improved contract conditions.

My role was to manage the Transformation Delivery change team delivering the change programme at Vaultex. I was responsible for all IT and Business Change activities and my role included working with the business sponsor to lead and drive the following: idea inception, conceptual and full business case production, procurement processes including RFI/RFP and contracting, financial, risk and stakeholder management and governance of the full project life cycle for all aspects of IT and Business change. The role required setting up and embedding a new Change Framework, PMO function, CMDB and centralised planning tool to manage the programme pipeline of over 200 changes and projects.

Initially responsible for leading a project to build a new IT infrastructure and subsequently, led a service improvement programme to transform all IT services and associated scorecard results. All projects were governed using PRINCE 2 and responsibilities included leading and driving business case production, procurement processes including RFI/RFP and contracting, financial, risk and stakeholder management and governance of the full project life cycle for all aspects of IT and business.Managed the build of the Vaultex data centre, the admin centre for IT services and implemented a new nationwide network. This also included setting up the first IT helpdesk within Vaultex to support all transformation and go live operations. Oversaw and managed several project managers transforming all aspects of the transitioned cash processing and end user services. This included projects to migrate users from a 3rd party Lotus Notes system to an in-house Microsoft Exchange system and the replacement of all end user workstation and laptop devices with a common workstation/laptop including the latest Windows and Office applications.In addition worked very closely with the project management and application development teams to support the delivery of the following solutions:• Company first Intranet and Web presence with a secure portal providing new reporting information• Business Information Warehouse (BIW) and SharePoint technologies using agile applications to provide new insights to customer and operational behaviours and transform the communications and reporting channels.

Reporting to the Programme Director, I was responsible for managing a team who successfully completed the design phase of a £40M programme to facilitate the development and implementation of a new RBS corporate Payments product.The role required managing the design process to allow the new product to integrate with over 20 IT systems and involved producing over 60 signed off deliverables and managing a significant RAID log.

Responsible for managing and developing a team of programme and project managers delivering 30 projects and service implementations simultaneously. Liaising with sales and pre-sales functions to assist in the development of a portfolio of services that can be delivered profitably. Carrying out operational planning to ensure service delivery meets all stakeholder requirements in project implementation and subsequent BAU operation. Providing overarching governance for all IT programmes. Reviewing all new opportunities using due diligence to validate the business case, solution and value added approach and ensuring use of appropriate methodologies and best practices.Providing overarching programme management to all transformational change projects, including introduction of next generation technology, remote management and automation tools and introduction of ITIL based processes and services. Leading regular project reviews, responsible for ensuring on time delivery, P&L budget management and customer satisfaction.Projects include the migration of data centres and set up of ITIL based services, including data centre hosting, application support, service desk, security, network management, Email and PMO services. As Project Director managed set up of new IT and operational infrastructure at two data centres. Successfully managed all aspects of transferring the complex mission critical services and associated infrastructure and applications to Unisys and its partner.

Responsible for managing a team of 8 project/business change managers with a virtual multi-functional and matrix managed team of 90 analysts/IT staff and on/offshore 3rd parties. Held end to end responsibility for all aspects of IT and business change, including managing the client relationship at a senior management level and delivering the following transformational projects: Implementation of the largest cheque image and data archive in UK.Implementation of a Common Workstation and refresh of 28 ancillary applications across 5 sites.Directly managed a BPR project to implement a new Centralised Returns In (CRI) system into Northampton with the associated migration of services delivering savings of over £2.5m p.a.

In addition to the role as iPSL Delivery Director, I also transformed the delivery of change, development and support services in iPSL. To achieve this, I set-up and managed the innovative Payment Applications Group of 100+ staff. This new team provided application support services to all 16 UK financial services clients of iPSL.

Managed various projects during this time, including:- Implemented ICR technology with HSBC on clearing credits.- Setting-up a new IT and operational infrastructure at two data centres, developing and implementing new cheque processing work-streams for Alliance and Leicester. - Project managed the first implementation of SoftCAR+ into UK clearings from pre-sales through implementation- Successfully bid managed the Systems Integration element (£26M) of an overall £300M BPO proposal to takeover and transform all cheque processing from a Major UK Bank into iPSL.

Managed 20 Project Managers and analysts and worked with third party software companies delivering proposals, projects and application support to customers of Unisys Ltd, examples include:Introduction of SoftCAR+ to UK clearings market; agreed benchmarking and validation approach for a Signature Mandate Database with a major UK bank; bid managed production of a high quality systems integration proposal to a major new name which significantly enhanced Unisys’ reputation with this institution and subsequently led to the client wanting to sponsor the development of the product.Project managed major technology implementation project as part of a significant business change programme to transform HSBC clearing services to utilise an image-based cheque processing system. Led multi-functional team of 10 and assigned to the project to lead the design, development, integration and implementation of several new Windows and Mainframe technologies and the implementation of new business processes across a multi-site environment.Received Unisys achievement award and Certificate of Recognition from client as a key contributor to their business successAs a contract Project Manager at Unisys, managed the implementation of three major training and consultancy programs, delivered throughout Eastern Europe to enable several banks to implement and support new banking solutions running on over 150 new mainframe systems.

Computer Services Manager, with responsibility for managing all operational and technical staff at five data centres, running twenty five computer systems utilising several different technologies. This role included full responsibility for capital and revenue budgets and managing business plans to deliver the company 5 year Information Plan. Project managed implementation of new mainframes, WAN, first on-line applications, new help desk and DR testing. Acclaimed as responsible for taking the data centres from 1970’s into 1990’s.

Progressed from Senior Large Systems Engineer to Senior Education Consultant, with responsibility for teaching a broad range of IT hardware systems and software solutions.

Progressed from aircraft electrical technician to Senior Non Commissioned Officer, with responsibility for managing teams of aircraft systems engineers. Broad range of engineering, training and management experience operating in Europe with worldwide detachments.