Retirement
Current
Career Break
Nov 2024 - Present
AeroLeads people directory · profile
Stephen Howells Email & Phone Number
Retired Technology Director
at
Career Break
1 work email found
@rics.org
LinkedIn matched
✓ Verified August 2026
4 data sources
Profile completeness 100%
Current company
Career Break
Role
Retired Technology Director
Location
United Kingdom
Who is Stephen Howells? Overview
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Stephen Howells is listed as Retired Technology Director at Career Break, based in United Kingdom. AeroLeads shows a work email signal at rics.org and a matched LinkedIn profile for Stephen Howells.
Stephen Howells previously worked as Retirement at Career Break and Head of Engineering at Sainsbury'S. Stephen Howells holds Certificate In Company Direction, Company Law, Finance, Strategic Business Direction, Marketing Strategies, People, Leading Change from Institute Of Directors.
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{first_initial}{last}@rics.org
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Profile bio
About Stephen Howells
After thirty five years in technology leadership roles I've decided to retire and focus my time outside of corporate life.............A seasoned development, technology and programme director with over thirty five years experience. My background as a software developer, architect and project manager allows me to lead and understand engineers and suppliers without being bluffed. My senior management experience within several international organisations gives me a balanced and focused commercial outlook, able to work with board-level executives and in client facing positions. I am ideally suited to complex environments that require great stakeholder relationships, agile adoption, solution architecture/software development, team building/stabilisation, on-time delivery and results, where both technical understanding and strong leadership are necessary for success.Diverse experience across: Retail, Financial Services, Payments, Publishing, Not-For-Profit, Membership, Housing, Regulation, Psychometrics, Consultancy, Digital Advertising/Marketing, Higher Education and Logistics
Listed skills include Stakeholder Management, Outsourcing, Program Management, Change Management, and 19 others.
Current workplace
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Career Break
17 roles
Stephen Howells work experience
A career timeline built from the work history available for this profile.
Head Of Engineering
Responsible for leading technology strategy, software development, integration, supplier management and service delivery for 'Store Checkout Technology' within Sainsbury's and Argos including SmartShop, Smartshop Pick & Go, Checkouts/Self-Checkouts and Argos Pay@Browse
Oct 2021 - Nov 2024
Head Of Engineering
Led technology development and service delivery for Customer Contact/Contact Centres including customer web-sites for self-service help-centres, business integration applications, CRM/complaints management, telephony and messaging platforms, chatbots and modern webservices for the delivery of outstanding customer service and contact with Sainsbury's customers. Including:- migration of over 30% of contacts in key brand from traditional customer service to self-service conversational live-chat 'chatbot'. 'Highly Recommended' at Digital Technology Leaders Award 2021 for Best Automation Project - pandemic response developing/delivering conversational/talking 'bot' solution for elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers to register for priority grocery delivery slots (developed in 'a week', registering over 190,000 customers in first week). Part of Sainsbury's Grocer's Gold Award 2021 for e-commerce
Dec 2019 - Oct 2021
Director
Interim project, programme and technology management; agile training and coaching. Specialising in the adoption of SCRUM and other practical agile techniques to enable project/department turnarounds, new project delivery, solution architecture and software development. Personally trained/certified in SCRUM by Jeff Sutherland (co-creator of SCRUM)
Nov 2009 - Oct 2020
Senior Development And Technology Manager
Leading development and architecture of bespoke in-house software and leading edge technology services for Sainsbury's, Argos, and Habitat. Specialising in Customer Management technology including business integration applications and services focused on great customer journeys and experience. Including blending of web-chat, social, telephony and email channels and integration with numerous internal/external data services.ScrumMaster, developing agile approach with engineers, architects, product owners, analysts and senior stakeholders. Managing project portfolio and relationships with 3rd party suppliers (on and off-shore).Technology includes Java/Springboot MicroServices, JavaScript/React, PostgreSQL & MongoDB, Avaya Breeze/Oceana, Jenkins and Docker in a continuous integration/delivery environment
Mar 2017 - Dec 2019
Development And Transformation Programme Manager
Led the successful delivery of key work-streams as part of a major IT transformation within Royal Mail Group and Parcelforce with responsibility for project planning, architecture, software development and testing with an emphasis on agility and on-time delivery: - Microsoft .NET Web Software Development for 70+ applications - WebSphere/Java Internet Gateway Development working with Amazon, Ebay and others - Application Outsource Migration: migrated 100+ apps with 1000's of interfaces to new data-centre - Applications Roadmap: developed roadmap for 350+ applications - Development of Disaster Recovery strategy
Feb 2013 - Dec 2016
Digital Development/Programme Director
- ‘Digital Life’ Programme: successfully created digital programme for internal and external websites, mobile, collaboration, student ePortfolios, virtual learning, social tools (Facebook/Twitter), digital literacy and student recruitment CRM (salesforce.com) - Agile Software Development: led Java/Oracle development team to successfully develop new web portlets using SCRUM - Architecture and IT Strategy: reviewed digital architecture, recommending changes to be delivered by team; helped establish architecture review group; supported development of 2012/15 IT strategy
Jun 2012 - Jan 2013
Head Of Software Development
TBG is a Social advertising/marketing software house, specialising in Facebook/Twitter social media software. I was brought in to create a new Head of Software Development role in a growing tech team, introduce some best practices and recruit permanent Head of Software Development): - Agile Product Development: led software development teams in UK/USA using Python, PHP, HTML, Javascript, Django, Flash, CouchDB/NoSQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Linux; coached team in SCRUM, improving adoption, technique and behaviour - Outsourced Testing: introduced web load/stress testing services from NCC, improving successful deployment and reduced errors - Supported recruitment of a permanent Head of Software Development
Mar 2012 - Jun 2012
Chief Technology Officer
Turnaround of OPP technology (now Myers-Briggs), developing bespoke online personality assessment/psychometric tools (OPPassessment) used by over half of FTSE 100: - Software Product Development and Agile Adoption: led development team using C#.NET, SharePoint and SQL Server with integrated ERP/CRM; introduced/coached SCRUM improving delivery by 300% - Web Site Development: replaced existing site using C#.NET and Sitecore digital marketing/CMS to improve ‘experience’ - ERP/CRM Recovery: oversight and advice on recovery of failing Epicor ERP/CRM implementation - Supported recruitment of a permanent CTO
Oct 2011 - Mar 2012
Chief Information Officer
Brought in to develop/integrate a number of Guinness technology teams into one group: - Turnaround of existing IT and project groups to create effective IT Shared Service, development of rolling 3-year group information services strategy, introduction of ITIL service standards - Introduction of 'just enough' best practice (SCRUM & ITIL) - Application roadmap and information management review - Management of multi-million pound OJEU data infrastructure project - Stabilisation of existing technology, replacement of legacy environments with private cloud, introduction of 24x7 geographic contact centres- development of bespoke C#.NET/Oracle CRM to support supplier vetting and management portal for partnership contractors - Development of new group website using Sitecore and Oracle CRM - Supported recruitment of permanent Group CIO
Jan 2010 - Oct 2011
Nov 2009 - Oct 2011
Director Of Programme Management And Technology
Led the technology and business change/transformation teams including: - Development of an IT digital strategy and programme plan, turnaround of failing IT and project teams - Development of websites for rics.org, bcis.co.uk, ricsbooks.com and isurv.com - Agile development of bespoke Regulatory and case management service - ERP/CRM delivery using Microsoft Dynamics, SharePoint, Autonomy document management and workflow - Delivery of central database, data-warehouse and BI tools integrating multiple source systems - Establishing PMO using DSDM/SCRUM/Prince2/MSP - Establishing a Fine Dining Restaurant with Michel Roux Jr
Aug 2005 - Nov 2009
It Director
Certegy Payment Services (Now Fis And Worldpay)
Led development and delivery across Europe, Australia and New Zealand for: - 24x7 Online Payments platform based on (WebSphere, Java and Oracle) managing over 150million online transactions; credit/debit/fuel card authorisation and settlement; eCommerce (including tesco.com and thetrainline.com); gift cards; loyalty points; account, store and fuel card issuing; retail interest free credit; unmanned kiosks (including Tesco pay@pump); BACS bureaux; debt collection and cheque services - APACS Industry Hot Card File (IHCF) - all UK card transactions processed against IHCF - ERP/CRM, debt collections, data-warehouse and BI with Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics - Tenders, presentations and pre-sales support for major retail, financial, fuel and banking customers - 24x7 Service delivery with the best DR facility across Group - Establishing CMM accredited PMO using traditional and agile techniques - Supported multiple mergers, acquisitions and spin offs
Jul 2000 - Jul 2005
Technical Architect
Responsible for overall technical architecture of division (web-services, servers, databases, infrastructure, telecoms), UML design and E-R modelling, EPoS software development and negotiation/management of several outsourced relationships with IBM (Helpdesk, network, RS6000 mid-range server and desktop support), BT, AT&T and Global Crossing
Dec 1997 - Jul 2000
Epos Development Manager
Responsible for the system design and development teams delivering EPOS and Voice Response processing services using Java, C/C++, Smalltalk, Oracle and UML. I also played a key role in Equifax's strategic sales team converting existing customers from traditional call-centre service to electronic authorisation and deploying electronic IVR services into contact centres in the UK and Australia.
Jul 1995 - Dec 1997
Senior Developer
Design and development of a UNIX/C based real-time electronic payment authorisation and fraud detection systems for cheque risk management and processing (EPoS).
Nov 1993 - Jul 1995
Oracle/Real-Time Software Engineer
Paradigm Uk Ltd (Oracle Consultancy)
C/C++, Oracle Pro-C, Oracle database design & real-time production control for Allied Mills, Rank Hovis, Kellogg’s and the Elsevier Scientific Publishing Group
Jul 1991 - Nov 1993
2 education records
Stephen Howells education
Certificate In Company Direction, Company Law, Finance, Strategic Business Direction, Marketing Strategies, People, Leading Change
Institute Of Directors
B.Sc. (Hons) 2:1, Computer Science
Coventry University
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Stephen Howells
Quick answers generated from the profile data available on this page.
What company does Stephen Howells work for?
Stephen Howells works for Career Break.
What is Stephen Howells's role at Career Break?
Stephen Howells is listed as Retired Technology Director at Career Break.
What is Stephen Howells's email address?
AeroLeads has found 1 work email signal at @rics.org for Stephen Howells at Career Break.
Where is Stephen Howells based?
Stephen Howells is based in United Kingdom while working with Career Break.
What companies has Stephen Howells worked for?
Stephen Howells has worked for Career Break, Sainsbury'S, Moscow First Ltd, Argos, and Royal Mail.
How can I contact Stephen Howells?
You can use AeroLeads to view verified contact signals for Stephen Howells at Career Break, including work email, phone, and LinkedIn data when available.
What schools did Stephen Howells attend?
Stephen Howells holds Certificate In Company Direction, Company Law, Finance, Strategic Business Direction, Marketing Strategies, People, Leading Change from Institute Of Directors.
What skills is Stephen Howells known for?
Stephen Howells is listed with skills including Stakeholder Management, Outsourcing, Program Management, Change Management, It Strategy, Project Management, Solution Architecture, and Agile Project Management.
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