An innovative and motivational technology leader with extensive experience of selling and delivering complex IT programmes with a focus on native cloud, DevOps, digital transformation and large scale migration projects. 20 years working in IT and 15 years of hybrid and multi-cloud experience (AWS, Azure, GCP, VMWare and Red Hat,) infrastructure, security and networks. An experienced program manager having successfully negotiated and delivered numerous data centre migrations, digital transformation and infrastructure management projects for IBM, Rackspace, UK universities and various other enterprises across a range of sectors since 2008. A confident communicator and team leader with proven team building and recruitment skills and the ability to work with a diverse matrix of high-performing global teams. Strong sales capabilities and highly adept at complex stakeholder and vendor management together with strategic financial management and resource planning. Recognised for a collaborative, customer and team focussed approach to achieve consensus across disparate groups along with the ability to identify and recruit the best technical staff at all levels. AWS Solutions Architect Associate certified. Solid software development, agile and DevOps fundamentals together with a working and current understanding of modern, best-practice software architecture and software development practices and workflow with deep e-commerce experience.
Experience: 11 years
Yearly salary: $130,000
Hourly rate: $120
Nationality: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Residency: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Experience
Head of Cloud Infrastructure
Hyde Group 2021 - 2022
Delivered hybrid / multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, VMWare, Oracle) alongside a complete transformation of underlying infrastructure and a new Zero Trust architecture and integrated Cloud Security Model. Introduced DevOps / Agile working practices. Replaced legacy network and VPN with zScaler Private Access, replaced MPLS network with SD-WAN using commodity broadband and removed single points of failure reducing group network costs by 70%. Introduced Zero Trust alongside new device management policy and CYOD. Relocated on-prem DC reducing annual cost from £250k to £96k whilst also implementing Direct Connect to AWS delivering significant savings in data transfer costs. Managed AWS costs down across 28 accounts and multiple workloads. Delivered a reduction in overall complexity and corresponding engineering costs. Recruited high calibre staff whilst controlling wage inflation during challenging market conditions. Led a team of 20 with 3 direct reports and a £5million budget.
Head of IT
Newsstand 2020 - 2021
Led organisation-wide digital transformation including the migration of a bespoke, headless, API-first, ecommerce / ERP system running as native AWS services. Recruited key staff, replaced key vendors, negotiated SLAs, and oversaw contracts with third parties. Took the business from a place of jeopardy after several years of failing strategies and commercial relationships. Created a best-of-class IT resource which facilitated a doubling in turnover during my tenure.
Principal Consultant / Fractional CIO
Freeman Clarke 2020 - 2021
Consultant technology leader providing strategic IT leadership to clients of Freeman Clarke, the UK’s largest and most experienced team of fractional IT consultants. Working with SME and mid-size clients across various sectors to provide strategic guidance and advice along with technology team leadership.
Founder / CEO / Executive Delivery Lead / Program Manager
Stonegate IT Limited 2012 - 2019
Stonegate provided ‘journey to cloud’ solutions via digital transformation, data centre, cloud, network and application migrations. Applying Agile and DevOps principles to the Service Transition framework, Stonegate delivers, designs and executes innovative approaches to infrastructure and cloud migration programmes across all platforms, ensuring they sync with in-house IP and granting license to its partners to leverage Stonegate’s tendering strength. Leading Stonegate requires extensive knowledge of IT infrastructure covering all hosting platforms including cloud, networks, storage and security vendors such as Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, Rackspace Cloud, Red Hat and VMWare.
Founder / Head of Ecommerce
SEM Solutions 2004 - 2012
SEM Solutions provided open-source software and e-commerce development and management services. Managed multiple e-commerce businesses from start-up to maturity, leading technical teams that provided open source e-commerce software development, UX/UI design and content management together with full stack support covering infrastructure, cloud hosting, analytics, A/B testing, PPC campaign management, stock control systems, reporting and business development support.
Skills
cloud
communication
customer-success
ecommerce
fintech
infrastructure
product-manager
devops