Global Chartered Management Accountant

University of Portsmouth

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Chartered Management Institute

Strategic Change Leader

Reading, England, United Kingdom

Since stepping back from paid employment, and when I'm not off travelling, I can be found working with others, helping and enabling them to achieve their strategic objectives.

As I have always done, I achieve that by helping them articulate and define their desired vision and goals, along with their primary purpose and passions.  I then help them develop and hone their life and professional skills, and through that build, or rebuild, their confidence and delivery capabilities.  Through a process of clear visioning and goal setting I then enable them to achieve the fundamental behavioural, knowledge, and attitude changes, they will need to achieve their objectives.

It is always all very hands on, with everything focused on enabling them to achive the delivery of their desired practical and positive outcomes.  Theory and methodologies are highly valuable, but for me its what works best at the practical level for each person, and what delivers the right results for them, that matters the most.

The people I work with may be graduates at the start of their careers or Directors, VP's or other senior C-suite executives who are undergoing major organisational change or personal life trauma.  That might include a major promotion, an unexpected redundancy, a traumatic family event or a similar unexpected change to their career or life plans.

I also work to assist people as they consider, come to terms with, and then deal with either their, or members of their families, end of life planning and associated matters.

Bluespoon

Strategic Change and Business Transformation Leader

Peoplecube provide resource scheduling software, expertise and consulting in the workspace market to major global blue chip companies.

As the European Programme Manager I was assigned three key goals.  Each designed to re-position the company ready for its intended sale:

1)  To ensure the professional delivery of each of the company's largest client projects to time, cost and specification

2)  To advise and train Peoplecube's staff on 'best practice' in the delivery of complex change management solutions

3)   To ensure each new software installation became a showcase for the company's products, professional services and delivery capability and through that significantly increase their client's satisfaction

Against those goals I:

-  Ensured the successful delivery of a new software solution for Man Investments against their extremely tight deadlines

-  Worked within Deutsche Bank to review, re-shape and then oversee delivery of a major global change programme which was affecting their 80,000 staff members.  The succesful delivery of that project ensured the bank’s executive goals for that area were achieved.

-  Introduced a number of new project and programme management tools and procedures; each of which improved project control, predictability, profitability and client relationships

-  Supported the sales team on various European sales proposals and account development activities for accounts which included Royal Bank of Canada, RBS, Man Investments, Deutsche Bank, Deloitte and PWC

These deliveries significantly enhanced the company's operations in Europe, developed DB to become their largest account worldwide and positioned the company well for its subsequent purchase by, and integration into, Asure Software.

PeopleCube Inc. - Acquired By Asure Software July 2012

European Programme Delivery Manager

Hired by two ex-colleauges from Bluespoon Innovation, I was recruited to deliver a number of key elements for the Trust's seriously at risk, and significantly delayed, multi-million pound transformation programme.  A programme to improve patient care and clinical efficiency through the introduction of new ways of working and a centralised Electronic Patient Records system (EPR).

On behalf of the Director of Medicine I shaped and then managed delivery of a path finder project for the main programme.  A programme to implement a new management and patient care system (CV5) for the Renal Unit.

On behalf of the Executive Director IT, I then turned around the Theatres and Pre-Op workstream whilst managing the team responsible for the creation, delivery and implementation of all new systems for these areas.  In particular, and by working closely with the Consultant Surgeons and Anaesthetists, I ensured we accurately and successfully captured and refined the clinician's requirements and ensured this significant change programme was driven forward to their design on their, the Trust, and our patient's behalf.

In addition I managed production of the IT Technical Blueprint for the Trust whilst ensuring its tight business focus.  I also investigated, reviewed and reported on various other initiatives such as the Trust's requirements and options for document scanning.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Programme Manager

Bluespoon Innovation empowers organisations’ with the ability to create and deliver sustainable business transformation initiatives and cost reduction exercises through fully leveraging the skills, knowledge and motivation of their people.

As an organisation of seasoned Business Transformation, Change and Software Solutions experts, with many decades of consultancy and delivery experience, each of us is very aware of the challenges facing line management in making business transformation initiatives deliver the results and benefits required.

We enable our clients to address this through the application and implementation of our unified product offering, which combines Transformation & Change Management, OD Consultancy,  Programme Management and purpose built software tools and solutions.

My original role in the company was to Programme Manage its creation.  I then supported all business development and customer delivery activity including, amongst others, The Carphone Warehouse and the Cabinet Office.

Bluespoon Innovation

Programme Delivery Manager

Engaged by this international consultancy which analyses and re-engineers company’s Sales and Marketing operations.  Brought focus to their structure, core product, toolset and business offering, before working to expand that to include a full business process re-engineering service.

KnowledgeGrid

Business Transformation Manager

Supported the development of a major global change programme which created an environment that encouraged, supported and enabled greater employee engagement and innovation.  Advised on possible programme approaches, likely resource requirements, probable outcomes and potential business impact.  Oversaw the development of a path finder pilot, supported the lessons learned review for that exercise and then advised on recommended actions and next steps in light of those.

Cisco

Business Transformation and Change Lead

Reviewed, reshaped and then successfully delivered several previously ‘at risk’ and 'off track' projects, each of which was critical to the transformation of the organisation's Finance and HR departments.

Honeywell Information Systems

EMEA Programme Manager

Reviewed and recommended changes to Cisco’s key Sales Force Development Programme to enable it to deliver its planned benefits of a significant increase in the organisation’s ability to sell customer-focused solutions to CxO level executives.

Developed and delivered several tools and methodologies, each of which helped improve the  efficiency of the EMEA sales organisation.  Several of these programmes were then adopted by the other theatres around the globe.

Cisco Systems

EMEA Business Transformation Lead

Oversaw the recovery of a major ‘at risk’ business transformation programme; including all people, financial, and business aspects.   Re-mobilised the programme and guided it from a high level vision to one which subsequently delivered a revised SAP HR implementation and HR Services outsourcing.

Centrica

Transformation Programme Manager

Drove the re-structuring of various Finance and IT departments following a number of issues arising in the company’s Finance,  Programme & Client Delivery and Application Development areas; in particular within its £50m infrastructure transformation programme.

First Data Corporation

Programme Director, EMEA Business Transformation

Established and managed a team to undertake the Management Buy-Out of a German software and Professional Services firm.

In parallel provided support for a strategic transatlantic alliance between two software companies in the Financial Services sector.

Agility Ltd

Recovered a severely ‘at risk’ project for the BBC; this action enabled the on time delivery of a Customer Support Centre for it's Finance department. Subsequently retained to manage that organisation.

Designed and delivered implementation plans for the outsourcing of the BBC’s payroll operations for its 25,000 staff and advised on the possible risks, benefits and outcomes of that programme.

Financial Shared Services Programme Manager

From a standing start enabled the creation of a new Finance group to support IBM's recently won $3 billion strategic outsourcing and transformation contract for Cable & Wireless.

Subsequently retained to ensure the implementation of new Project Management systems for the contract whilst also strategically managing the Project Accounting, Customer Invoicing and Customer Reporting groups and ensuring those units were suitably transformed to enable them to form the nucleus for IBM's intended EMEA Finance Shared Service Centre.

IBM Global Services

Finance & Planning Programme Manager

Investigated and then advised the Executive on Sema’s possible expansion into the US through the acquisition of a previously identified target.

Sema Group

Principal Consultant

Designed and delivered the charities first national single-point-of-contact Information and Advice service whilst also articulating, and then driving forward, the cultural changes required to enable the broader organisation to focus on its customer’s needs.

Age Concern England

Drove the transformation of significant elements of the Finance Department whilst in parallel line managing large sections of the organisations daily operation (Central Finance, Payables, Receivables, Treasury, Project Accounting).

Developed and implemented a new Project Accounting system.

Delivered an Employee Database for the collection, verification and cleansing of employee data before harmonisation and TUPE transfer of all 1500 employees into IBM UK.  Then successfully migrated all employee data onto IBM’s ERP systems and closed the Payroll group.

Data Sciences

Based in Holland and on behalf of the VP, Global Finance & Business Strategy, programme managed the creation and delivery of a new $1bn European PC and Server business unit.  This included establishing a Shared Service Centre and the specification, design and delivery of a fully integrated CRM and ERP system built around Oracle Financials.  The on-time delivery of this programme enabled the successful launch of the Fujitsu ICL brand on the continent.

Fujitsu

European Programme Manager

Successfully steered Grant & Taylor, a subsidiary of Anite, through a severe cashflow crisis following the sudden resignation of the CEO, CFO, HRD and Financial Accountant just before year-end.

Closed out the year-end, produced statutory accounts and provided Interim HR support during this extremely stressful period for the company and its employees.

Won accolades from the new CEO, board members and auditors in recognition of the above and was therefore retained to restructure several key elements of the business.

Anite

CFO & HR Director

Ascot Consulting provided Interim Management and delivery services in the areas of Change Management and Business Transformation to enable their clients to achieve their vision and goals.

During the twenty years I was a co-owner and Director of this company, working with our partners and associates, I led and delivered numerous assignments across many different industry sectors for our clients. These assignments involved:

-  Building strong and engaged stakeholder communities
-  Reviewing and delivering at risk and off track projects
-  Delivering business transformation and change management programmes in Finance, HR, Sales, IT, and Operations
-   Setting up new companies and organisations for clients
-   Analysing take over targets
-   Reviewing business opportunities
-   Reviewing and implementing mergers & acquisitions
-   Implementing business integration programmes
-   Implementing new systems
-   Working as a trusted advisor to executives
-   Delivering practical, insightful hands on advice
-   Ensuring the realisation of business benefits
-   Delivering productive change

Ascot Consulting Ltd

Programme Manager, Strategic Change and Business Transformation

Successfully discharged responsibility for all Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, Company Secretarial and Facilities issues for this newly formed company which developed, installed and supported Trading solutions for the world's leading global banks and investment houses.

Oversaw four years of double digit growth and won an international Finance award in recognition of these achievements.  Also served as HR Director during the company's early stages of operation until a permanent appointment could be made.

Digital Equipment Corporation

CFO & HR Director (Desisco)

Created and then led the Finance, Planning and Reporting group for this newly formed $1.7 billion p.a. turnover line of business. Through careful leadership, analysis and effective reporting my team and I ensured the executive’s attention, and thus resources, were focused on those areas which offered the greatest return on investment.  As a result Digital significantly increased its market share and profitability in these markets.

Also served as Personnel Manager during the groups first 18 months of operation.

Mark Connell

Mark Connell