Experience

PM Dragonfly

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Media
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Data and Technology Solutions

  • Sep 2022 - Present

  Managing the Data & Technology practice to develop and deliver best in class marketing focused services and solutions, primarily in the GMP and GCP universe. Helping to grow a specialist team of Google services and products. Managing the Data & Technology practice to develop and deliver best in class marketing focused services and solutions, primarily in the GMP and GCP universe. Helping to grow a specialist team of Google services and products.



Neeks.co.uk

• Headley, United Kingdom

• Founder / Digital Consultant

  • Jun 2013 - Present

  Digital Consultancy. Branding, design, technical consultancy and web development. "It is more than just a website or an online presence.... It's your opportunity to make that first impression, communicate, gain trust and connect with your customers." Digital Consultancy. Branding, design, technical consultancy and web development. "It is more than just a website or an online presence.... It's your opportunity to make that first impression, communicate, gain trust and connect with your customers."



Reassured

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Head of Software Engineering

  • Jun 2021 - Aug 2022

  Looking after our core platforms to bring to the business new functionalities, efficiencies and savings. The use of MI and reporting became essential part of our business strategy post-pandemic and post-investment Managing the new data team, 4 engineering squads and the DevOps support team. Composed of Scrum Masters, Lead Engineers, Engineers, Automation Testers, Business Analysts, Solutions Architects, DevOps Engineers and product owners. Key Achievements * Addition of a Data Analysis function for all our core platform data * Introduction of Data Analysis, Data Dictionary, Data Governance and MI using the Azure/Microsoft ecosystem (PowerBI, SQL and Data Pipelines via ADF) starting to move the business into data driven decision making. * Creation of our initial set of data models (Financial, Customer Demographics, Agent performance and Online channel performance) * Fully containerised our platform and pipeline automation for development and deployment (moving closer to continuous deployment) * Migration of our platform to a dual data centre solution for high availability and DR purposes * Improvements of over 50% on our web transactions times for the core part of our platform * Usage of Real time monitoring systems (New Relic) * Migration to a Microservices architecture using a strangler approach. * Centralisation of core alerts and notifications into our Slack ecosystem. * Introduction of systems performance and load testing. Show less

• Head of IT

  • Jul 2017 - Jun 2021

  Implementing the right mixture of Lean and Agile methodologies in a very fast-growing organisation. As the department grows and people are promoted into the right roles, we are then able to tweak our methods and continue our transformation into Kanban/continuous delivery process supported by a safe and learning culture. Leading all the technology teams at Reassured: Service Desk, Infrastructure, Change Management, Software Engineers, and QA. Key Achievements * Formalising the project management and business analysis function into a change management department. * Implementation of Jira and Confluence. Introducing enterprise workflows and a best-in-class IT Service Desk support team * Supporting the development, integration and launch of our own Critical Illness product (Big3) * Full phone system migration (from Asterisk to Avaya IP Office) * Implementation and trials of automated diallers (8x8, Rostrvm) * Introduction of DevOpsSec processes and Security by Design forums * Creation of our IT Quality Assurance team and implementation of automation testing into our SDLC. (Integration packs, regression packs, smoke packs, etc) * Successfully completed a series of IT/Security due diligences that resulted in a Private Equity house (Bridgepoint Development Capital) investing in Reassured in April 2020 * Completely changed our working practices and turned the business remote within 4 weeks in answer to COVID19 * Introduced Citrix as a platform to support the business through the pandemic * Continued to recruit and onboard new IT employees remotely as well as opening 4 new offices during the pandemic * Embraced a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and learning * The IT team won the Outstanding Contribution award for 2020 * Relaunched our “Apply Online” proposition and successfully integrated 3 core platforms (our internal CRM, out Marketing platform and the Online platform). Show less

• Systems Architect & Analyst

  • Apr 2016 - Jul 2017

  Responsible for translating business requirements into IT systems/services specifications. Involved from the idea generation stages through to initial planning, definition and high-level design of IT systems. Working closely with the Systems Manager and the IT Operations Manager to ensure the implemented solution satisfies the business requirements. The role continuously looks at current system usage, functionalities, reporting, etc. designing improvements that create a better user and customer experience. Key Achievements * Reorganised our software development life cycle and started the journey to move from a waterfall approach to agile delivery. * Moved from ad-hoc code changes to 2 weeks sprints followed by a production release * Introduced workshops, demos and UAT stages into our development delivery process. * Started a project management and business analysis function. After proving the benefits of the agile approach, I was able to recruit a team of dedicated business analysts and project managers. Show less

• Content Marketing Manager

  • Nov 2014 - Apr 2016

  Creation of the Marketing department at Reassured. Developing and directing the brand look and feel, tone of voice and online presence. I have a passion for tracking, researching and understanding all customers and prospects interactions with our online channels and subsequently analysing and identifying behaviours and journeys to improve them. As well as managing projects, given this is a new/small team, I’m also required to be hands-on designing, content writing, coding new solutions, tracking scripts, writing SQL reports to present meaningful information and to better understand our demographics and customer profiles for better aligning our marketing strategy. Key Achievements * Repositioned the company with a new look and feel, and a new website all created and developed in-house. * Moved their online platform to a much more robust and resilient solution using the Rackspace cloud. * Designed and developed Apply Online – A “Direct to consumer” journey on our website that competes against the likes of Money Supermarket and Confused.com. The system has been linked to CAPITA’s Synaptic Webline API software to provide on demand market prices. It allows customers to purchase life insurance online without the need to speak to an agent. * Automated the addition of new platforms and landing pages by the PPC and Email Marketing Team into the website using WordPress as a CMS. * Automated A/B landing page tests integrating Google Analytics Experiments into WordPress. * Created a “Universal tracker” to track all our customers and prospects journeys, through our internal systems, linking them to external systems, such us Google AdWords and Google Analytics with the help of Google Tag Manager. * Brand design and successful launch for Reassured’s sister company Reassured Health. The new brand focused on Private Medical Insurance. Show less

• IT Development Manager

  • Sep 2012 - Nov 2014

  Developing all aspects of the company telecommunication systems and support department. Reassured is part of the Financial Services industry and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, as such, the IT network and internal CRM security is paramount. Key Achievements * Implementation of workflows for the development and technical team. Using code tracking software and project management software * Implementation of an integrated network system that logs and audits every single user interaction. From logging into a computer to downloading a file or accessing a website. * Integration of VNC and Asterisk Phone System API into our CRM. Allowing trainers and managers to remotely watch and agent’s screens and listen to their calls with the click of a button, improving sales coaching across the board. * Automatic Caller ID number presentation to show different presentation numbers based on a customer location using the Asterisk API Integration with our Internal CRM. It included custom features named: Click to call, click to listen, time on phone reports and recorded calls playback. * Other external API integrations such as SMS and quoting from the major quoting providers (Iress, Webline and Assureweb) Show less



Arena Media UK

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Content Manager

  • Feb 2011 - Aug 2012

  Managed projects from idea generation (Brainstorming), through to client idea pitching, wireframing, briefing, process control, development, code review and delivery/support. Using resources on site (full time staff, freelancers and contractors) and external resources (freelancers & creative/development agencies). Integrating all channels, such as: SEO, Display, Social Media and PPC into every project when possible. Projects included: Full websites, client on-page and off-page content, Facebook applications/integration, content sharing, flash/html5 banners and technical solutions/implementations. Key Achievements * Successful delivery of many Facebook applications for a diverse list of clients. With special mention to Domino’s Pizza “Red or Black” game which was released in sync with the “Red or Black” TV show they were sponsoring. We met all KPIs and received great feedback from the client for the success of the project. * Integration into Fly Thomas Cook flights API server to deliver SEO pages (heavily focused in content) and PPC pages (heavily focused in user experienced). * Managing the creation and delivery of a digital infographic that did not only deliver search presence and conversions, but it was also subsequently translated into 3 other languages and was printed as part of a book publication. * Pitching and project managing the delivery of Red Driving School’s new website. Main Clients: Domino's Pizza, Hewlett Packard, Thomas Cook, Tesco Bank, HomeSense, Legal and General, Blinkbox. Show less



Click

• Sys Admin

  • May 2008 - Dec 2010

  Looking after all the in-house technical support (1st and 2nd line) as well as the systems and network, in an office with 180+ users, managing and providing support to the IT deparment of our child company. Using on a daily basis:Nagios (297 services across 45 servers), MRTG, Syslog-NG, Customised Single-click remote support application (UltraVNC SC), Wiki page for documenting the systems, Intranet (company announcements, directory, information and electronic HR .), User Administration System.). All these systems are open source and free for commercial use or were written by myself (Intranet, eHR and User Administration System – using html, php, javascript and mysql).Other Duties:Google Apps for Business (13 users, 4 domains), Domain Names and DNS settings (Rackspace, 1and1 and 123-Reg), Project manage new systems roll outs. Show less

• Systems Administrator Supervisor

  • Nov 2006 - May 2008

  Providing 2nd line tech support to an office of 130 users. I also had to supervise the work of the Junior Systems Administrator and provide him with on-going on the job training, development and performance. Maintain the Technical Support SLA's. Project Manage the IT department work and companies floors/building moves.Skills developed: Computer hardware and Software, Computer maintenance, Networking, PHP, javascript, HTML, CISCO firewalls, IPOffice, CallMedia, Wifi, VPN, switches, Active Directory, Group Policy. Show less

• Tech Support

  • Oct 2004 - Nov 2006

  Workstation Support - Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Repair.Printer Maintenance - Replacing consumables, Organising Repairs.Setting Up New Computers.Carry out Maintenance Tasks.Understand the Systems and recovery procedures in case of system failures.Skills developed: Computing, HTML, Cable Patching, Problem Solving, Windows and Linux OS.

• Tech Support Trainee

  • Jul 2004 - Oct 2004

  Tech Support - Keep cartridges stock levels - Internet and power cabling.Skills developed: Written and Verbal Communication, Computing, Routing, TCP/IP