Meet The Team...
Dave Jones - Director
Dave has over 30 years experience in various roles. This includes over 15 years at CIO level.
Dave has been instrumental in delivering digital transformation at a number of multinational organisations, working throughout Europe, USA, South America, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Implementing solutions across multiple language groups and business cultures.
Dave holds a MA in Leading Innovation and Change awarded from York St John University in 2013 and has also been recognised as a leading UK CIO and named in the CIO 100 in 2014, 2017 and 2018.
Dave is Chairman of the UK IT Leaders Group and a member of the Yorkshire branch of Boycott your Bed.
Outside work Dave enjoys walking in the countryside with his family and his Springer Spaniels, following Leeds United and being mentored on technology by his teenage daughter.
Adrian Wakefield - Associate CIO
Adrian, a passionate ‘excellence’ advocate, began working life in engineering roles, before moving on to operations and IT leadership. Adrian’s executive life culminated as the CIO / Board Director of a highly respected and successful global engineering organisation.
Adrian now provides interim, consulting & advisory services focusing on Digital strategy, technology capability and operating model development; Adrian’s innovative approach is built on the application of systems thinking, operational excellence and customer satisfaction, where he is able to call on a wealth of practical experience across the full suite of manufacturing, supply chain, sales, marketing and finance.
Outside work, Adrian enjoys running, cycling, Northern Spain and the odd slice of rare soul music.
Stuart Duthie – Associate CTO
As an experienced CIO, CTO, and transformation consultant with over three decades of hands-on industry experience, Stuart has a strong understanding of technology-driven change. Over the course of twenty years, he has worked with executive teams and boards within highly regulated sectors, spanning local government, social housing, financial services, and healthcare.
Stuart's expertise is in defining technology strategies and delivering transformational programs enabling business growth, efficiencies or reducing operational risks. He has worked with well-known global brands, industry innovators, leading SMEs. He has led diverse teams of up to 95 people in the UK, US, Jamaica, Vietnam, India, and beyond.
Stuart is also a non-Executive Director of Thirteen Group – a housing association that provides more than 73,000 people in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region with homes, support and opportunities to grow.
Outside of work Stuart has an interest in property having personally renovated 3 houses, one of which has been transformed into a luxury holiday let in the Lake District national park. He loves the great outdoors, particularly cycling, running, hill walking and is a keen photographer.
Alex Clixby - Associate CIO
Alex has worked in IT leadership for over 25 years and has successfully delivered digital transformation and technology modernisation within numerous sectors, including Finance, Insurance, Healthcare, Defence and Energy. He currently works as a fractional CIO and CTO, technology board advisor, and IT Consultant.
He has a proven record of successfully delivering IT Services, Transformation, Strategy, and Programmes. He is strategic in thought and ‘hands on’ in delivering success. With an accomplished military background, he has a reputation as a seasoned professional, who quickly achieves results, drives change, and improves the performance of large and diverse IT teams.
Away from work, Alex enjoys spending time with family and friends, keeping fit, walking, and is a keen rugby union follower.
Jane Murdoch – Associate CISO
Jane is a highly experienced and motivated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), with 20+ years’ experience developing and delivering Information & Cyber Security to major verticals/small medium enterprises, utilising a best practice approach across multiple global regulatory requirements.
Jane is an excellent communicator, skilled in building effective long term relationships with CxO senior stakeholders, driving business benefits, managing expectations and building/leading and motivating global Cybersecurity teams in high pressure environments. Jane possesses an excellent work ethic, drive to achieve and having the adaptability and capability required to deliver consistently high quality results in the challenging and fast moving digitally connected world.
In her spare time Jane enjoys spending time with her two children, French bulldogs, cats and walking, hiking, paddle boarding and snowboarding when time allows.
Jane is also a Belief Coding® Facilitator, Full Potential Coach and currently training in Sound Healing and Reiki
Mark Dundon - Associate CIO
Mark is a commercially focussed IT executive experienced in leading, improving, and growing businesses via delivery of complex transformational change proven in multiple sectors, including highly regulated businesses in Financial Services, Telecoms, Health, Public Sector, Utilities (Gas & Electricity), and Rail Transport.
Mark is customer focussed, and has the ability to understand technical detail, and resolve complex problems, whilst also operating at a higher/board level to collaborate and define, deliver strategic value and business change. Mark is passionate about leverage the value of technology to improve business outcomes. Mark provides interim, consulting and advisory services, and is highly experienced at delivering successful programmes often in complex circumstances.
Mark is educated to masters level with an MBA, and bachelors degree in Software Engineering (BEng).
Mark is recognised as a leading CIO in the UK CIO 100.
Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and 5 children, and tries to keep an active fitness lifestyle, with cycling, running, swimming, and competing in triathlons when time allows. Also a Liverpool FC season ticket holder.
Rob Osborn - Business Continuity Consultant
Rob over 15 years’ experience in Business Continuity, Risk Management and Security solutions in addition to over 20 years IT experience in a number of technologies. Rob specialises in Business Continuity, Information Security and Crisis Management.
Working with blue chip organisations in areas including retail, manufacturing, finance, public and private sector, Rob is a Fellow of the Business Continuity Institute (FBCI) , chairs the BCI North West Chapter and regularly teaches Business Continuity courses for a leading training organisation.
Rob has extensive experience in achieving certifications for ISO 22301 & ISO 27001 (Business Continuity & Information Security standards) and is a Lead Auditor for both standards.
Outside work Rob enjoys tennis and travel.
Kevin Hayes - Associate CISO
Kevin has over 25 years in the IT industry, with 20 years specialising in information and cyber security. Kevin has experience working with small, medium, and large blue chip global organisations in several sectors and with roles across the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Kevin has extensive experience in information security management, including establishing and maturing the function, accountability for strategic security leadership and long-term delivery in complex environments with mission critical security posture, change delivery, and operational activities. This includes implementing, maintaining, and auditing ISO27001 and the NIST Cyber Security Framework.
A lifelong learner, Kevin holds MBA, MSc, and BSc degrees, and several industry certifications: CISM, CISSP, CIPP/E, CIPM. Kevin is also a volunteer STEM Ambassador and Mental Health First Aider. Outside work, Kevin enjoys spending time with family, rugby league and travel.
John Court - Associate CIO
John is a leading CIO and board advisor who has operated extensively in mid cap companies, PLC's and private equity held entities. He is also experienced in IPO’s, mergers, carve-outs, acquisitions and divestments and has successfully led the technology, integration and change elements of these on numerous occasions. John’s experience includes large scale digital transformations, advanced e-commerce solutions, cost and performance optimisation and change leadership. John has twice been named a Top 100 CIO and his supply chain solutions and technology operations have received multiple independent industry awards.
John is a keen rugby follower, club golfer and traveller.
Declan Hunt - Associate CIO
Declan has worked in Technology for over 30 years with almost half of his career spent in CIO roles at Executive Board level. Prior to becoming a CIO, Declan spent 7 years as a consultant for Cap Gemini Ernst and Young.
In recent years, Declan has focussed on significant Digital and Technology transformations as part of growth strategies in a wide range of organisations both in the UK and internationally. In addition to delivering Digital and Technology change, Declan has delivered large scale organisational change as part of these transformations.
During his career Declan has worked across a breadth of sectors including logistics, retail, financial services, security, government, third sector and health.
Passionate about helping others, Declan is a Trustee at the London Irish Centre charity.
Declan likes to keep fit and is a keen golfer. He loves spending time with his family and regularly provides homes to rescue pets.
Nik Southworth - Associate CIO
Nik has over 20 years of experience of technology experience, having spent the last 10+ years in C-Suite positions.
With a varied experience across multiple sectors both in B2B and D2C businesses, Nik has a wealth of experience enabling him to bring value to any business.
Starting out his career in Software Development, Nik has continued to ensure that he has a relevant and updated knowledge of bleeding edge technology and is a hands on leader of technologists across all disciplines.
Nik has 2 small children that keep him very busy, and he loves to stay active when not behind the keyboard or in the boardroom.
Joanna Smith - Associate CIO
Joanna is an accomplished international CIO. Having started her career in Pharmaceuticals, in HR then Sales & Marketing, she moved into IT in the mid 80’s and subsequently led large global programs alongside delivering IT services in Europe and Asia.
In more recent years she moved into Healthcare and was CIO at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. In 2018 she joined Sidra, Qatar as CIO, Since her return to the UK she has been providing consulting and advisory services to life sciences, healthcare and financial services organisations including interim CIO at Great Ormond Street Hospital, interim Group Chief Informatics Officer at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and interim CTIO at StepChange. She has just concluded as interim CIO at University Hospitals Sussex and in addition she is Lead Digital Advisor at Lexica and a member of the Ideal Health Advisory Board.
In her spare time Joanna enjoys networking, dining with friends, animals and wildlife.
Brian Lancaster - IT Resilience Consultant
Brian spent the first 30 years of his IT career working for large corporates, leading operational and technical support departments and projects. He has worked with colleagues across the globe and has run IT resilience reviews in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
For the last 6 years he has helped SME organisations reduce operational risk in the IT systems and processes that underpin their critical business services. He specialises in evaluating and improving the resilience of IT infrastructure and associated management capabilities that support delivery of technology services. He has published “Avoiding IT Meltdown” to share some of the pragmatic lessons he has learned over the years.
Brian’s other interests include football, architecture, walking in the Peaks, and playing the guitar.
Michael Evans - Associate CRM Expert
Michael has 15 years' in CRM/CX system project management and 10+ years' experience of marketing and sales delivery. He brings both user and tech delivery angles to for projects including selection, implementation and optimisation of CRM/CX products. Michaels career started with roles at Intel, Vodafone and NETGEAR in B2B and B2C marketing programme management roles, utilising CRM and marketing platforms. Product knowledge includes Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft, Zoho and Hubspot CRM/CX systems.
Client projects have included Regus, Rabobank, NHS Supply Chain and Travelport, plus adoption programmes for Verizon and HP. Strong communication skills, engagement and management of expectations with users, senior management and partners has been key to the successful delivery of projects.
In his spare time Michael enjoys gardening, especially growing own food, learning about foraging and getting out in nature on walks and cycling.