International Board Level Operations Executive with proven success in achieving business process excellence and performance. Extensive leadership experience in starting up, developing and sustaining large scale supply chain and operational organisations including business strategy formulation, achievement of benchmark cost structures, operational excellence while providing, improving customer retention. Has achieved particular success in providing innovation and management of change in a very fast changing high technology environment. A leader with the proven ability to develop and inspire high performance teams across wide geographic regions.

Key areas of expertise: Leadership, strategy formulation, strategic expansion, organisation, change management, customer retention, performance enhancement and outstanding interpersonal skills within an international high technology environment. Very knowledgeable in inward investment methodology and more recently in Scottish start up companies and the SME market place.

Career Summary

Non Executive Chairman Reactec Ltd Scotland  (Sept 2006 – Present)

Non Executive Chairman Bloxx Ltd Scotland (July 2007   - Present)

Non Executive Chairman Shaw Technologies (Dec 2008  - Dec 2009)

Business Consultant (Self Employed) (Aug 2006   - Present)

• In these positions I have been primarily helping lead small Scottish start up companies to bring their products to the market place and grow their businesses. My expertise in Sales, Supply Chain and Operations has allowed me to coach and advise the executives in the most prudent and effective way forward. It has also allowed me to view the Scottish market place from an SME perspective and during this time have worked with entrepreneurs, investors and notably Scottish Enterprise. 
• Helped form Business Plans, Acquisitions and Strategies for these companies in line with investors’ expectations. 
• Provide Interim Executive support in some cases. 

HP Vice President Sales Operations – Europe Middle East and Africa (May 2004 – Aug 2006)

• Responsible for operational supporting the HP Sales force in the region including Order Management, Logistics, Sales Compensation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Supporting revenue in excess of 40B$ per annum and growth rates of 10% +. Directly managing an international workforce in excess of 1200 people across approximately 100 countries. Member of the EMEA Sales Management Board. 
  •   Transformed the cost structures of the organisation by consolidation of operational activities into a centre of excellence in Eastern Europe reducing costs by nearly 30%. Extensively used Management of Change techniques during this transformation
  • Initiated programme of performance excellence based on 6 Sigma principles which improves Sales Productivity by 25% and Turn Around Time (TAT) by 20% 
  •   Introduced several innovative solutions to improve our customers and partners experience resulting in improving our quality index from number 3 to number 1 versus our competitors
  • Introduced a standardised CRM platform across EMEA, reducing costs and enhancing the customer experience significantly

HP Vice President Enterprise Supply Chain – Europe Middle East and Africa May 2002 – May 2004)

Responsible for all enterprise product supply chain operations within EMEA supporting in excess of 16B$ of hardware revenue including the direct and sub contract manufacturing facilities in the region.  Directly managing a staff of >1500 people across the wide geographic region. The responsibilities include supply and demand planning, strategic sourcing and inward investment decisions, operational excellence as well as day to day, 7x24 supply of products to our customers.

•   Was responsible for the integration of the Compaq and HP supply chains at the time of the merger. This plan resulted in annualised cost savings from an operational perspective of over 30M$ per year. This integration involved consolidation of facilities, suppliers and people and required extensive management of change capabilities
•   Initiated several re-engineering activities to merge the systems infrastructure and process infrastructure for instance integrating to one common SAP system and process, one Supply demand planning tool etc
•    Ensured that our customer saw a seamless transition and experience service level improvements through time
•    Responsible for managing HP’s Scotland Operations including inward investment

VP Compaq Computer Sales Operations Europe Middle East and Africa (July 2001 – May 2002)

Responsible for back office support to all of Compaq’s EMEA Sales team. Supporting revenue in excess of 16B$. This responsibility included all Order management, Supply Demand planning, delivery organisation and teleweb support to customers and sales force. Management of in excess of 500 people across the region..

•   Drove significant transformation within the operations environment to implement a direct delivery mechanism for our customers. Prior to this Compaq had only delivered through the channel and this gave Compaq the dual capability to support both indirect and direct customers. This was done by significantly redesigning the architecture of our supply chain systems and resulted in an next 3% points improvement in gross margins
•    Centralised back office capabilities resulting in 20M$/year cost reductions.
•    Transformed back office activities into a 6 sigma environment
•    Completed post merger (Digital and Tandem) restructuring without any business disruption
•    Board member of  EMEA Management Team

VP Compaq Computer Supply Chain Operations Europe, Middle East and Africa January 2000 – July 2001)

Responsible for all Supply Chain Strategic Planning and Operational activities in EMEA ; Manufacturing, Order Management and Logistics for a business in excess of 16B$.

• Doubled the productivity from Compaq’s Manufacturing Sites
•      All investment decisions and co-ordination with Scottish Enterprise
•      Restructured and improved the efficiency by 30% following the Digital and Tandem Merger.
•      Improved Quality and Customer parameters by 25%
•      Outsourced commodity manufacturing and started up Eastern European factories.
•      Managing Director Compaq Manufacturing Limited

Director Compaq Computer Manufacturing Operations June 1995 – January 2000)

Head hunted to run Compaq Computer’s European Manufacturing Operations. Producing over 20000 computers per day.  Increased productivity by more than double during this period. Introduced 6 Sigma techniques to all operational locations.

Functional Manager IBM Corporation Printed Circuit Assemblies Manufacturing  1993 - 1995 

Responsible for sourcing, manufacturing and delivery of all Printed Circuit Assemblies in Europe and part of the Greenock Site Management Team.

•   Focused on significant productivity improvements and 6 Sigma techniques.

Various Management positions IBM Corporation (1982 – 1993)

• Test Engineering Manager
•       Quality Control Manager
•       Development Engineering Manager,
•       Business Marketing Manager (European HQ Paris)

Various Engineering Positions IBM Corporation (1978 -1982)

Quality Engineer, Production Engineer

Production Engineer Rolls-Royce Ltd (1975 - 1978 

Graduate Trainee Rolls Royce Ltd (1971 – 1975)

Technical Trainee Rolls Royce Ltd 1969 - 1971 

Qualifications, Education and Training

Strathclyde University: BSc Hons (1^st) Mechanical Engineering

Fellow of Institute of Mechanical Engineers

Companion of Institute of Management

Quality Diploma Lucas Institute Birmingham University 

Harvard Business School Executive Leadership

London Business Scholl Executive Leadership

Motorola 6 Sigma

Various Management and Leadership Courses