Life Before HX

I studied Information Technology at MidKent College and built my career from the ground up through a series of IT support roles before stepping into IT management. From 2002, I worked exclusively in software companies, which gave me a broad and deep grounding in technology and software development methodologies across very different industries.

At System C Healthcare, I worked my way up from an internal support technician to leading the technical workstream for a major acquisition by a large US pharmaceutical company — a complex, high-stakes programme that taught me a huge amount about technology leadership under pressure in a multicultural environment.

From there, I moved into insurance, where I built and led an IT team from scratch, creating a managed service arm that hosted and managed clients' policy and claims systems in the Azure Cloud. Building something from the ground up — and running it reliably for clients — was one of the most formative experiences of my career.

I then took a deliberate step away from core infrastructure and into customer success at Fuse Universal, where I focused on delivering the best possible solutions and service to their learning clients. It gave me a different lens on technology not just building and running it, but truly understanding what people need from it and managing issues they were encountering.

Life Outside HX

Outside work, my goal is simple: be outside as much as possible. Whether that is heading off on adventures with my wife and two boys, or fulfilling one of my various roles in Scouting, I am happiest in the fresh air.

There is nothing quite like floating in a kayak at dusk, or lying in a hammock watching a thunderstorm roll by. I find the outdoors endlessly restorative and it is the thing that prepares me for everything else.

What/where is your favourite place and why?

Cornwall. Without question. It holds so many memories: learning to surf, downhill mountain boarding, powerkiting, early adventures with friends and later, all of that again with my own family. Walking my dog along the River Fowey, watching the waterfalls, is still one of my happiest places on earth.

I can travel anywhere in the world, but I will always come back to Cornwall. It just has something to do with the rugged landscape and the rugged people.

What is your perfect hassle-free holiday and why?

My perfect holiday is somewhere new. I love the adventure of a destination I have not experienced before. But here is the thing: I genuinely dislike airports. The chaos, the queues, the noise. So, hassle-free for me starts the moment I leave home. Meet-and-greet parking, express bag drop, fast-track security, a calm, family-friendly lounge, and an efficient transfer on the other end, that is the dream. The less time in a bustling terminal, the better.

What is your favourite value and why?

Be One Team really resonates with me. My entire career and my life outside work too has been about enabling others. Whether that is giving teams the tools and platforms they need to do their best work, helping customers enjoy a hassle-free journey, or bringing volunteers together in Scouting the thing I find most meaningful is what happens when people pull in the same direction.

Interesting fact

Before IT took over my life, I was a competitive equestrian. In my late teens and early twenties I owned a horse and competed in three-day eventing. Dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. It is about as far from server racks and security audits as you can get, but it taught me discipline, patience, and how to stay calm when things do not go to plan. Skills that have been useful ever since.

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