John Howell

John Howell Email:-Phone: - LinkedIn EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Officer with a strong background in Digital with several decades of experience managing global teams of 20-500. Spearheaded a 30% increase growth in revenue through strategic business development and process optimization, managing a portfolio in excess of £100Mn, consistently achieving above-average returns. Experience includes working in public, private and PE backed sectors. Led the successful acquisition and integration of three companies, expanding the company's global footprint. Reduced financial risk by 15% through the implementation of a new risk management strategy. Worked closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to make key strategic decisions. Implemented a new CRM system, reducing customer response time by 40%. Significant business capabilities reducing overall operational costs by 19% equating to £7Mn globally. Proven skill to adept at building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Excelling at building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels and driving alignment across diverse functional areas to achieve common goals. Passionate about driving organizational change, transformation and thrive in dynamic and fast-paced environments. WORK EXPERIENCE Chief Information Officer (CIO - Consultant). STK (IT Services PE backed), t/o £3m fte 30 Team 150, reporting into Managing Director • • • • • • • • • • • • July 2022 – June 2024 Served as an ambassador, cultivating C-level relationships and facilitating upselling opportunities. Successfully closed £100Mn deals by leveraging strong client rapport. Contributed to white-labelling initiatives, securing over 50% of UK Government bids. Increased revenue growth by £2Mn through successful contract wins. Initiated, led, and articulated pre-agreed Statement of Work (SOW) signoffs. Implemented proactive contract management renewal triggers and vendor negotiations. Management a team of 10 direct reports and 165 staff members, fostering collaboration and innovation. Utilized Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure, and Agile DevOps technologies. Spearheaded Application Modernization, Modern Data Platform, and Digital Forensics initiatives. Established clear sales and business performance process metrics, enabling data-driven decisions. Achieved a 20% client retention increase post-implementation. Presented tailored solutions to expand existing accounts and fostered new partnerships through industry events. Programme Director April 2021 – July 2022 WPP (Media - Advertising), t/o £5Bn fte 130,000, Team 450, reporting to Global Executive Director • • • • • • • • • • • Spearheaded the largest project in history, impacting 400,000 users across 2,500 global companies. Managed a budget of £50m with 9 direct reports and matrix-managed 300 team members. Delivered on schedule and under budget, yielding £3Mn in additional savings. Developed a comprehensive communication strategy, ensuring stakeholder alignment and smooth technology adoption. Nurtured functional teams to drive digital innovation and enhance user experiences. Collaborated with key stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables. Implemented product roadmaps aligned with business goals, values, and market demands. Tracked project metrics and KPIs to measure performance, adjusting strategies as needed to meet deadlines and budget constraints. Generated £2.3Mn in savings through effective financial impact and efficient governance. Chaired the Design Authority (DA), Change Advisory Board (CAB), and Benefits Realisation Board (BR). Provided transparency to senior executives through monthly Executive Steering Committee meetings. • • • Led integration management for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Diversity (MA&D) teams, overseeing cross-functional direct reports. Directed the Integration Management Office, ensuring seamless collaboration. Aligned development with customer needs and maintained a customer-centric mindset. Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) Digital Intelligent Solutions (Digital start-up, PE backed). Team 250, Reporting To CEO • • • • • • • • • • Conducted comprehensive audits, identifying process improvements and growth opportunities. Formulated and executed strategic plans to enhance digital capabilities and address critical issues. Mitigated project risks, ensuring successful delivery within budget and timelines. Developed multi-year roadmaps aligned with organizational goals. Collaborated seamlessly with cross-functional teams to drive key business initiatives. Demonstrated exemplary stakeholder management, expanding client relationships. Led successful EMEA-wide program bids, achieving substantial value. Managed budgets, optimized resource allocation, and maintained financial discipline. Scoped and integrated systems across diverse business units, leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Achieved impressive sales growth within a year. Chief Information Officer (CIO) STK (IT Services PE backed), t/o £3m fte 30, Team 150, reporting into Managing Director • • • • • • • • • August 2020 – April 2021 June 2019 – Aug 2020 Accelerated market share and sales revenues, increasing turnover from £0.5Mn to £3Mn. Conducted comprehensive assessments for new clients, including discovery reports. Held Business Unit responsibility for projects ranging from £100K to £350K. Presented to the Board, providing architectural overviews and ensuring cybersecurity mapping. Collaborated with transformation teams to plan efficient workflows through Business Process Reengineering (BPR). Managed governance and compliance application of ISO 27001, ITIL, Agile, and Kanban practices. Negotiated Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Led change programs and optimized HR resource deployment. Standardized Corporate Documentation in alignment with branding regimes across all collateral. EMEA Head of Service Transition EUC Mar 2019 – Jun 2019 Illuminet Solutions (Consultancy, Technology & Recruitment), t/o £20m Team 120, reporting into Chief Commercial Officer • • • • • • • • Oversaw EMEA regions in collaboration with two Global Pharma manufacturing clients based in the US. Managed a budget of £50m, overseeing 15 direct reports. Successfully orchestrated the separation of infrastructure into a divided environment, addressing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) challenges for 36k worldwide users. Led digital development projects, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining high-quality standards. Utilized data-driven insights to prioritize product features and optimize performance. Spearheaded licensing management, TCO improvements, workforce upskilling, and documentation guide production as part of project strategy. Provided leadership within the Change Advisory Board, focusing on Managed Risk, Process, and Compliance. Successfully transitioned all 37 European sites. Head of Delivery and Architect Department for Transport (DFT). Team 75, reporting into Digital Director • • • • March 2018 – February 2019 Architected and rationalized an on-premises infrastructure, successfully transitioning it to a Hybrid MS Office 365 environment through effective change management. Managed a high-value project from discovery to compatibility assessment and budget forecasting, securing Executive approval. Successfully transitioned DFT and associated divisions (DVLA, VOSA, Transport for London, and DLR) to Office 365. Led multiple digital project teams, fostering positive collaboration and alignment with agile ways of working. Created and centralized a roadmap for stakeholder management, ensuring feasibility, compatibility, security, compliance, and futureproofing of designs. • • Completed the program on schedule and under budget, achieving £450k in cost savings through Business Process Reengineering (BPR) initiatives and benefits realization. Designed and presented a new ‘Joiner, Mover, Leaver’ (JML) process innovation, endorsed by HR for implementation across the DFT estate Business Units. Senior Operations Manager & Technical Solutions EMEA December 2015 – March 2018 Tech Mahindra (Tech - Services - Digital), t/o $6.7Bn fte 151,000 Team 250, reporting into EMEA Lead Director • • • • • • • • Managed onshore and offshore teams (totaling 200 members), driving business gains, operational efficiencies, and conducting client Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reviews. Provided critical management to Global Insurance and Pharma clients across Switzerland, Hungary, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, USA, and the UK. Led commercial ‘sign-off’ with Bidding Teams in Switzerland & Hungary for bids exceeding £30m, consistently achieving additional upselling revenues of £3m per client annually. Chaired the Change & Advisory Board, offering post-discovery phase oversight and support. Focused on managing expectations and demonstrating value delivery, with a deep understanding of IT functions, product life cycles, and effective organizational change. Proficient in Agile principles, frameworks, and best practices, identifying and addressing model deficiencies. Cultivated trust in client relationships through persuasive presentations and strategic road mapping. Revamped IT operations processes, securing client confidence and renewals totaling £10m. EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATIONS BSc Computer Science - University of Derby LinkedIn: Building Resilience, Communicating Nonverbally, Coaching Skills for Leaders and Managers (2022). CPD: Technical, Software & Tools, Cloud & Analytics. Dell, HP, Microsoft Certified (200+ certificates). Certified Chief Information Officer. Currently planned Audit certification. CORE COMPETENCIES Adaptability AI Integration & Enablement Budgetary Control Business Improvements Business Integration Business and Process Mapping Central Government Frameworks Change Management Commercial Management CPR C-suite communication Data Insights Integration Decision Making Digital Transformation Digital Twin Digital Consulting Emotional intelligence Executive Collaboration Financial Governance Global Executive Leadership Global Strategy and Planning Governance and GDPR Growth Mindset Mergers Acquisitions and Diversity Negotiation Risk Management Roadmap Strategy Stakeholder Management Scoping Management Strategic Thinking and Foresight Vendor Management