Simon Richards BSc, MA, PMP

Experience

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  Abbeycrest PLC

  Jul 1997 - Jul 2005

  Head of Application Development

  Abbeycrest PLC. UK's largest manufacturer & distributor of fine jewellery.• Project manager for enterprise wide SAP upgrade• Line management responsibility for Group Application Development• Delivered multiple software applications using Agile delivery methodology• Technical project management and implementation of a corporate e-commerce solution [REIMS] • • Management of the day to day operation of the e-commerce environment (c.$150 million)• Managed the design, development & implementation of a number of complex commercial software • Implementation of a corporate Intranet and Knowledge Base within UK and Far Eastern subsidiaries.SAP Implementation Team Member:• 3 year, $5 million SAP ERP implementation, involving major business process re-engineering. Show less

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  Stylo Barratt Shoes Limited

  Jul 2005 - Dec 2007

  Business Systems Analyst / Project Manager

  Line management responsibility for the Business Systems team, responsible for application delivery to one of the UK’s leading footwear distributorsNoteworthy projects:• Lead the implementation of Red Prairie Warehouse Management System (WMS)• Lead the implementation of Microstrategy Business Intelligence suite• Integration of Microstrategy BI to EPOS systems• Fraud prevention project• Management Information reporting

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  Lawson Software

  Jan 2008 - Feb 2012

  Project Manager

  Project Manager on M3 ERP & related software projects. Noteworthy projects include:PON CAT, NetherlandsInfor M3 ERP implementation for one of Europe's largest CAT dealers.• Introduction of structured environment management and change control procedures. • Delivery of Readsoft Automated Data Capture solution to support the go-live of the rental business in Norway & Netherlands.• Lead a large, geographically diverse project team (50+), including third party contractors. Aggreko, Global.Mobile solution implementation for FTSE 100 company.Aggreko is the global leader in the rental of power generator and the largest rental company in the world. • 15 month project to implement Enterprise Mobility for Service in an existing global user base of c.1000+ users.• Global implementation from the US to Uganda. 1,500+ users of the mobility application globally.Program management to Aggreko from 2008 to 2012, encompassing a wide range of tasks from the management and delivery of complex modifications, product upgrades, software integration and training.Briggs Equipment, UK. Large distributor of Materials Handling Equipment• Infor M3 Service mobility pilot• Pilot implementation of Lawson Enterprise Mobility for Service (LEMS) in an established user base.Sibelco, UK & Belgium. Multi-billion dollar, global material solutions company• 18 month green field implementation of M3 10.1. • Large scale, complex project with geographically diverse project team located in UK and Belgium.PHS Group, UK• 18 month green field implementation of M3 7.1 into a fast moving M&D operation• Subsequent roll-outs of M3 to other PHS Group companiesMeadow Cheese, UK• 6 month M3 7.1 green field F&B implementation for Meadow Cheese, part of the Irish Dairy Board.Brown Butlin Limited (HL Hutchinson), UK.• Infor M3 ERP upgrade project for large M&D chemical company. • Overcome significant technical challenges due to the large number and complexity of modifications Show less

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  Infor

  Feb 2012 - Jul 2017

  Project Manager

  Infor is a multi-billion dollar, tier-one ERP provider and global leader in business cloud software products for industry specific companies.Project management of many Infor ERP M3 implementation projects across the globe. Notable Projects:Zahid Tractor, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One of the world’s largest CAT dealers.• Highly complex project involving a geographically diverse project team, a diverse product suite, a large number of complex modifications, new interfaces, multiple interim product upgrades and organizational change management.• Day to day responsibility for management of the vendor project team and multiple third party sub-contractors (c. 50+ FTEs)Polyflor, UK & GermanyUK based major manufacturer of commercial floor coverings, operating throughout the world.• Project Manager for a 15 month upgrade from legacy systems to fully integrated Infor ERP solution.• Day to day responsibility for management of the project team. • Complex upgrade bringing together seven discrete companies into a single ERP environment. Overcame specific challenges around uplift of a number of complex modifications and integration to third party products. Show less

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  Mattex Group

  Jul 2017 - Feb 2019

  Led a large digital transformation program for a global manufacturing company that specializes in the production of artificial grass, yarn and geosynthetic materials.Strategic role involving delivery of digital transformation projects to realize the organization’s digital strategy. Key projects include:• Transition of the global ERP system from Microsoft AX to Infor M3• Implementation of Infor Human Capital Management & Payroll• Implementation of a number of financial systems for VAT, Treasury Management and Consolidated Group Reporting• Development of a global intranet• Deployment of Skype for Business telephony system• Domain consolidation and technical migration from VMware to Hyper VIn addition to the oversight and delivery of specific digital projects, key aspects of the role included the establishment of a PMO, coaching and mentoring project managers and providing guidance to the Group IT Director. Show less

  • Head of Group IT

    Oct 2018 - Feb 2019

  • Group Program Manager

    Jul 2017 - Oct 2018
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  Alkra Technologies

  Mar 2019 - now

  General Manager & Chief Technology Officer

  Contract and project management responsibility for project managers and sub-contractors delivering turnkey hospital and medical equipment projects in Angola, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.Responsibility for delivery and operation of all hospital IT services, including cloud and on-premise Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, Laboratory Information Systems (LMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Scheduling & Appointment systems, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence tools.