When accessing onboard WiFi during your flight, it's worth noting that I spearheaded the inaugural introduction of in-flight WiFi back in 2003 with Britannia Airways. This initiative involved equipping cabin crew with PDA devices to facilitate onboard sales, and access to crew briefing documents. It marked the pioneering certification of WiFi for in-flight use.

Back in 2010, IT Outsourcing was considered culturally sensitive in Germany, particularly within the airline sector. However, faced with numerous challenges in TUIfly's IT strategy, a transformation became necessary. I took the initiative to introduce both my airline and the German aviation industry to IT Outsourcing. This move was followed by Lufthansa's implementation of one of the largest cargo IT outsourcing agreements to date. Over a decade later both contracts remain active and effective.

The UK Government recognized the necessity for an industry-specific certification for the Information Technology sector, similar to those for Accountants and Lawyers. I collaborated with a team from the British Computer Society to develop the Chartered IT Professional certification (CITP), which encompassed all necessary assessments. This initiative aimed to establish a benchmark for IT professionals, ensuring quality assessment and recognition within the industry

The most substantial project I've collaborated on was the Emirates Group’s SAP implementation—an innovative and transformative global endeavor spanning multiple business sectors, with a budget of over $30 million. Serving as the Technology representative for the Emirates Group on the steering board for both selection and implementation, I encountered challenges commensurate with the project's significant budget.

As the Managing Director at Mentis, my role extended to offering comprehensive consultation services and orchestrating bespoke development programs designed specifically for the C-Suite executives within the Middle Eastern banking sector, energy industry, and leading corporations. These programs were meticulously crafted to address the unique challenges and requirements of each organization, aiming to enhance leadership effectiveness, strategic vision, and overall organizational performance.

Moreover, as part of my commitment to delivering high-quality services, I pursued certification in psychometric profiling through Hogan. This certification equipped me with valuable insights and tools to conduct in-depth assessments, enabling a deeper understanding of individual strengths, weaknesses, and leadership potential among executives. Through this expertise, we were able to provide tailored guidance and support to executives, fostering their personal and professional growth while driving organizational success.

During my tenure as Vice President of Business Technology within the Emirates Group, for eight years I spearheaded an extensive IT organization spanning 135 global locations and 47 diverse business units, operating with an annual budget exceeding $50 million. Embracing a decentralized structure, our success was grounded in empowering teams while maintaining adequate oversight to uphold alignment with centralized policies.

Guiding such a diverse organization, both culturally and geographically, proved to be an immensely fulfilling journey.

Over the course of my career, it's been a tremendous honor to serve as a mentor or coach to many individuals. Witnessing their growth and achievements has been incredibly gratifying. There are few things as fulfilling as seeing others blossom and excel, knowing that I've been able to offer support and guidance based on my own experiences

EddIT Consulting is my third business. One of the joys of being a small business entrepreneur is being able to follow your passions. While IT is my core career my other businesses have been in the fitness industry and with coffee, both of which have been about finding and developing a niche in an established market and both of which have innovated with technology to create a unique business.