David Jones

Global IT Consultant – Programme Management  & Technology Leader with over 20 years of experience delivering significant change and transformation using technology to enable businesses to transform and thrive. 

In-depth expertise in building complex IT infrastructure, cloud and datacentre technologies, datacentre design and build, datacentre migration to the cloud, having worked with clients including Marsh, BHP Lehman Brothers, Fujitsu, WPP and Tesco

Builds strong client and partner relationships and operates truly globally, having extensive on-site and remote working experience in the UK, EMEA, APAC and North and South America. 

Broadly experienced leading the delivery of multiple concurrent digital transformation programs to support the business, reduce complexity, drive growth and enhance the user experience. 

Passionate about people development and building highly-performing teams that are motivated, engaged, and inspired to succeed. 

Key Areas of Expertise include:  
✔ Cyber Security Program Implementation, Migration and Audit 
✔ Global Cloud Service Implementation - Azure, AWS, Google, SoftLayer 
✔ Global Office 365 Deployment and Migration 
✔ Enterprise IT Strategy Development and Implementation 
✔ Datacentre Build, Exit and Migration 
✔ Global OS Migrations/Upgrades and Global Application Migrations 
✔ ERP Implementation and Migration 
✔ Service Delivery, including the build and implementation of CMDB 
✔ SDLC delivery using best practice Agile methodologies 
✔ Proficient in use and implementation of modern tools as well as Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, Planview, ServiceNow, Trello, Slack, MS Teams

Feel free to connect with me — I’m always open to a conversation.

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Spain

Senior Project Manager                                                                               Apr 2019 to May 2021

Responsible for all aspects of programme leadership and delivery, tasked with the successful planning and execution of a wide portfolio of strategic initiatives for the Board and MMC Chief Information Officer (CIO). 

Invited to return for a second contract with MMC, developing new processes, improving PMO efficiencies and delivering a programme to secure the organisation’s first SCO2 certification for Strategic Data Centres.

Programme delivery during Covid-19 pandemic, with 100% remote working for two years, leading a large team of 100+ globally distributed resources, comprising project managers and engineers across all regions.

Championed delivery of a board-mandated global Cyber Security Audit across the entire MMC organisation, leading a deep-dive review and assessment of the security programme to identify weaknesses & determine the cybersecurity incident readiness, creating a report to accurately inform strategy for the next 5-years.

Spearheaded the development & implementation of a self-service Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform with Dremio, successfully developed and implemented using an agile approach and Azure DevOps 

Key contributions and successes:

• Delivered the global Cybersecurity Programme & strategic development across Marsh & McLennan
• Led global initiative to identify vulnerabilities and determined overall cybersecurity incident readiness
• Oversaw the development & deployment of a self-service Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform with Dremio, developed and implemented using Scrum and managed and delivered with Azure DevOps 
• Refreshed the global application and database storage topology, adopting data driven processes
• Led global Netapp Storage Transformation, consolidating & transforming MMC’s core storage arrays
• Introduced new processes to support the seamless migration of on-premise storage infrastructure
• Deployed global Multifactor Authentication services for application & host-based access using Centrify
• Successfully delivered the global IE11 to Edge migration initiative, impacting 70,000+ users worldwide
• Globally-deployed Ansible Tower, consolidating Ansible playbooks for app/configuration automation

Tesco via Roc Technologies, UK

Programme Manager                                                                                    Jun 2018 to Apr 2019

Responsible for all aspects of programme leadership and delivery, successfully designing and introducing a new service for the retailer, engaging with senior executives from both Tesco and Roc Technologies.

Engaged in the in-depth pre-sales discovery phase on the service requirements and design service model.

Focused on delivery of high-impact change management expertise, supporting migrations & transformation.

Leadership, management and motivation of a team of project resources, including mentoring and coaching.

Introduced change management processes to enable migrations without impact on 24/7 retail operations. 

Key contributions and successes:

• Key role in the migration of all network services from Cisco to Arista within Tesco UK Data Centres
• Instrumental in securing a £multi-million service agreement from Tesco for change management 
• Implemented managed service provision for Tesco as an ongoing capability for ROC Technologies
• Designed and deployed a discovery methodology to enable an application-centric migration approach
• Successfully conceived and led the development of automated migration VB and Python based toolset

GroupM | formed in 2003 by WPP Group

EMEA Transformation Programme Director                                             Jul 2017 to Jun 2018

Responsible for all aspects of transformational project and programme leadership across the world’s largest media investment group, $102bn t/o, 16,000 users distributed across 120+ offices in 41 countries globally.

Key role in the global outsourcing of IT to IBM, leading the transition of the organisation to a new Target Operating Model (TOM), providing direction to IBM resources on the $800m WPP-IBM partnership deal.

Developed and embedded an end-to-end transformational framework for countries working with locally-situated IBM resources.  Supported application transition, data migration, remediation & network renewal.

Key contributions and successes:

• Engaged with global IT leadership, ensuring successful delivery of the WPP global transformation
• Transformation of globally-critical applications from EMEA Data Centres into Microsoft Azure & IBM
• Led EMEA-wide deployment of Microsoft StorSimple and implementation of ERP onto Azure PaaS
• Managed the migration of ERP platforms and technologies, including Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics
• Global network and security stabilisation initiatives, including hardware refresh & WAN consolidation
• Delivered M&A consolidation and standardisation initiatives, supporting a standard IT environment
• Introduced Agile toolsets (Slack and Trello) to promote cross-vendor collaboration and engagement
• Designed & implemented a new agile transformation factory competency, using specialist resources
• Led global cyber attack recovery efforts, recovering the business and taking quick remedial action

BHP Biliton, Australia

Senior Project Manager                                                                               Feb 2016 to Apr 2017

Responsible for the successful delivery of a series of ground-breaking global projects for the world’s largest mining company (market capitalisation of $9bn+), with full remit for managing project budgets of $10m+.

Led development of O365 change management strategies to underpin migration of 32,000 users to VNext.

Developed & deployed BHP’s first global secure hybrid XAAS cloud development platform and solution.

Key contributions and successes:

• Introduced highly-successful application and infrastructure automation with ServiceNow and vCloud  
• Led deployment of hybrid Azure / AWS cloud solutions, building cross-functional teams & resources
• Led implementation strategies for the first migration to a dedicated APAC Office 365 VNext platform

Money Advice Service, UK

Senior Project Manager                                                                               Apr 2014 to Nov 2015

Responsible for project leadership and delivery. Tasked with driving the transition of a UK government provider of free and impartial money advice, introducing a ‘Cloud First’ strategy and migrating IT services

Key contributions and successes:

• Championed enterprise-wide migrations to Office 365, Azure, CRM online, Skype and Windows 8
• Achieved transition of all IT services to a new Target Operating Model (TOM) for support services 
• Project realised major benefits, with a 98% OPEX saving and 2000% increase in web performance

Marsh & McLennan Companies, UK

Senior Project Manager                                                                               Apr 2013 to Apr 2014

Responsible for project leadership & delivery for the world’s largest insurance broker, 55,000+ staff

Key contributions and successes:

• Appointed to Senior Project Manager, delivering key projects for a broker with 475+ offices globally 
• Full budgetary control of $4m, including working with service providers, contractors and 3rd parties
• Project-led Global VMware platform migration & Global Windows 7 migration programme initiatives
• Spearheaded a team-driven, follow-the-sun initiative for the live migration of 128 VMware clusters

Early Career

• PMI PMP
• Prince2 Practitioner
• MSP Practitioner
• APM PMQ
• AgilePM
• TOGAF 9
• Cisco CCNP (Expired)
• HDN - Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering