Russell Lombard

 CAREER SUMMARY 

Epos Manager UK and Europe - Celestra 

May 2021 – Present 

Responsible for the delivery and completion of large-scale UK & Europe EPOS project installations 

Responsibilities 

• Account manager and lead project manager for Starbucks UK & Europe – Overseeing roll out for all new retail systems, averaging 16 new store installations per week 

• Managing risk, change control and change management, and creating statement of works between Client and Celestra and ensuring all KPIs are met 

• Support the start-up phase of all projects, including making financial decisions and driving the most appropriate retail systems solution for the client. 

• Leading a full project management team during roll outs and oversee all duties to ensure strategy plan is completed 

• Cost control, invoicing and billing - providing efficiencies where possible, with a review of profit and loss accounts 

• Produce project board reviews and present accounts to key stakeholders 

• Project forecasting and co-ordinating with project managers on all field resources 

• Main point of contact for all clients and major escalation issues ensuring service excellence 

Achievements 

• Completed and managed the upgrading of 125 stores in Germany over a 2-month period for Amrest, handling a £250k client budget 

• Secured further business with Amrest for 5 new European countries (300 new stores), generating £600k in revenue forecast 

Managing Director - Prestige Software Solutions 

Jan 2017 – May 2021 

Saw a gap in the market and set up my own EPOS software solutions company. Built up a team of project managers, and an installation and support team, providing retail and hospitality EPOS solutions for Southern Africa. 

Responsibilities 

• Provide leadership and direction to the wider management team, instilling the company roadmap and business strategy 

• Leading and providing direction on all major client change programmes and plans, ensuring value led projects 

• Work closely with several major clients on setting their systems and technology transformation plans, including bespoke projects for increase client bookings and hotel occupancies 

• Review meetings with all operations and project teams to ensure all install projects are delivered on time, with correct processes and within budget 

• Continuously develop and optimise product delivery and service, working closely with software suppliers and vendors for customer upgrades and specific requirements and needs 

• Effectively build good working relationships with key clients to drive new business and value-added services 

• Financial management including budgeting, forecasting, and analysing financial reports 

Achievements 

• Driving company growth by over 40% of projected forecast within the first 2 years of start up 

• Securing KFC Southern Africa account and managed roll outs across several countries 

Head of Epos & Partner - Touch Retail Africa 

Jan 2014 – Dec 2016 

Working for a USD2Million IT & Software business. Responsible for providing clear leadership and direction for all IT and EPOS project teams, overseeing strategic planning for growth, development, implementation and handling key budgets. 

Responsibilities 

• Responsible and provide leadership for a team of 20 employees, providing senior team reviews and strategy updates 

• Deliver on business strategy and ensure all projects continue to be aligned with the business needs of the customer using the correct project lifecycle 

• Responsible for account management to key clients and delivered the implementation of Africa’s biggest retail brand with 150 outlets 

• Review and present on all KPI’s for key accounts, including software roadmap updates and completion reports, ensuring all objectives are complete 

• Continuously evaluating industry software, product and process improvements including assessing development areas 

• Operation lead for further technology projects including implementing the Fiscal device integration with our suite of software products 

• Developed strategy and tactics for ongoing operational efficiencies and processes 

Achievements 

• Co-partnered the company to be the largest EPOS solutions and installation company in Zimbabwe 

• Operational lead on ensuring all EFT interface projects with our supplier GAAP and UCS software are completed, allowing the EFT transaction through Zimswitch to be facilitated through the software, resulting in a continuous 20% monthly revenue increase 

Operations Manager - Touch Retail Africa 

Sep 2010 – Dec 2013 

Responsible for leading the project management team, overseeing all daily operational activities, and ensuring all projects are complete to the correct strategy plans 

Responsibilities 

• Key account management for our main clients building strong strategic relationships and determining project scope and roadmap 

• Oversee all business project planning, logistics and tracking, with key milestones and performance indicators for all installations 

• Liaise and plan all field resources and support teams 

• Ensure all roll outs are within budget and the scope of the project and client plan 

• Driving and managing risk-mitigation and issue-resolution 

• Collaborate with software suppliers and developers on customers technical requirements and needs ensuring any updates are met within time frame 

• Supporting all the project management team with their professional development 

Achievements 

• Successfully securing several large accounts for the company resulting in USD100K p/m of revenue 

Senior Project Manager - Arachnid Design EPOS 

Oct 2006 – Jul 2009 

Key leader of project management and installation teams. Managed risks, timescales, and costs. Reported to key stakeholders on project plan and delivery. Set up new business sales and Software demonstrations with new potential customers. 

Project Manager - Arachnid Design EPOS 

Sep 2005 – Sep 2006 

Assisted planning and roll out delivery of some core major supermarket chains as well as other FMCG retailers. Provided 24-hour 1st level support and maintenance for all hardware and software related issues. Onsite training of EPOS systems for all customers. 

Software Technician - Arachnid Design 

Feb 2003 – Aug 2005 

Computer technician responsible for hardware repairs and software installations. Setting up client accounts and troubleshooting. Monitoring DNS, proxy, and file servers. 

Education 

A Levels - Plumtree High School 2001 (Accounting, Business Management, geography) 

Certificates 

CompTIA A+, Prince2 Foundation & Practitioner Project Management, Axelos