Senior ICT executive with an international 20-year track record leading internet enabled digital innovation and transformation, leading and influential, through waves of internet transition: e-commerce, digital enterprise and internet industrialization.
I have extensive cross vertical experience creating solutions initiating new markets and business models that have increased efficiency as well as contributing to significant and sustainable revenue growth. I have a deep knowledge of architecting complex change assignments and leading multi-cultural teams often in strategic client engagements delivering C-suite relevant business solutions and outcomes. I have operated at the forefront of internet innovation, recently initiating new partnerships across multiple vertical markets as Cisco moves into the ”Internet of Things” and “Cloud,” software and “as a service.”
I enjoy challenging the traditional with a strong talent for forming vision, aligning strategy and creating organizational buy-in. Excelling in driving transformation in people and organizations, I understand business implications of new technology and can quickly apply to complex problems. I utilize my creativity and financial acumen to articulate business outcomes, transparently across multiple stakeholders. I apply structured and methodical approaches relentlessly, with a sharp focus on the end user, delivery and my team. Motivational and engaged personality, I have translated my leadership and coaching skills, homed in sport, to business.
I am looking for opportunities as leader in new business development, innovation and organizational change, dedicated to create enriched end user experiences enabled by new technology. As a strategic business partner I provide my results through thought leadership, co creation and consultancy services providing a unique view on the opportunities created by new technology

jamescrowther@mail.com

Senior ICT executive with an international 20-year track record leading internet enabled digital innovation and transformation, leading and influential, through waves of internet transition: e-commerce, digital enterprise and internet industrialization.
I have extensive cross vertical experience creating solutions initiating new markets and business models that have increased efficiency as well as contributing to significant and sustainable revenue growth. I have a deep knowledge of architecting complex change assignments and leading multi-cultural teams often in strategic client engagements delivering C-suite relevant business solutions and outcomes. I have operated at the forefront of internet innovation, recently initiating new partnerships across multiple vertical markets as Cisco moves into the ”Internet of Things” and “Cloud,” software and “as a service.”
I enjoy challenging the traditional with a strong talent for forming vision, aligning strategy and creating organizational buy-in. Excelling in driving transformation in people and organizations, I understand business implications of new technology and can quickly apply to complex problems. I utilize my creativity and financial acumen to articulate business outcomes, transparently across multiple stakeholders. I apply structured and methodical approaches relentlessly, with a sharp focus on the end user, delivery and my team. Motivational and engaged personality, I have translated my leadership and coaching skills, homed in sport, to business.
I am looking for opportunities as leader in new business development, innovation and organizational change, dedicated to create enriched end user experiences enabled by new technology. As a strategic business partner I provide my results through thought leadership, co creation and consultancy services providing a unique view on the opportunities created by new technology

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Digital Transformation:
o KLM/BA: Connecting or Transporting? Developed and sold a collaboration/connectivity strategy initiating circa $23 million Cisco sales challenging airlines existing business paradigm, initiating multiple connected customer solutions
o Philips Healthcare: Developed connected healthcare systems with Philips, embedding Cisco collaboration/video technology within connected healthcare systems and new digital solutions for elderly patient monitoring and hospital MRI scanning. Forecast to be a $250million plus business in 3 years for Cisco

Business Development:
o Smart Cities/Philips Lighting: Developed and launched connected LED street and office lighting with Philips in Amsterdam, Barcelona and Hamburg as well as Smart City networked architectures within Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Barcelona that are referenced globally, taking Philips Lighting further into connectivity, systems and services and “making cities smarter” and Cisco into “The Internet of Everything”
o Created “Internet of Everything for Cities” and connected lighting business for Cisco globally
o Led the team that created “connected real estate and smart office” solutions for Cisco

Strategy Consulting:
o Co-led the creation and operations of a facility, targeted at senior executives within Cap Gemini’s client base, supporting the acceleration of organizational digital change and creation of “e-Business” and CRM opportunities with multiple customers.
o Led an “incubator” unit chartered using new technology enabled marketing communication channels, building a more compelling and interactive presentation of telephone directory information providing new marketing communications solutions to customers.

Financial Modeling:
o Directed a global team that re-engineered Cisco’s distribution supply chain building a more demand driven efficient go-to-market channel, as a response to Cisco writing off $2.2billion in inventory in 2001 driving efficiency and optimal utilization of working capital internally

Customer Experience:
o Heineken: Beer or Experience? Developed and launched connected retail and branded products, supporting Heineken on how internet technology could enhance their brand and customer experiences, enabling diversification into new markets
o Amsterdam Arena: Created a connected stadium solution to Amsterdam Arena/Ajax FC enabling more effective in-stadia monetization opportunities using video/mobile content providing new interactive fan experiences. A lighthouse case for Cisco leading to many other stadia franchises in Europe

Organizational Leadership, Stakeholder Management and Influencing:
o During a period when Cisco’s revenues were growing year on year 70%, directed a global team that architected and implemented a new global Cisco customer service/e-commerce function, applying Cisco technology enabling segmented multi- channel service portfolios, “24/7 service” increasing order management efficiency and levels of customer intimacy and sales satisfaction
o Led team that created the KPN partner channel, today, Cisco’s largest channel partner in The Netherlands (circa $120million/year)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

CISCO, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (2000-Present)
Strategic Innovations Executive- (Cisco Consulting Services, (formally Internet Business Solutions Group, (IBSG)), (2004-present)
Directed team of strategy consultants and business developers engaging with many of Cisco’s key accounts, driving business outcomes and market transitions, assessing strategic, financial and operational implications of new technology investments.
-IBSG was created by Cisco’s CEO, targeted at executives initiating new innovations, partnerships and large digital transformations enabled by new technology, creating Cisco reference cases in new markets.
-Within a global function, I was responsible for driving strategic “lighthouse” customer engagements, leading a Benelux EMEA team, engaged across the public sector, telecom as well as enterprise verticals, retail, healthcare, transportation, stadia and manufacturing and as well as a member of Cisco’s North Region Management Team

Senior Business Development Manager -Cisco Sales Operations, (2002-2003)
Directed a global team that re-engineered Cisco’s distribution channel and supply chain
-Integrating process, information and IP technology, we created a world class channel supply-chain enabling Cisco and distribution partners to increase market share, profitability and ROIC in SME/consumer segments, driving efficiency and optimal utilization of working capital internally

Business Transformation Manager - Cisco Customer Advocacy, (2001-2002)
Directed a global team that built a new global Cisco customer service/e-commerce function with Cisco globally
-Implementation of Cisco’s first IP based global contact center and world’s biggest business to business e-commerce infrastructure, resulting in an annual ROI of 466%, payback 2.5 months
- B-B commerce site (98% purchase orders automated, $23 billion sales) and resulted in an industry reference in areas of CRM and e-commerce

Cap Gemini/Gemini Consulting, Utrecht, The Netherlands (1998-2000)
Principal Strategy Consultant in a team responsible for the set-up, operating and marketing & sales of a new “e-Business incubator unit” and accelerated solutions environment (ASE) within Cap Gemini, targeted at organizational transformation and e-business adoption, in which I facilitated brainstorms, problem solving, visioning and strategy programs as well as contributing to Cap’s e-Business service offerings
- Led e-business/CRM related client engagements predominantly within the Dutch media, retail and transportation sectors, delivering business solutions to Endemol, VNU, Nashuatec, KLM, TNT, Elsevier and Efteling

Telia-InfoMedia, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (1996-1998) (subsidiary of Telia Sonera)
Strategy and Business Development Manager
- Management Team member that introduced with PTT a new advertising section to the national Dutch telephone directory, “De Telefoongids", building in 2 years a FL.200million business creating the first competition for incumbent, Yellow Pages
- Developed and launched the “Telefoongids on Internet” and “ The CDFoonGids,” on CD contributing FL50million revenue to Telia and KPN within 2 years and was by far, the most visited internet site and CD application in The Netherlands, at the time

PERSONAL DETAILS PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OTHER INTERESTS:

- Languages: English: Native or bilingual proficiency, Dutch: Professional working proficiency
- I spend my spare time on hobbies cricket, tennis, skiing, youth sports coaching, playing piano and guitar, as well as supporting a wide portfolio of start-ups and new market ventures. Sport takes a lot of my time with a passion for coaching youth football and cricket within FC Martinus , Amstelveen and a period with The Dutch Cricket Board, in which I coached the Dutch National Cricket Youth Squad (1993-94).
- Cricket is as sport I have played at a good level. I was a Premier League player/youth coach (1993-96), at VRA Cricket Club, Amstelveen, as well as representing British Combined Universities and Essex 2nd XI, (1990-1991). I am very proud of being elected first ever “fresher” 1st team Captain of Leicester University Cricket Team (1989,90,91) a role I uniquely held for 3 years, awarded 2 full University of Leicester “Maroons” for representing British Universities Athletic Union (1990/1991)
- I am a traveller and worked and lived internationally. In 1991 I was elected as President of Leicester University Geographical Society. My youth was dominated by sport and art, representing my region at under 12 to 15’s at cricket, rugby and badminton and awarded numerous prizes for art at school.
- I have recently just completed building my own connected house in Amsterdam.