Client Feedback

“I have worked with Rory for over a year in my capacity as Deputy Director responsible for technology across [CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT]. For context, our technology organisation is the largest in the sector, with over 5,000 colleagues achieving collection of circa £36bn of revenue per annum. We’ve just embarked on a 4 year portfolio of work to drive major business and IT Transformation.

Rory has been at the forefront of that ambition, driving significant value into every aspect of the transformation agenda, taking a key role in the initial Strategic Review by understanding the ‘as-is’ organisation, working with senior leadership … to elicit the medium and long term business vision and articulating the transitional roadmap that ultimately led to a much needed revision to the underpinning IT strategy, which had been in place for the previous 8 years.

In the last 6 months Rory has been leading the [CONFIDENTIAL] programme IT design and delivery, a legislative initiative with large scale integration required across strategic and legacy components, due to be implemented in May 21, which was struggling to mobilise effectively - a key element of the Transformation Portfolio. Rory took control of the programme:

Focusing and streamlining the scope on the core elements required to meet the legislation and getting senior stakeholder buy in. Introducing a disciplined and rigorous approach to design & requirements, building a team, getting the operating model and collaboration tools in place. Implementing an agile approach to delivery, pulling together 15 internal and external delivery partners into functioning unit, navigating the differing working practices to build a cohesive delivery function. Developing the design options, set against a value analysis of spend versus operational FTE impact and factoring in the time constraints - presenting these to the Director led Programme Board, he gained unanimous support.

I can’t overstate the positive impact Rory has had, we are now on course to deliver against the deadline, an accomplishment that many senior stakeholders did not think was possible 8 months ago. I am discussing a Head of Design role with him on the Transformation portfolio as it starts to gather momentum and needs strong leadership to steer a complicated and diverse transition design strategy.

The main qualities I’ve seen in Rory are:

• Structured & disciplined approach – he takes time to properly understand the problem statement, whether it’s design or delivery, sets out an approach and then drives towards it, taking people with him.

• Data led analysis & problem solving – he is able to evaluate complex, large scale problems from all perspectives and provide options to resolve, underpinned with compelling interpretations on the available data.

• Articulate and convincing communications skills – he can set out difficult, in-depth messages easily and with confidence and levels his communication whether he’s teaching someone how to use a toolset or convincing Directors on the right choices for their organisation.

• Versatility – Rory easily transfers his skills to different challenges and is able to pick up a commission with minimal direction or oversight and can be trusted to get the required outcomes. In addition to the bigger roles he undertakes for me, this also makes him an excellent trouble shooter, where he picks up specific problems areas and sorts them out.

  I believe this feedback is long overdue and I hope it helps give you a sense of the respect and confidence Rory engenders at senior levels in an organisation the size of [CONFIDENTIAL]. I have worked with many consultants across a diverse range of the organisations over the years and Rory stands out as a superb talent and someone who can set himself against the best I’ve worked.”