Session Titles

Mark has over twenty years experience in the IT industry, employed by end-users and software houses, working in a number of roles, from analyst/programmer to project manager and account manager, in the manufacturing, retail, and Independent Software Vendor (ISV) sectors.
After obtaining a HND in Computer Studies, Mark joined a tractor manufacturers IT department as an analyst/programmer utilising IBM mainframe technology. During this period, Mark gained a good grounding in structured methodologies, hierarchical databases, and on-line transaction processing systems. Mark then moved into the retail sector joining a fashion retailer as a systems analyst/team leader, with responsibility for the sales processing and warehousing systems. An opportunity then arose to join a DIY retailer, which at that time was a ‘greenfield’ site. Mark was involved in the analysis, selection, implementation, and support of a retail package for the company. During this time Mark had ownership of merchandising and supply chain systems, and had line management responsibility for a team of developers.
Having spent a number of years working for end-users, he joined a small American software house with an office in the UK, which provided a supply chain solution to retailers. The role entailed pre-sales support, workshops, customisation, implementation, training, support, and project management for the supply chain package. Mark later spent time at a UK software house supplying a merchandising system to fashion retailers and department stores. Mark had varied responsibilities, which included account/project management and business analysis.
Mark is a keen advocate of continuous professional development, during his career he has studied part-time for a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance, and a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS). He has also completed (by distance learning) an MBA in Technology Management from the Open University. Mark is a Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS).
Mark joined Butler Group in August 2000, and is Enterprise Architectures Practice Director. He has worked on a number of strategic and architectural themes over the last few years, including Enterprise Architecture, IT Value Management, Enterprise Communications, and Mobility. Utilising an architectural approach is an important theme that influences many areas of Butler Group’s work going forward.
Mark maintains an ongoing interest in enterprise communications, authoring reports on Application Delivery and Unified Communications, along with presenting at Butler Group management briefings on communication technologies. Mark has also researched many other aspects of Enterprise IT, including reports on Server Operating Systems, Server and Storage Consolidation, Linux in the Enterprise, Managing the Storage of Information, Measuring IT Cost and Value, Achieving IT Flexibility, and most recently Sustainable IT Provision.
Mark has been widely quoted in the press, including the Financial Times, Guardian, Computing, Computer Weekly, Internet news sites, and other trade magazines.