James Griffin

Group IT Director | Driving Digital Transformation & Innovation | Expert in Cloud Solutions & System Integration

Worcester and Kidderminster Area

About

As an IT Director with over 20 years of industry experience, I have a proven track record of spearheading innovation and leveraging technology to drive organisational success. My strategic and pragmatic approach ensures IT strategies align with business goals, resulting in operational excellence. I excel at integrating systems and architecting IT solutions that enhance agility and drive transformational change. Passionate about software engineering excellence, I utilise Domain Driven Design and Clean Architecture to create significant business value. I foster a collaborative environment that empowers teams to make informed decisions, encouraging ownership and accountability. By cultivating open communication and leveraging diverse perspectives, I drive a culture of continuous improvement that propels our digital initiatives forward. My detail-oriented mindset ensures meticulous project execution, while my customer-focused approach prioritises delivering exceptional value and enhancing user experience.

Experience

  • Group Information Technology Director at SNG Group Limited
    Dec 2017 - Present · 8 yrs 8 mos

    Leading IT strategy and digital transformation initiatives across the organisation, driving innovation and ensuring technology aligns with business objectives. Experience and Key Achievements: • Architected and developed bespoke business systems, supporting growth of business from £7.5m to £26m turnover. • Developed and executed a comprehensive platform migration strategy, transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to Microsoft Azure microservices, resulting in 20% cost reduction. • Led continuous enhancement of ecommerce portfolio, expanding product lines from 7,000 to over 120,000 (currently around 300,000) and increasing sales from £1.5m to over £8m. • Spearheaded development of bespoke multi-lingual Electronic Parts Catalogue, encompassing 4.5m catalogue entries and numerous exploded diagrams. • Led selection and implementation of multiple business systems, including ERP, CRM, BI, Finance and Accounting, HR, T&A and Marketing tools. • Played a pivotal role in business acquisitions, ensuring seamless integration and migration to core business systems. • Led agile transformation, successfully transitioned teams to agile methodologies utilising Azure DevOps. • Implemented advanced reporting and data analytics, enabling data-driven decision making and uncovering valuable insights. • Strategic IT Planning • Integrated with various third-party platforms • Regulatory Compliance - UK, EU, and US. • Budget and Vendor Management

  • SNG Barratt Group ()
    • Head of Information Technology / Solution Architect
      Jan 2014 - Dec 2017 · 4 yrs

      Delivered complex IT Projects to tight deadlines, fostering collaboration across departments to significantly improve operational efficiency and streamline processes.

    • Information Technology Manager / Senior Software Engineer
      Nov 2008 - Dec 2013 · 5 yrs 2 mos

      Managed daily IT operations, oversaw the implementation of critical business systems, providing strategic IT support to enhance service delivery and user satisfaction. Developed multiple web platforms, web services and 3rd party integrations to automate manual processes; took over responsibility for sngbarratt.com ecommerce site, enhanced functionality with interactive electronic parts catalogue resulting in revenue growth of over 500%.

    • Network System Engineer / Software Engineer
      Mar 2005 - Nov 2008 · 3 yrs 9 mos

      Designed and implemented server and network infrastructure across multiple sites – DC, DNS, DHCP, NFS, IIS, Exchange, SQL DB, VPN; developed and established IT policies; centralised IT support across organisation. Developed multiple business applications to work in parallel with legacy systems, re-platforming core functionality and enabled phasing out of legacy system in stages to ensure smooth transition without negative impact for “business as usual”.

  • We The Curious ()
    • Web Developer
      Jan 2001 - May 2003 · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Developed and maintained award winning web applications and exhibits, enhancing user experience and engagement.

    • Visitor Exprience Assistant
      May 2000 - Dec 2000 · 8 mos

      Provided customer service and support, ensuring a positive visitor experience.