Graduated from the Cummins Diesel Engine training school in 1973 and was appointed a Work Study Engineer overseeing all aspects of O & M and change management activities. Subsequently, over the last 35 years he has founded, managed and acted as a consultant to a number of businesses in the UK and overseas – ranging from financial services to the music and film industries and was an early promoter of web based e-Commerce solutions. In 1999 he was appointed CEO of a fledgling IT and software development company on behalf of a consortium of investors and in 2006, he led a management buy-out and has transformed the business into a leading edge, billing, customer care and management supplier in the Telecommunications and SaaS sectors.
Derek has a particular interest in technology start-ups and is a Volunteer with Young Enterprise, a registered charity which provides business experience and funding to budding entrepreneurs.