Andy Wyatt

Accountable for IT for brands including Cottages.com, Hoseasons and Blue Chip.

IT and programme management for a newly-formed Group under private equity ownership. Accountable for a multi-functional Transitional Services Agreement (TSA) with the previous owners, including execution of a portfolio of >20 projects to enable the Group to be standalone. Most senior IT person in the organisation, leading the opex and capex budgeting process and several Group functions: Infrastructure & Operations; Security & Compliance; Financial Systems (until Nov 18); and Program Office.

As part of Wyndham Global IT, formed a European Program Office to develop and embed project and programme management capability across the European businesses. Accountable for delivering a major business change initiative in France and Italy, including the formation of single operational functions across two business units. Leading other key initiatives including a new multi-million Euro web platform for our Dutch business; a new CRM / campaign marketing solution for multiple business units; and execution of the European Data Centre strategy.

Reporting to the UK MD with a matrix report to the Global CIO, accountable for all aspects of IT & Telecoms provision across several European business units for a multi-national, NYSE-listed travel business headquartered in the United States. Additionally gained responsibility for leading business change projects and programmes, initially in the UK and later globally, including acquisitions, mergers and divestments. Played a significant role in the acquisition process that led to both Hoseasons (Feb 2010) and James Villas (Dec 2010) joining Wyndham, before leading the successful integration of both businesses into the Wyndham organization, in each case via a portfolio of business and IT projects. Vendor selection; contract and funding negotiation; and execution of a complex, multi-year IT programme resulting in a new reservation system, transactional E-commerce platform, management information and content management systems. Accountable for driving European IT and E-commerce strategy and both operational and project delivery, including circa 100 employees and an annual capital budget in excess of $15m.

Accountable for UK IT covering RCI (timeshare exchange) and Holiday Cottages Group (holiday rentals).

Service management synergy and transition; service outsourcing; key supplier management; staff transition / TUPE.

Reported to the IT Director, leading the provision of infrastructure and application service to 10,000+ end users throughout the UK and overseas across sectors such as retail, mainstream and specialist tour operating, airline, aircraft engineering, business travel and insurance. Managed 80+ staff and all operational service and technical functions, including Service Desk, Service and Supplier Management, Wintel Desktop and Server Support, Comms Support, Mid Range, DBA. Led the IT department whilst my Director moved into an Integration Planning role, eventually leading to the merger of MyTravel with Thomas Cook.

Reported to the MD, initially developing the core reservation system and managing critical systems. In Feb 01 appointed Company Director for IT and Support Services, including Facilities, Procurement, Administration and Customer Services. During my time as Director, the company enjoyed successive years of record profits and grew to become the 2nd largest tour operator in the Republic of Ireland and number 7 in the UK. Played a key role in several successful projects for the parent company, MyTravel, including leading the data migration across three business units and business change management for the implementation of a new reservation system across the mainstream tour operation.