Alistair Cairns's Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

📖 Summary

I am an IT professional with over 15 years experience of delivering solutions in the Retail sector. Skilled and dynamic, I am a leader who builds and inspires great teams to deliver high quality change. I always provide strong stakeholder management ensuring there are no surprises. I understand the need for clear and timely communication to all affected parties – up, down and sideways. As a highly skilled communicator, I am known for my ability to articulate a clear vision and explain complex ideas simply, as happy one-to-one or in front of a large audience. IT is now critical to the success of any retailer and it is vitally important to stay abreast of new technologies to ensure IT is a strategic advantage; this is a passion of mine. I create an environment that encourages the generation of ideas: ideas to find creative solutions; ideas to develop strategy and ideas to drive out the very best solutions.IT Infrastructure Manager @ I lead the Client Infrastructure Development and Operations team within Waitrose IT, providing services for the development and management of all end user devices across the Waitrose business including everything from iPhones and iPads to tills, scales, workstations and printers. From July 2014 to Present (1 year 6 months) IT Manager, eCommerce Operations @ I lead the IT change to improve the fulfillment of on-line orders, for which I created a brand new team, selecting the right mix of people, internally and externally, to ensure success. The team and I have spent the last 3 years driving efficiency and customer service through the provision of new technology and processes. This work has included the development and continued enhancement of a high quality picking solution, the introduction and development of route scheduling software, defining the IT for Waitrose’s first DOTCOM fulfilment centre (DFC) in Acton, and designing the IT for an upcoming DFC in South London. I am also the IT lead for a major on-line growth strategy. In order to achieve these targets I engage internal IT teams and strategic third party service providers, including onshore and offshore contractors, to augment a core team of 10. From November 2010 to July 2014 (3 years 9 months) IT Manager, Retail Infrastructure and Testing Services @ I managed a team of 40+ specialists providing infrastructure and testing services to the Retail IT department. Half of the team were technical experts who provided strategic direction, development and operational support for the branch network and all the devices attached to it. The work included creating device builds, deploying code using tools like Microsoft SCCM and managing the network, including security. I ensured prompt delivery of key services to the point of sale team and supported the roll out of new till software. Subsequently, I created a new team of testing professional to provide testing as a service to the Retail IT teams. This team grew in skill and stature under my leadership taking on professional qualifications and using industry standard methods and approaches. From March 2007 to November 2010 (3 years 9 months) Senior System Analyst, Retail Infrastructure @ Following my work on the stock management applications and mobile devices, I became the Waitrose lead in mobile device strategy liaising with a cross section of systems teams, business stakeholders and suppliers. From September 2004 to March 2007 (2 years 7 months) System Analyst, Ordering Systems @ I was a key member of the ordering systems team on a major new project to create a suite of stock management applications including stock counting, wastage and transfers. The software drove down wastage in branches and improved stock accuracy. I headed up the introduction of new mobile devices including involvement with the supplier for Beta testing, a device which Waitrose was the first company in the world to deploy. As part of this project I was involved in vendor and hardware selection using a standard RFI/RFP process. From July 2000 to September 2004 (4 years 3 months) IT Project Implementation Manager @ I was responsible for managing the relationship between John Lewis IT and their customers in the branches and warehouses, providing advice, support and training for the following applications: Stock and Sales, Wastage, Customer Service solutions. Also provided systems implemenation and training support for the opening of a new branch in Glasgow From January 1998 to July 2000 (2 years 7 months) Graduate Trainee @ As one of a small handful of graduate trainees I went through the retail fast track experiencing a wide range of skills and approaches in a number of different selling departments. My early experience has provided me with a clear understanding of a retail business. From September 1996 to January 1998 (1 year 5 months) Ashridge Leadership Process (ALP), Leadership @ Ashridge Business School From 2011 to 2011 2:1, French and Film @ University of Warwick From 1992 to 1996 Dr Challoner's Grammar School From 1985 to 1992 Alistair Cairns is skilled in: E-commerce, Retail, Project Management, POS, Leadership, Business Analysis, Mobile Devices, IT Strategy, Business Strategy, Team Management, Management, Requirements Analysis, Analysis, Customer Service, IT Management