Among other topics, Lee discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Lee is the chief information officer of Red Hat, and in that role, he is responsible for the company’s global information systems, including the technology strategy, enterprise architecture, information technology governance, solutions delivery, and systems operations supporting the company. His role includes enabling Red Hat’s business through services such as knowledge management, technology innovation, technology-enabled collaboration, and process improvement.
Prior to joining Red Hat, he was Managing Vice President, Information Technology at Capital One where he developed and delivered information technology solutions for the firm’s corporate functions and Global Financial Services group. Before Capital One, Lee was Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, at Nasdaq, where he led the organization’s efforts to identify, implement, and operate technology solutions for Nasdaq Japan, Nasdaq Europe, and other strategic global ventures. Earlier, at Citicorp, Lee led multiple global technology initiatives for the private bank and the corporate bank. Lee began his career at IBM as an operating system developer and held several technology and technical marketing positions of increasing responsibility with that firm.
Lee holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.
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Among other topics, Amit discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Amit is CEO and Founder of Hara, Inc., the fastest growing provider of environmental and energy management solutions. Amit has been at the forefront of shaping a new category of business software and has championed the notion of organizational metabolism. Under Amit’s leadership Hara addresses an end-to-end environmental and energy business process from reporting to reduction across an organization and its value chain.
Amit is a thought-leader on green economy innovation, energy independence and entrepreneurship and was selected as one of the most influential people in business as part of Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2010. Amit was amoung a group of CEOs of small and large energy companies that advised President Obama in 2009 on how to increase productivity through innovation and technology. Numerous groups have recognized Hara, including CNBC which in 2010 recognized Hara as one of the 15 Best Green Tech Startups.
Prior to founding Hara Amit led SAP’s fast-growing Governance, Risk and Compliance unit. Amit developed his strategic and leadership experience while at McKinsey & Co., working with clients such as SAP, Cisco and Oracle.
Amit has B.A. degrees in Political Science and Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley.
Among other topics, Jay discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Jay is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. He is responsible for the company’s overall technology strategy, systems operations, applications development and controls, and technology risk management for all product, production, and business information systems.
Jay has more than 25 years of experience building and leading high-performing software development groups and information technology organizations. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Jay served as executive vice president of product development and chief technology officer of Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, working on compliance and analytic solutions for banking, mortgage, insurance, and securities markets.
Jay also served as vice president of software development for the Thomson Corporation, where he oversaw the development of award-winning and market-leading training and knowledge management solutions for the legal marketplace.
Jay has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and information sciences from the University of Maryland, a Masters of Science in information systems from George Mason University, and a Masters of Science in management and technology from the University of Minnesota.
Among other topics, Jim discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Jim Flyzik is the President of TheFlyzikGroup (www.theflyzikgroup.com). The company specializes in Strategic Business Consulting, Performance Based Contracting Consulting and Training and Thought Leadership media events. The company assists small, medium and large companies in providing world-class government services. Jim also serves as the Chairman of the AFCEA International Committee on Homeland Security. Jim also hosts the monthly radio program, The Federal Executive Forum on WFED 1050 AM and can be found at this link.
Jim was inducted into the CIO Magazine Hall of Fame on October 29, 2007. He joins 31 other CIO’s inducted over the past 20 years and is the first career government CIO to be selected.
Jim served over 27 years in the federal government. He served as Senior Advisor to Governor Ridge in the White House Office of Homeland Security (OHS). He provided advice to OHS on the National Strategy and Information Management in support of the OHS mission. From February 1998 until December 2002, Jim also served as the Vice Chair of the Federal Government CIO Council overseeing numerous governmentwide IT initiatives. He was also a member of the President’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board.
Prior to this, from August 1997 until April 2002, Jim was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Systems and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of the Treasury. He provided oversight, strategic planning and management direction on over $3.0 billion in annual information technology and information infrastructure programs within Treasury and its fourteen Bureaus. Jim also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management for the Treasury Department from January 20, 2001 until February 8, 2002. In that role he provided oversight of all Treasury bureaus and served as the principal policy advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters involving the internal management of the Department and its bureaus. Jim received the Secretary Certificate of Appreciation on February 12, 2002 for his efforts during this transition period.
Prior to his Treasury positions, Jim worked for 18 years at the U.S. Secret Service where he held key IT management positions, including the Chief of the Communications and ADP Operations Division, providing world class telecommunications in support of Secret Service tactical and operational requirements.
Jim served as IT Team Leader on Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review (NPR) Information Technology Team. Following this assignment, he was selected as Chairman of the Government Information Technology Services Working Group, to implement the NPR Information Technology recommendations and coordinate the government services portion of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). He was given the prestigious Eagle Award as the government information technology executive of the year in 1994, a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 1995, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award for Excellence in Information Technology in 1996, the AFFIRM Award for Outstanding Service to the Citizens in 1997, the Industry Advisory Council Award for Special Achievements and Leadership in 1997, the AFFIRM IRM Executive of the Year Award in 1998, and the Distinguished Rank Executive Award from President Clinton in 1999. In 2001 the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils presented him the John J. Franke award for outstanding government service. In March 2002, Jim was selected by the Federal CIO Council to receive the Azimuth Award as the Government Executive of the Year.
Jim has extensive public speaking experience and frequently serves as a featured speaker at industry events. He has developed, and currently teaches part-time, a graduate level course on Information Systems Security and Risk Assessment at the University of Maryland. Jim was given the Stanley J. Drazek Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998 by the University of Maryland.
Jim has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Computer Science and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland with an area of concentration in Information Systems Management.
Among other topics, Nick discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Nicholas Colisto to the broadcast, Nick is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a large residential homebuilder.
Prior to joining Hovnanian, he held key information technology leadership positions at large organizations including Pepsi-Cola, Priceline.com, Hyperion Solutions, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Bayer Corporation (formerly Sterling Winthrop).
Nick is active in many CIO networks and educational forums. He is also the recipient of many industry awards, including the 2010 CIO 100 by IDG’s CIO Magazine, the 2009 InfoWorld 100, and the 2009 and 2010 InformationWeek 500.
Nick has a B.B.A in management information systems and a M.S. in information systems from Pace University.
Among other topics, Ken discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Ken Piddington serves as the Chief Information Officer of Global Partners LP. In this capacity, he is responsible for setting and achieving Global’s Information Technology strategy and providing information technology services across all divisions of the organization. Since joining Global he has worked to transform Global’s Information Technology group into a strategic asset positioned to scale and contribute to the company’s growth strategy. Prior to being named CIO in June 2010, Ken served as the Director of Applications and Software Development for Global. He is a member of the 2010 Boston CIO Executive Summit Governing Body.
Ken successfully led the development and implementation of an internally developed Energy Trading and Risk Management System in 2009. Code named “Peloton”, this project was a key company initiative which provided the organization with a leading-edge technology solution but also implemented process and operational changes positioning the company for future growth. Ken’s responsibilities for the project included chief architect, project manager and change agent.
Prior to joining Global, Ken was a partner at Lyland Associates, Inc. where he managed the technology division of the company’s energy practice. In this role he served as a technology advisor and led custom development and application implementation projects for its Fortune 500 clients.
Previously Ken had spent 12 years working in the energy consulting and software industry. At Triple Point Technologies he held various positions including Director of Product Development for the company’s flagship product Tempest XL. He has served as a Director for Opportune in their energy practice and as a Senior Technology Consultant for MRE Consulting. Ken has spent his career focused on the energy industry where he has worked with almost 50 clients domestically and internationally.
Ken has spent the past 15 years successfully working in information technology and the energy industry although majoring in Health and PE as a former college football and baseball player at Graceland College. He resides in Massachusetts with family.
Among other topics, Richard and George discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Purchase Richard and George’s book from
Richard Hunter is vice president and research director in Gartner Research, where his recent work has focused on matters of interest to CIOs. Mr. Hunter is the author of “World Without Secrets: Business, Crime and Privacy in the Age of Ubiquitous Computing” (Wiley&Sons, NYC, 2002), “IT Risk: Turning Business Threats Into Competitive Advantage” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2006), and “The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2009), the latter two works with co-author George Westerman. He is in much demand as a speaker and advisor to CIOs.
Mr. Hunter was elected a Gartner Fellow in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Harvard University. He is a world-class harmonica player who continues to compose and perform, and is the author of the world’s best-selling method for jazz and rock harmonica players (“Jazz Harp”, Oak Publications, NYC, 1980).
George is a Research Scientist in MIT’s Center for Digital Business. His research and teaching focus on how executives can create value by bridging the IT/Business gap. Major themes include digital innovation, risk management, and communicating about value. George is co-author of two award-winning books: The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value and IT Risk: Turning Business Threats into Competitive Advantage. His research has also appeared in top academic and management journals. He is faculty chair for the MIT Sloan executive education course entitled “Transforming Your Business through IT.” In addition to presentations and workshops, George works regularly with senior executives on topics related to digitization and IT management.
This interview is the fifth in a special series of five eSeminars covering the Five Principles of World Class IT. The five interviews have been broadcast in sequential weeks, and in this conversation on principle five –External Partnerships, Bob Willett discusses the following ideas:
Follow this link to download the eSeminar presentation
This is the final interview in this series covering the five principles of World Class IT. We hope you have enjoyed the deeper dive into each principle.
Robert A. Willett is the chief executive officer of Al Futtaim Group, a conglomerate operating from the United Arab Emirates that operates eight divisions comprising automotive, electronics, insurance, services, real estate, retail, industries and overseas.
Prior to his current position, Willett was the chief executive officer of Best Buy International, the strategic business unit of Best Buy Co., Inc., focused on creating opportunities for growth and innovation outside of the United States. He was appointed to this role in February 2006.
Under Willett’s leadership, Best Buy International has implement a global integration and growth strategy to maximize the retailer’s opportunities beyond North America, while continuing to reengineer the supply chain, Mobile phone and information technology functions that support the company’s customer centric transformation. Executives responsible for enterprise-wide efficiency initiatives, information systems, supply chain management, global sourcing, corporate development and Best Buy Mobile report to Willett. He is also a Chairman of the Best Buy Europe/Carphone wharehouse joint venture.
Prior to his current role, Willett served as the executive vice president of operations and chief information officer for Best Buy, and today continues to lead the company’s efforts to improve efficiencies and simplify its customer-centric operating model.
Willett’s experience spans a number of positions in the retail industry over the past several decades. Willett previously was global managing partner for Accenture Consulting retail practice, where he worked with best-in-class retailers throughout the world on strategy reviews, business transformation, procurement and supply chain management, brand positioning, technology transformation and customer segmentation.
Prior to joining Best Buy formally in 2003, Willett served as a special advisor to the Best Buy board of directors on issues relating to operational efficiency and excellence. During his tenure with Accenture, he also served as a partner on the “Process to Profits” initiative that Best Buy undertook in the late 1990s.
Willett launched his retail career in store management at Marks & Spencer a leading British department store chain in 1968, and has held executive positions, including managing director and group chief executive, for other retailers in Europe.
CIO Magazine named Willett to the CIO Hall of Fame in 2008 to honor his significant contributions to the IT discipline, use of technology in business and advancement of the CIO role. He was also recently named to the board of directors for LightHaus Logic, Inc., an innovative provider of video analytics systems based in Canada.
Chosen as third among “The Best IT Business Books of 2009” by CIO Insight
“What’s unique about this book is that it’s not only a must-read for the CIO (and everyone else in an IT department); it’s for anyone associated with the technology industry. If you are a manufacturer, seller, or service provider of technology, you will gain insight into what makes an IT department world class.” – CIO Digest
“The new book World Class IT (Jossey-Bass, 2009), by consultant Peter A. High, provides solid, timeless advice for CIOs trying to manage IT for business success.” – Mitch Betts, Computerworld Book Review
“Technology is all around us. It is so pervasive in our daily lives that we may not even recognize when we interact with it. Despite this fact, many companies have yet to leverage information technology as a strategic weapon.
What then is an information technology executive to do in order to raise the prominence of his or her department? In World Class IT, recognized expert in IT strategy Peter High reveals the essential principles IT executives must follow and the order in which they should follow them whether they are at the helm of a high-performing department or one in need of great improvement.
Principle 1: Recruit, train, and retain World Class IT people Principle 2: Build and maintain a robust IT infrastructure Principle 3: Manage projects and portfolios effectively Principle 4: Ensure partnerships within the IT department and with the business Principle 5: Develop a collaborative relationship with external partners
The principles and associated subprinciples and metrics introduced in World Class IT have been used by IT and business executives alike at many Global 1000 companies to monitor and improve IT’s performance. Those principles pertain as much to the leaders of IT as they do to those striving to emulate them.”
This interview is the fourth in a special series of five eSeminars covering the Five Principles of World Class IT. The five interviews will be broadcast in sequential weeks, and in this conversation on principle four –IT & Business Partnerships, John Boushy discusses the following ideas:
The final interview in the series will be Bob Willett, CEO of Al Futtaim Group and former CIO of Best Buy and CEO of Best Buy International. The broadcast date will be December 20, 2010.
After retiring as CEO of Ameristar Casinos in 2008, John Boushy began running his own consulting firm, aimed at assisting companies to create and capture long-term business potential.
John joined Ameristar as president and was subsequently appointed CEO and president and elected to the company’s board of directors.
Prior to joining Ameristar, he served as a senior executive at Harrah’s Entertainment, holding various executive positions within Harrah’s and its prior parent companies, Holiday Corporation and The Promus Companies. John most recently served as Harrah’s Executive Vice President, Project Development, Design & Construction. Prior to that, John held the position of Senior Vice President Concept Development and Chief Integration Officer where he had executive level responsibility to plan and execute all aspects of the business combination of Caesars Entertainment with Harrah’s Entertainment.
As SVP, Operations, Products and Services and CIO, John established corporate operating functions in order to deliver enhanced capabilities to all company various properties, enhancing delivery of service and competitiveness, while supporting the rapid growth through property expansions and company acquisitions. At the same time, John led the maturing of the IT function, creating greater alignment between IT and the business, thereby driving incremental business value from the business/IT projects.
As Harrah’s CIO, John was credited for various technological advances that today power the company’s customer service and financial performance. As vice president of strategic marketing for Harrah’s, John developed numerous customer-centric innovations, including 800-HARRAHS and the industry’s first, nation-wide customer loyalty program. Under his leadership, the company issued the first annual survey of casino entertainment, which continues today as The Profile of the American Casino Gambler.
In 2001, Harrah’s was awarded CIO’s coveted Enterprise Value Award due to John’s leadership of Harrah’s loyalty program and in September of 2007, John was elected to the CIO Magazine Hall of Fame.
John holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and a master of science degree in applied mathematics, both from North Carolina State University.
This interview is the third in a special series of five eSeminars covering the Five Principles of World Class IT. The five interviews will be broadcast in sequential weeks, and in this conversation on P3-Project & Portfolio Management, Randy Spratt discusses the following ideas:
Next up in the series will be John Boushy, Former CEO of Ameristar Casinos and CIO of Harrah’s Entertainment, discussing Principle Four, IT-Business Partnerships. The broadcast date will be December 13, 2010. Following John will be
Randy Spratt has been Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for McKesson Corporation since July 2005. Spratt is responsible for all internal, infrastructure technology initiatives within the Corporation.
He has been with McKesson for over 20 years, most recently as Chief Process Officer (April 2003 to July 2005) for McKesson Provider Technologies (MPT), the company’s medical software and services division based in Alpharetta, Georgia. He also managed MPT’s Business Development, Information Technology, and Strategic Planning offices, as well as MPT’s Technology Services business.
Prior to joining McKesson, Spratt held executive positions of increasing responsibility at the start-up Advanced Laboratory Systems (ALS), culminating with the role of Chief Operations Officer. ALS was acquired by HBOC in 1996, which in turn was acquired by McKesson in 1999, and Spratt took on responsibility for HBOC’s laboratory systems business shortly thereafter. Following the acquisition of HBOC by McKesson in 1999, Spratt relocated to Georgia to become part of the reconstructed management team.
Spratt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Computer Science, from the University of Utah.
