Andrew Swaffer

Background

About Andrew Swaffer

I specialise in delivering complex, mission-critical infrastructure and digital technology change programmes for large enterprises. For the last six years I’ve been an independent contractor working client-side for Post Office, Countrywide, Vodafone and The Crown Estate, and working supplier-side for Vodafone (on behalf of a pharma client in DE) and Capita (on behalf of TfL Surface Transport). Prior to this I was an affiliate for two years for a leading French consultancy, working on client-side procurement advisory (Credit Suisse, AXA, TfL) and on supplier-side bid and delivery work (T-Systems, Telefonica). Before this I held senior roles in Vodafone and Cable & Wireless leading customer-facing delivery portfolios. Although the context and situation of each programme differs from the next I have taken careful note of common themes, aspects, practices and success factors which are applicable to all, whether the work is technology-driven* or whether it implements new or changed Ways-of-Working**. The common aspects include things like: ensuring clarity of scope and expectation of the programme; proper understanding of the economic case, the budget and the benefits realisation/measurement plan; getting the most out of available resources – vital given the budget is often largely people time (I'm always willing to roll-up sleeves to help, demonstrate or augment); managing 3rd parties and holding them to account on contracted performance; gaining and maintaining stakeholder engagement & buy-in, and looking after my sponsor’s interests; ensuring clear criteria for bringing the programme to a close. No surprises in this list. The knack is to handle them concurrently, at pace and with a sure-footedness that generates confidence in stakeholders and belief in the programme team. 20 years' experience has taught me how to do it and keep afloat when the chips are down. If you have a critical Change initiative that needs the best possible start, or one that needs putting right, then please do reach out. I can help-*EUC, network, hosting infrastructures, cloud transition, cloud services, applications (M365), service management tooling (ServiceNow, Avanti), security tooling **Service Operations (AI automation, ITIL), Security Operations (SOC, Threat Mgmt), Records Management, Digital Development capability (ScaledAgile SAFe, JIRA, Azure DevOps), Cloud Operating Model capability (inc FinOps)