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| John Adey |
This month we get close up and personal with John Adey, Chief Operating Officer, Star Technology Services
Star Technology Services (Star) is an IT services and communications partner committed to helping UK organisations to transform their business with industry leading technology services that help them to; cut costs, focus on growth, improve service levels, free up company capital, access new technologies and keep control of IT - but without the day-today management headaches
“By listening, understanding and responding to the needs of our customers, we develop solutions to tackle IT issues. One of the challenges we are seeing in the market is how businesses can gain extra functionality and services for less. All UK businesses, large and small, are re-evaluating their costs and how they consume technology. The harsh reality of this is the need to reduce capital expenditure and constrain headcount to better manage cash flow and minimise risk.
“Essentially, we remove the financial and operational risks traditionally
associated with implementing IT projects through rapid solution deployment and instant delivery of real business benefits. Buying technology as a service helps our customers to meet their business needs immediately with no large capital outlay. This takes away the hassle of managing complex solutions so that a business can re-focus resources on core activities that will add value to the business and its customers. “We have invested significantly in building a cloud computing infrastructure that will allow our customers to access advanced Utility Computing services via three, UK-based, data centres that sit inside our next generation MPLS network. With over 250 employees throughout the UK any business investing in Star services will automatically gain access to over 100 expert IT professionals who are there to help and support them through their growth.”
Close up & personal
Married? Yes, to Tracey. We were introduced by a mutual friend who fancied herself as a matchmaker....
Lives where? Newbury.
Kids? Two, both boys and both born in Munich, Germany.
What is your favourite car? Lotus Elise.
What do you drive? Depends on my mood and the journey ahead of me, but I have a Lotus Elise R in an understated Solar Yellow, but when comfort counts I prefer my Mercedes CLK 55 AMG.
4X4s Chelsea tractors? Don’t really approve but they are very practical for family transport including 2 greyhounds so we have a Lexus RX400H to reduce the impact.
What really gets your goat in business? Extortionate software license fees. I’m delighted to be working in a company that’s leading the pack on bringing cloud computing to a reality for UK businesses.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? If it’s expensive don’t buy it, just rent it.
And the worst? Buying the cheapest solution without taking quality of service into account. This is ALWAYS a false economy, you pay for what you get, and very few other industries rely more on quality service levels than IT.
Favourite Film? Moulin Rouge.
Who is/was the best James Bond? There can be only one - Sean Connery.
Last CD/DVD bought? Top Gear Anthems – my boys decided it was mandatory listening for the Lotus!
Sport? Rugby & Motor Sport.
Favourite team? London Irish.
What’s the best thing you’ve bought this year? Bose SoundDock Portable for my iPod.
What have you wasted money on? Motorbike – I never get a chance to ride it.
If you could pick anyone to go to dinner with who would it be and why? Gordon Brown – I’d set him straight on a couple of issues.
What could you not live without? My Star Remote Login Service (SSL VPN).
Who’s been your greatest inspiration? Edison, he was prepared to make mistakes in order to learn how to get it right – and he usually did.
Do you have a hero? Einstein, he once said something really profound, apparently…
If it all went belly up tomorrow, what would you do? Do what the best people in industry do, start again and do it better.
If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be? Eric Schmidt – I would love to be chief of the big cheeses at Google for a day. Would take some time looking round their data centre technology to see where the gaps are.
What is on your iPod? Lots of Melissa Etheridge and Robyn Hitchcock.