Mike Perks - Senior Consultant, Business Information Services

Contact Mike

How did you get where you are today?

My first glimpse of technology was in the literal sense, when I peeked into the back of an open television set as a child. Curiosity became enthusiasm and technology became my chosen path. My first real involvement with the Business Objects business intelligence product was straight from technical college as an application analyst for Tarmac PLC (and subsequently Carillion PLC). In 2001, I joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as an analyst working on a UK government account and eventually made the transition to consultant with Capgemini in 2004, working for Her Majesty Revenue and Customs. I joined Logicalis some 7 months ago as a senior consultant.

What are you working on right now?

I'm currently concluding a green-field installation of BusinessObjects XI Release 2 for LexisNexis, in an aim to increase sales revenue within their existing customer base, as well as recognise the potential for new customers. I'm also currently working closely with John Lewis Partnership and will be undertaking their migration from BusinessObjects 6.5 to XI Release 2, along with enhancing the use of current KPIs and metrics.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career to date?

As the open television set was on a bench inside one of my Dad's Granada shops, there's no doubt where the inspiration came from. I suppose the years of financial support whilst studying might have helped a little too of course...

Who in business do you most admire - and why?

Pierre Omidyar [the Iranian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded eBay]. There's always an element of right place, right time that accompanies innovation, but recognising opportunity from casual conversation and having the ability and commitment to realise the vision is inspirational. To commit the proceeds of the company you nurtured to a global phenomenon, to a cause more worthy than yourself is truly admirable.

What aspect of your job do you find most satisfying?

Working with a technology that helps people better understand their own business and increase the agility of decision-making makes its own case. For me personally, it's always rewarding when your contribution directly presents tangible benefits that are visible by the increased success of a business.

What has been your most valuable lesson learnt?

Good communication is imperative to successful delivery. Listen carefully, assume nothing, communicate openly and follow-up conversations with a brief written summary to help dismiss failure's best friend, ambiguity. That all sounds very obvious - it's so obvious, in fact, that it is occasionally overlooked!

Which are you favourite websites and blogs?

I must confess that I'm a part-time eBay addict and that my plasma television has founds its use as a computer monitor, spending more time on the internet than watching television! Other sites include Tom's Hardware, Facebook, MSN, Rightmove, Primelocation, BBC, CNN, FT, Telegraph, Guardian, Thisismoney, Moneyweekly, forumtopics.com/busobj and a multitude of sites spanning similar areas of interest.

How do you spend your downtime? Where? With who?

I'm diverse in my interests and find enjoyment in all things (easily pleased, I think that means!), from reviewing friend's books to getting hopelessly lost in activities such as sailing, skiing, and walking, plus the usual social refinements of good food and random conversation. Music plays a major part in my life and I attend musical happenings whenever I can at clubs, pubs, live gigs, music festivals, street performers... whatever, really.

What lifetime ambition have you yet to achieve?

Obviously, debt emancipation (liberation from my mortgage) and to have traveled at least twice around the world, preferably by other means than plane, and to have stopped somewhere en route!

Tell us one thing that most people don't know about you...

I used to play the drums and managed to break numerous drum sticks on all but one of the drum kits I played.