Nicola Johns - CEO, ITPS.
Did you always envisage a career in the world of Technology?
I started my career as a trainee Accountant working in Practice, qualifying at the age of 22. I enjoyed visiting the many clients I would see regularly, and I have always been commercially minded. I took the leap in 2011, when I left the world of working in Practice, and joined ITPS as Finance Manager.
I progressed to Finance Director and then CFO. I have been fortunate to undertake a broader role as CFO, working closely with our customers and driving the business forward. It’s something I’m passionate about, and the role of CEO was a natural next step. I’m excited to lead ITPS through it’s next phase of growth.
What tips would you give to someone looking to work in the industry?
Be curious! There is no such thing as a stupid question, keep learning, communicate and listen. Hands on experience is invaluable, apprenticeships and graduate programmes offer a great entry into the world of Tech.
Tell us about the most exciting project your currently working on?
We are excited to be working on a large Private Virtual Data Centre (PVDC) project for a business to consolidate and integrate acquisitions into one platform. A real-world challenge for many businesses is the spiralling cost of public cloud charges; they can be unpredictable and CFO’s are uneasy when it comes to forecasting the charges. We solve this problem by re-patriating workloads into our private cloud platform and can offer full geo-resiliency for the most business-critical services.
Tell us about your team?
I’ve been fortunate enough to inherit a team of great people who are a combination of people I’ve worked with for a long time, and others who are newer to the business, with more to join over the coming months. For me, working towards a clear goal together and seeing people continuously develop within a great culture is how I’d like all the teams in our business to operate.
What are your long term plans for the business?
We are finalising our business plan for FY26-FY28 as we speak!
I aim to position our business as the relevant, authentic and innovative partner of choice for our customers and channel partners alike.
We will be investing across the next 12 months in talent, innovation, partnerships and data, whilst continuing to have a strong focus on our client needs.
Whats your favourite piece of technology?
It’s hard to choose just one, but I’m particularly proud of the technology we are using for our Security Operations Centre.
Having a finance background helped me to immediately see the value in the investment we have made in our SOC platform and team. Using AI and automation we can contain threats within minutes rather than hours. We are fully 24/7 so our clients can sleep well knowing that there are always eyes on glass protecting their environment.
The effect on a business of a cyber attack can be devastating and can even lead to failure of that business. Every second counts, with our innovative SOC (Security Operations Centre) and MDR (Managed Detection and Response) services, business interruption is minimised, ensuring that financial loss, business reputation and emotional damage, are all minimised.
Do you have any heroes or mentors?
From a business perspective, I have always admired Hans Snook. He built the “Orange” mobile brand back in 1994 that was hugely ahead of its time. He forged a culture of pride and ensured that every team member became an ambassador, creating 70% brand awareness with a logo that was nothing like the fruit. He was one of the first tech leaders to talk about business outcomes before technical specification and he led in a calm and authentic manner; listening was key for him.
During my career, one person who was a great mentor is someone who I reported to very briefly. This person always had the time to stop and answer a question, even though I knew they were super busy. I would like to think that I have taken some of that kindness and support into my own way of working.
What’s your fondest career memory?
My fondest career memory happened just eight weeks ago, when my appointment as CEO was announced to the ITPS team. The reaction was one of overwhelming love and support and I have been blown away by all the messages I have received. There was no feeling like it, being able to lead the company you have loved and believed in for 15 years is really something.
Whats the best piece of business advice you’ve received?
Always know your audience and listen more than you speak. Take the time to research and keep learning.
When not working how do you like to relax?
I love to travel, city breaks are my favourite. I prefer a short break with lots of good food, wine and sights to see.
Watching something on TV that takes little brain power with a glass of wine is my way of switching off.