John MacDonald-Gaunt

I have a strong track record of successfully delivering complex and global transformational engagements. Thriving on finding innovative solutions to business problems, I set a high level of pace and energy for both my team and my client.

Now leading IBM GBS’ Telecommunications industry for UK and Ireland, I drive sales, pipeline, strategy and delivery execution across our wide portfolio of clients. My background is deep in delivering large scale and global Application Management, Complex Systems Integration, and Transformational Change programmes. I focus passionately on ‘speed to market’ and a rapid Return on Investment to demonstrate value across all engagements. I have extensive experience making remote delivery models successful, in some cases, leveraged off-shore ratios in excess of 95%.

Previous to my current role, I was the Global Transformation and Delivery Director for a major global Telco, leading circa 1,000 professionals, of which circa 87% operated from offshore. With my team, we successfully engaged to transform both IBM and our clients’ Complex SI and AMS delivery teams from disparate Operating Country teams, into a single global team, leveraging best delivery practice to drive speed, cost efficiency and RoI. Within this role, my largest challenge was to build a global team with Business Intelligence and Analytics capability, then transition and transform the global client operating countries into that model, delivering world class BI services.

I tutor Executive level courses on complex delivery, and have published thought leadership papers on the strategic direction of AMS in National Outsource Magazine. I speak regularly on global transformation and Account Management at institutes such as Cranfield University Business School

I speak fluent Japanese, and have experience in bridging the cultural divides between East and West.
I hold 5 black belts in various martial arts. I’m married, and live with my wife in Winchester in the UK