| By John Funnell |
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| July 27, 2009 06:00 AM EDT |
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“No longer is it adequate just to get a computer science degree and focus on the technical aspects of the job.” says Albert Hitchcock, Global CIO, Vodafone in an exclusive TV interview for MeettheBoss.com
Albert Hitchcock took charge of the technology information services organization at Vodafone Group plc (LON: VOD) in August 2007, following some 14 years with Nortel and took time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts on the future of IT function for MeettheBoss.com.
In today’s super-competitive marketplace, he feels many companies and many technology professionals are missing a trick: “Information systems,” he says, “must be at the forefront of the business.”
Hitchcock believes that in the past the I.T. function was often viewed as “a necessary evil”, remote from the business and running in the background. This has to change “because of the way business is carried out today”, but the people who could benefit most from that change may be short-skilled.
In the interview for MeettheBoss.com, Hitchcock says that many I.T. professionals are missing out on opportunities because they lack business expertise. “Increasingly I.T. professionals have to be confident at communicating. They have to be good leaders. They have to inspire their teams. They have to be able to understand the dynamics of the business they’re in and contribute to business decisions [and] discussions … which is a change, right, and a lot of I.T. professionals are not so comfortable with that aspect.”
To find out how Vodafone is transforming its I.T. staffers: http://www.meettheboss.com/Broadcast-Player.aspx?Play=1&MediaID=118
John Funnell has worked in online media for over ten years, after achieving his First Class BSC Hons Degree (BBC Sponsored), John won Bos 18-21 Princess Trust Entrepeneur of the year at 21, setting up Clean Living Records Ltd (including www.BeatReview.com) with great success having many acts that charted in Europe and Canada.
After selling the business John looked for a new challenge and joined GDS International, having a successful career in sales and Delegate acquisition, he worked up to Event Director EMEA, forging contacts with some of the biggest technology names in the world, this lead to John having a lead role in the creation of MeettheBoss.com and MeettheBoss.tv – the worlds largest business IPTV channel.
John then took over as Marketing and Communications Director and ran a multifaceted global Marketing team for GDS International in New York, Sydney, Kuala Lumper and the UK..
John joined Global in 2011 with the challenge of supporting its growth by developing a solid Marketing foundation through various Digital, PR and brand initiatives.
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