IT Strategy & Development Cloud & Legacy Migrations Strategic Leadership IT Transformation
Infrastructure & Operations Management Customer Relationship Management Business Continuity Planning Stakeholder Engagement
ITIL Service Delivery Management Risk & Security Management Emerging Technologies Process Improvement
I am highly analytical IT leader with 20+ years of experience in steering digital transformation, managing complex infrastructure, and delivering cost-effective solutions for top-tier companies. Recognised for expertise in crafting IT roadmaps, fostering high-performing teams, and optimising IT operations through innovative practices. Skilled at navigating complexities, demonstrated through successful leadership in mergers & acquisitions, large-scale integrations, and international operations. Proven ability to translate vision into reality by formulating and executing IT strategies aligned with business goals. Adept at establishing top-performing, collaborative teams that consistently exceed SLAs through ITIL best practices.
• BSc (Hons) Computer Science, Greenwich University • ITIL Foundation and Practitioner Certificate, Information Systems Examining Board. • Executive Development Programme/Management Development Programme, Graduate School of Business • Professional MBCS Membership (#995006661) | MCSSA Membership (#R9505) • Mental Health First Aider
• Leveraged technical expertise to manage and optimise IT infrastructure across 400 branch locations. • Oversaw a comprehensive IT infrastructure, encompassing networks, servers, and data centres, to support the needs of a growing organisation. • Streamlined service delivery processes and drove significant improvement through the successful implementation of ITIL best practices. • Utilised analytical and critical thinking skills to craft IT plans that contribute to achieving key business goals. • Successfully directed and executed a Citrix project to support 6,500 staff and 40,000 students. • Streamlined collaboration by introducing agile with Kanban working practices within Infrastructure Services. • Boosted security by steering the migration of firewalls and renewal of networking estate. • Bolstered cybersecurity measures and threat protection through the application of CrowdStrike and Proofpoint solutions across the estate and achieving ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus Certification. • Successfully implemented Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) suite JDA, Oracle Financials and Arthur Planning, streamlining operations significantly.
HEAD OF CLOUD & DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Jul 2019 – Feb 2024 Coventry University, Coventry Duties and Responsibilities: • Ensured seamless migration and reduction in IT operational costs by spearheading the strategic development and management of Coventry University's cloud and digital infrastructure. • Enabled the university's IT infrastructure to respond to disruptions and minimise downtime by conducting analyses and updating IT Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP). • Provided remote access for all users through the introduction of VPN solutions. • Cultivated a challenging environment that prioritises excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Accomplishments: • Led a high-performing team of over 35 IT professionals across diverse domains – cloud infrastructure, networking, data platforms, device platforms, and commercial IT. • Increased agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency for the university by delivering a successful cloud migration strategy, transitioning legacy data centres over 600 servers to a hybrid solution leveraging private cloud infrastructure in Leeds and public cloud services on Microsoft Azure. • Enhanced network performance of 1,500 devices and 4,500 wireless, improved user experience, and elevated security for staff and students by directing network modernisation initiatives across campuses. • Championed the enactment of remote teaching and learning solutions across teams to ensure educational continuity for staff and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Optimised team collaboration and accelerated service delivery by overseeing the adoption of agile working methodologies as well as ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certification within Infrastructure Services. • Drove innovation and maximised operational efficiency by cultivating cross-functional solid partnerships.
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Jan 2018 – Mar 2019 University of Surrey, Guildford Duties and Responsibilities: • Led the development and execution of tactical plans, managed service provision, and fostered high-performing teams across critical functions. • Integrated 4 HPC environments and 4K video capabilities, leveraging HT Condor to make 400 desktop GPUs accessible for development and testing. • Leveraged technical expertise to transition from Faculty IT Manager to Head of Infrastructure, ultimately rising to Chief Technology Officer. Accomplishments: • Modernised infrastructure and IT capabilities by transforming technology at the University of Surrey. • Delivered customised solutions and reduced the outstanding day's support effort from 5 months to less than 2 weeks to empower researchers and directed a transformation of IT research services. • Promoted long-term growth and sustainability through development and implementation of a £6M budget for operational and capital expenditures. • Improved service quality and security by overseeing a university-wide network upgrade. • Boosted productivity and streamlined collaboration by migrating to cloud-based Office 365 and Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (CIO) Aug 2013 – Aug 2017 Icon/Equra Oncology, South Africa & Kenya Duties and Responsibilities: • Ensured compliance with regulations by spearheading IT transformation and hiring an IT team for deployment. • Positioned the Oncology Group for future growth and innovation in patient care through the development of a comprehensive ICT strategy focused on fully integrated EMR/EPR systems. Accomplishments: • Fostered a collaborative environment that empowered cross-functional teams across Infrastructure, Application, and Service Desk functions by introducing new IT operating model. • Saved 8% annual cost whilst exceeding SLA targets through process optimisation and vendor management. • Optimised resource allocation, reduced bugs from 87% to 3%, and reduced development costs through introduction of agile SDLC framework. • Revolutionised patient care and treatment delivery through the enhancement and implementation of the world's largest network for Elekta Radiation Oncology Accelerators.
EXECUTIVE HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE Oct 2000 – Jul 2013 Metropolitan Health, South Africa Duties and Responsibilities: • Supported millions of users through the management of the vast IT infrastructure. • Handled resource allocation through management and optimisation of a budget exceeding R150M (£10M). • Enhanced bandwidth and facilitated the expansion of network infrastructure to support new head offices, data centres, and branches through the strategic rollout of a nationwide MPLS network for data and telephony. Accomplishments: • Achieved growth from 80K to 3.3M customers and 35% year-on-year growth (800% over 9 years) by creating and introducing a scalable Infrastructure and Support Capability model, integrating 20+ organisations following takeovers, mergers, and acquisitions while establishing the largest medical aid in South Africa. • Build infrastructure and Sybase IQ Datawarehouse for QualSA Healthcare Managed Care to assist 3.3 m customers with hospital pre-auths, treatments and outcomes, using Cognos, Business Objects and Excel as analytic tooling. • Streamlined operations across Infrastructure, Data Warehouse, Service Desk, Desktop Support, and Telephony through the deployment of strategic management practices. • Ensured Business Continuity Plan and minimised downtime through a robust Disaster Recovery Plan, able to recover operations within 8 hours. • Revolutionised IT operations and elevated workflow processes by managing the insourcing and migration of over 20 EMR/PMR systems from HP MPE to Unix to Linux. • Boosted communication efficacy and reduced operational costs by architecting and migrating analogue Siemens to VOIP-based Asterix, centralising operations to handle 40K daily calls across multiple branches. • Built a robust team culture within a large group of 60+ IT professionals by driving efficient collaboration and innovation through the leadership of 8 direct reports.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE • Group Head of IT, Moregro Retail Group, South Africa • Head of IT, Gabriel Shock Absorbers, South Africa • Head of Small Systems Support, ICL South Africa
To Whom It May Concern Re: Rod Russell I was the CEO of Equra Health when Rod was recruited and though I stepped down from that position in 2014 have remained closely involved to the end of 2017. Rod was recommended to us by an independent IT firm used on a consultancy basis when they realized that the IT systems used across the many centers who were part of a rapidly expanding Equra Health needed a significant overhaul to achieve our objective. What attracted us to Rod was the fact that he has a wealth of experience across the spectrum of IT/BI ranging from desktop level to networking, server infrastructure and software development, and came across as an independent thinker who is not afraid to challenge those around him to take a step to the next level. His referees all spoke very highly of him. He joined the group in 2013 and quickly challenged the old norms and changed the thinking around IT development and was instrumental in carving a strategy which led to the integration of the 26 oncology centers across the breadth and width of South Africa. No mean feat given the fact that we were dealing with more than 80 different Oncologists, practice managers, in-house and contracted IT service providers and more than 400 different professional staff across the organization, many of whom were openly oppositional. To achieve the stability required for the seamless networking of the various centers he set up two independent offsite commercial data centers with the two of them acting as back up for one another. The datacenters then hosted a single oncology information system linking all centers which were in turn linked to the datacenters with dual fiber-optic lines as primary and backup. This enabled all centers to run the linear accelerators off the one dedicated oncology information system for record and verification, and to allow for regional centralized computer planning also linking to the various radiology providers across the country who does planning CT and MRI scans. This was a world first for the size of Equra for that vendor at the time, and has saved Equra Health millions of rand. He then also needed to engage the various role players referred to above to achieve an overhaul of the IT networks and software / hardware in all centers and head office. He was also responsible to develop the electronic authorization system used by more than 80% of all Oncologists in South Africa, at the same time also building a data center for use by the 81 team for business analysis. He was also responsible to develop data switch between the network, various medical schemes and pathology labs. This allows the group to do data analysis on a level never available before in SA and has set the platform for some innovative contracting models with medical schemes into the future. A few such pilot programs have been running very successfully with proven benefits to providers, schemes and patients alike. Rod was also more recently responsible form the setting up of an IT network and systems in a new Equra affiliated cancer center in Kenya, where he showcased not only his broad knowledge but also his willingness to go beyond the call of duty of a C-level IT specialist to help get the center up and running. Rod has shown that he can build a functional team from scratch and whilst he allows individuals to get on with their delegates tasks, he certainly challenges them to perform a step higher than what comes naturally. I have no doubt that Rod will add significant value to any organization. Feel free to contact me should you require any further information. Regards Dr Leon Gouws Director: Oceania Oncology +61 4328069000 29 September 2018
Dr Leon Gouws: Manager
I would highly recommend Rod as a senior manager / executive level IT manager / specialist because of his vast expanse of knowledge and experience. Rod is an excellent leader of teams and communicator. Rod is a hard working and conscientious individual and will not let anyone down. Rod has the ability to get things done with no fuss, he is a real asset to any organisation. Rod is looked up to by so many people that he has helped and managed over his working career. I would have no hesitation hiring Rod in the future if it were possible to do so. Ian Sanders Head of Service Management & Security Operations March 26, 2024, Ian managed Rod directly
Ian Sanders: Manager
I worked with Rod [Russell] for 4.5+ years at Coventry University, where Rod was employed in the role of Head of Cloud and Digital Infrastructure Services. I always found Rod to be very Professional and knowledgeable, especially in his area of expertise - he has genuinely been there, done it and got the T-shirt with his many, many years of experience within IT. Rod is able to communicate at all levels, both upwards and downwards, taking time to ensure people understand what he is saying. I'd say Rod is definitely a People person and a superb Leader, inspiring his numerous teams to follow his strategy for his function. Rod is always approachable and keen to assist when/where necessary, often lending his experience and expertise to functional/business areas outside of his scope of management responsibility. I would work with Rod again in a heartbeat and would have no hesitation in recommending him for a role within any organisation. Andy Tasker Head of Service Delivery at Coventry University March 22, 2024, Andy worked with Rod on the same team
Andy Tasker: Colleague
Rod has been not only an extremely talented and capable professional but also an excellent manager with a wealth of experience. Since starting at the University, I have witnessed his remarkable ability to empower his team, allowing them to voice their views and fostering an environment where they could grow and thrive. Rod's leadership made a considerable impact on numerous initiatives at the University. He approaches tasks with boundless energy, enthusiasm, and attention to detail, ensuring that both the big picture and finer aspects are addressed. He values input from everyone with an inclusive approach, ensuring that all perspectives are considered, while his commitment to achieving results ensures success. Rod also possesses excellent negotiation skills, which have proven invaluable in navigating complex situations and securing favourable outcomes. Working with Rod was truly a pleasure, and I wholeheartedly recommend him as an invaluable asset to any organisation. Yasin Shaikh Cloud & Infrastructure Manager at Coventry University Enterprises Ltd March 20, 2024, Yasin reported directly to Rod
Yasin Shaikh: Staff
I can warmly recommend Rod as an IT specialist, manager and colleague. I worked closely with Rod at the University of Surrey, first as chair of the FEPS IT governance group and "Eureka" high performance computing facility and later as Head of the Department of Physics. With Rod at the helm, IT services across the faculty have improved dramatically. He has overseen the implementation of our new storage system, an improved ticketing process for reporting problems, an improved management structure for delivering on teaching, research and administrative IT projects, the highly successful Eureka HPC facility, and a comprehensive review of IT server space. In physics, we have been very happy with the visible improvement in IT provision under Rod's leadership, in particular the improved communication between IT services and the faculty and departments. Rod is a talented IT manager who gets the job done. I can recommend him highly. Justin Read Chair of Computational Astrophysics and Early Career Researcher Lead at the University of Surrey April 30, 2019, Justin worked with Rod but on different teams
Justin Read: Customer
I have worked with Rod over the last 18 months, and he is someone that gets things done. When joining us, he started to change things for the better, teams became more focused on what they were supposed to do and we became a lot more customer-centric. IT's reputation went from average to performing clearing backlogs of calls in weeks because of his direction and focused approach. His experience and talent were recognised by the University who then moved him into a senior CTO position where he took over many infrastructures projects like network and storage. Once you earn Rod trust, he will support you a hundred percent allowing you to run with ideas and encouraging you to feed into the decision making process. During Rod's time I saw more recruiting of staff at speed I have never seen before; these were strategic placements to improve our support model and help achieve the business's vision. Darryl Patto Former Head of Teaching and Academic Services at University of Surrey April 11, 2019, Darryl reported directly to Rod
Darryl Patto: Staff
I had the pleasure of working with Rod at the University of Surrey where he was swiftly promoted to the role of Chief Technology Officer. Rod is an inspirational technology leader who exhibits integrity to the core. Rod spots and nurtures talent and takes a personal interest in mentoring and developing his team and others outside of his team. Along with his wealth of experience and a strong understanding of the latest technology trends and operational thinking, Rod quickly won the respect and admiration of both his team and his customers alike. He has a strong intellect and is a strategic thinker with the rare ability to turn abstract concepts into real world solutions. He demonstrated this by how quickly he gained a strong understanding of the challenges and requirements in a very complex matrix organisation. He constantly puts the organisation and customers' needs front and centre in all he does and encourages his team to do the same. He planned and executed change programmes in a challenging environment. Rod's knowledge, passions and enthusiasm would be a valuable asset to any IT leadership team. Sonja Browning-Page Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) April 8, 2019, Sonja worked with Rod on the same team
Sonja Browning-Page: Colleague
Rod Russell joined the University as a Faculty IT Manager in 2017. His pragmatic approach and willingness to engage and listen to users of the IT infrastructure was evident from the start. He brought fresh insight into the delivery of IT support with a focus on meeting the requirements of the end-user and setting up efficient structures to support delivery. He provided strong leadership of the Faculty IT team and demonstrated excellent capability in steering the development of IT solutions. His influence on the University IT delivery and infrastructure is evidenced by his appointment as Chief Technology Officer within one year of his initial appointment to the University. This role had oversight and leadership of major University IT infrastructure programmes such as networking and storage. I have no hesitation in recommending Rod as and outstanding IT leader of both people and systems. Adrian Hilton Professor of Computer Vision & Graphics, University of Surrey March 29, 2019, Adrian worked with Rod but on different teams
Adrian Hilton: Colleague
I've known Rod for a while now and have worked with him on a number of major infrastructure restructures. He is a technology visionary and an exceptional manager. A good CTO should be able to apply his knowledge and lead his team to build a better infrastructure. In my opinion he demonstrates this successfully and it is fair to say that these are just a few of his top qualities. Working in a reseller world can be challenging sometimes but Rod with his direct approach and strategic thinking made our work much easier. He always works with his team to make the best technical decisions for all projects, demonstrating a very professional and strong leadership style whilst ensuring true alignment to the organisations needs. Alex Moretto Business Development Director March 27, 2019, Rod was Alex's client
Alex Moretto: Supplier
Rod is a truly inspiring leader and mentor and I have developed the utmost respect for him during his time at the University of Surrey as the C TO and my line manager. His ability to grasp issues and come up with solutions or new ideas is unparalleled and his focus on service delivery, the customer experience and what the business actually needs is at the heart of every decision he makes. He has a very direct approach and always makes the extra effort to walk around and talk to his staff and the business on a daily basis. He welcomes collaboration on ideas and we always felt that our input was taken on board, encouraged and valued. He also wasn't afraid to change his mind if you made a strong enough case and showed appreciation for jobs well done, both of which I think are rare virtues for managers at his level. He puts his heart and soul into his work and the vigour and enthusiasm he demonstrates on a daily basis easily surpasses the most eager graduates. I envy whoever Rod chooses to work for next, they certainly will have the cream of the crop. Amy Wilson Technology Leader and Trusted Advisor March 26, 2019, Amy reported directly to Rod
Amy Wilson: Staff
I have known Rod Russell as a customer in the IT industry for 25 years now going back to the early nineties. First as infrastructure manager and then later on as CIO at Equra Health. Rod has a vast and in-depth knowledge of IT systems. What I really enjoy about working with Rod is that he is dynamic and keeps abreast of the ever changing IT environment. Rod is a clear leader in an industry that needs leaders and a "must have" for customers who wish to embrace technology as a vital strategy of the business to gain advantage over competitors. Resellers like myself who have dealt with Rod over the years know that he demands the very best of service, the very best technical knowledge available and the very best prices on offer. Firm but fair to all - resellers like myself always appreciates that. Pieter Bekker Account Executive at Datacentrix September 14, 2017, Rod was Pieter's client
Pieter Bekker: Supplier
I have met Rod in 2013 when he took up the position of CIO in the Equra Health group while I was the COO. As a co-member of the EXCO team, I found Rod to be a valuable source of insight and voice of reason in a variety of business matters, not only IT specific topics. I grew a great respect for him because of those qualities in addition to his subject matter knowledge. In our respective roles, we worked closely together on a number of organisational projects, two of which stand out in my view: 1) leading the design and implementation of a dual redundant national fibre-optic network with the associated linking of 28 linear accelerators used in radiation therapy for cancer to a single oncology information management system hosted in a commercial data centre (a first in South Africa and in the world for this particular radiation therapy equipment vendor). and 2) leading the design and implementation of hardware and software configurations to allow our first cancer unit outside of South Africa, based in Eldoret (Kenya) to be another "branch" of the SA group, allowing group services like email, desktop support, video conferencing and off-site computerised radiation therapy planning to be available in a seamless manner that just works. On a professional and personal level, Rod is an interesting individual challenging those around him to perform a step higher than what comes naturally. Rod will add significant value to any organisation or position requiring a seasoned c-level executive with a strong IT background and insight, but who also is not shy to apply and speak his mind to a variety of topics coming up for discussion. Erhardt Korf Changing career focus September 4, 2017, Erhardt worked with Rod on the same team
Erhardt Korf: Colleague
I have known Rod for the last 9 years, first at Metropolitan Health and thereafter at Equra Health. Over this 9 year period I have had the privilege of working under Rods guidance building systems and solutions to varying degrees. Rods has always shown that he is acutely aware of the process that any business solution needs to follow but leaves the details to the technical people that know best how to implement. In the last 4 years under his guidance we have taken a pretty much shambles of an IT department and turned it into a well running department boasting dual hosted data centres, dual fibre connectivity to all sites, hosted exchange platforms and cloud based VolP. Rod has a wealth of experience right from desktop level through to networking, server infrastructure and software development. On the business side he has always taken charge of the IT strategy and budgeting, this is where his ultimate strengths lie, he has in his mind a dear view of where IT needs to go and will stop at nothing to steer it in that direction. Its been a privilege to work under Rod for the last 9 years, I have gained much insight and knowledge from him. Rods experience and insight would be an asset to any organisation. One thing I have managed to teach Rod is that Apple is NOT so bad, so I am very proud to say he moved on to iPhone's and MacBooks. Peter Wallace Cloud Support Engineer (Networking) at Amazon Web Services (AWS) August 30, 201 7, Peter reported directly to Rod
Peter Wallace: Staff
Having known Rod for 18 years and having worked with him for 13 of these, I can accurately attest to his strengths and abilities. Over the time we were colleagues, we headed up the teams responsible for the establishment of IT and Facilities infrastructure. These projects were intensely budget and time -driven, with no room for leakage in either category. Rod's immense knowledge and experience in the IT infrastructure space resulted in every project being successfully delivered on time, within budget and conforming to pre-determined objectives. The variety and scale of projects ranged from significant Head Office relocations, relocation of data centres, establishment of regional offices, including facilities in Central Africa and numerous satellite offices throughout South Africa. Rod's ability to effectively plan, co-ordinate and execute projects resulted in consistent and wide acclaim from all quarters. He provides a solid and reliable solution for his extensive field of expertise. Allen Bosman August 29, 201 7, Allen worked with Rod on the same team
Allen Bosman: Colleague
I employed Rod at Metropolitan Health Group (MHG) in 2000 as the IT Infrastructure Manager in which position he remained until after I "retired" from MHG in 2008 with his responsibilities covering; IT Infrastructure Strategy Databases Administration (Sybase, Oracle, MS SQL) Data warehouse design and implementation LAN and WAN networking Helpdesk and Desktop applications and support Datacenter and Operations Management. Firewall, IT security and Virus Administration Large Switchboard and Telecommunications using Asterisk VOIP Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, development and implementation. Governance and Change Control All IT Infrastructure Budgeting, Procurement and Contract negotiations. Rod was responsible for a sizable IT team, with 8 direct reports, who were responsible for all technology-based implementation and support services to a user base of over 3,000 staff assisting over 3.3 million members and dependants. The company underwent extensive growth (35% per Annum) during his tenure, demanding massive and flexible technical capacity, abilities and support. An example being the smooth relocation of the entire IT Datacenter including 1,000 MHG staff to new premises in a very short space of time with virtually no down time on all systems including web access. During this rapid and continuous growth there were also several takeovers and mergers requiring migration of systems and consistency in branches across the country and beyond including the establishment of a fully functional IT datacenter in Nairobi, Kenya all of which Rod managed exceptionally well. Rod also successfully project managed the IT infrastructure migration of the company's legacy mainframe systems from HP MPE/iX and Turbo Image Database to HP Unix and Sybase Relation Database. Another of Rod's major successes was his introduction of Asterisk (Open Source IP Based PABX) into the company's telephony infrastructure. In conjunction with a home grown call centre application Vitel, MHG migrated all telephony infrastructure and systems from Siemens to Asterisk, managing one of the largest Asterisk based call centre environments in Africa, saving MHG many millions of Rands. Rod was an extremely diligent, knowledgeable and dedicated manager and I strongly recommend him for employment in the IT industry. David Watts " Retired " August 21, 2017, David managed Rod directly
David Watts: Manager
I had the pleasure of working with Rod for many years while employed at HP. During this time I was the Technical Account Manager for MHG. Key projects that we achieved together were: - a complex Datacentre move and, - a Branch office move. Rod is a strong leader with an exemplary work ethic and always motivates his team to achieve their best. He has many years IT and leadership experience, and is tough but fair. He is honest and direct, and you will always know where you stand with him. Anna Waite Global Accounts Service Delivery Manager (EMEA) August 7, 2017, Rod was Anna's client
Anna Waite: Supplier
I have known Rod through business for many years, and have learnt that Rod does not accept the norm to be good enough. Rod will use his highly analytical mindset to encourage the people around him - staff and suppliers alike - to excel and deliver remarkable results. He has a demanding character that quickly unsettles the mediocre and challenges the experts, ensuring that his team remains results-driven. Rod uses his wealth of experience in the ICT sector at all levels; be it networking, software or core systems, he has the ability to visualize the integration of these services in order to deliver ICT solutions that extract the best value in any given budget. He has a healthy approach to the rapid change in technology, yet will not adopt the latest tech for the sake of change. He uses his abilities to question and verify every aspect of a solution, and in so doing will implement new technology once it can be shown to be useful to the business. I would recommend Rod to any business looking for a strategic, C-level person, who will assess the status quo and take the business further by implementing technology solutions that are both relevant and cost-effective. Jaap Scholten Head: Group Hybrid IT Strategy at Datacentrix August 1, 2017, Rod was Jaap's client
Jaap Scholten: Supplier
I worked for Rod for 10 years while he was Infrastructure Manager at Metropolitan Health. He is a highly motivated, hands on manager with a broad understanding of IT Infrastructure. He was a highly respected manager at Metropolitan and has been greatly missed since his departure. Personally, he was always extremely supportive, allowed me to grow within the organisation and someone who I had enormous respect for. I would have no hesitation in working for him again if the opportunity arose. John Everitt Lead Practitioner at Crosslake Technologies July 31, 2017, John worked with Rod on the same team
John Everitt: Staff
To whom it may concern, From the January 1997 to June 2001 Rod Russell was my line manager. I found Rod 's management style as very fair and firm. Rod has vast technical experience and has the knack to grasp and understand cutting edge technical concepts with ease. When faced with a challenge (be it technical, personnel or business related), Rod has the experience and ability to apply the best suited solution to resolve the problem at hand. Due to Rod's technical background and high IQ, he is not phased by new technology and loves a challenge. He is the type of manager that is ready to roll up his sleeves and get down with the troops and get his hands dirty to resolve any issues . He is a 'can do' leader who sets the example of what a person 'can do' if they apply their minds when the 'chips are down'. I found Rod to have a very sharp mind, a good sense of humour and also to lend an empathetic ear to the staff who report to him. I can highly recommend Rod for any position that he applies for and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. André Duminiet Snr Oracle Database Administrator at TFG July 31, 2017, André reported directly to Rod
Andre Duminiet: Staff
Rod has excellent IT skills and has great project management skills. He demonstrated his capability to solve problems and to deliver mission critical projects on time and on budget during his time at MHG. Rod understands how be work in a team and the need to always be client-centric. Blum Khan Business Executive July 30, 2017, Blum was senior to Rod but didn't manage Rod directly
Blum Khan: Manager
I first was involved with Rod through the growth of our oncology practice, which has an extensive footprint through a large part of South Africa, we required improved clinical record management as well as email and document management. Rod's depth of IT knowledge and breadth of strategic thought, was key in our assessment of various service providers. Rod's quick grasp of our requirements and his ability to negotiate with service providers, made it possible for us to access a very high level of IT infrastructure with extensive backup and redundancy of our documentation and emails as well as our electronic records and financial information. His assessment of our requirements for infrastructure and his management of the project, led to a "clean up" of our local service, improvement in our access to the internet and the hosting of our proprietary as well as commercial software in a "warehousing situation". The security of this, plus the IT engineering support that this garnered was invaluable. In addition, he negotiated a superb deal for desk top support and procurement. Through the linkage of this, we have achieved a standardisation throughout our practice with improvement in functionality. Rod has been part of our practice's strategic growth to a level of strength not easily seen in medical practices and the security of both financial/administrative information as well as medical and clinical records. I have always found Rod direct and easy to work with and will miss him since he has moved on from Equera Health. I can recommend him without reservation as a strategic partner and a knowledge resource for IT infrastructure. Yours sincerely, David Brittian Director Alberts Cellular Therapy and Alberts, Bouwer & iordaan FC Path (Haem) Cert. Clin. Haem
Dr. David Brittian: Customer