CIO interview: Spencer Clarkson, CTO, Verastar
Summary
“So, the ability for them to pull and push information through that digital channel is where I’d like to see us continue to go.” While Verastar has operated in some areas, such as telecommunications, for almost 20 years, it has added more – including utilities, insurance and finance – as it has grown. From a personal standpoint, Clarkson says his long experience in leading cloud-based computing initiatives at other organisations, allied to a range of techniques associated to agile software development, will help the IT team to make the step forward that the company requires. “My style is to lead from the front, to be innovative and to look at creative opportunities, rather than a serving role, which the IT leadership position might have been seen as in the past.” “We are unique in the market because we provide a portfolio of products aimed at supporting small businesses” Clarkson reports to Verastar chief executive Lee Hull. After a procurement exercise that included a consideration of both Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, Clarkson’s team created a business case and presented the potential financial implications to the company’s board last July. Also, they should have a clearer view of the additional services that we could provide to save them money, time or to help them reduce their energy footprint.” Clarkson says he is in constant communication with business stakeholders to ensure the technology systems his team are delivering are aligned with their long-term objectives.