Christopher Pickard

New startup, currently implementing a variety of web based business models

This role involved managing E-commerce and web design teams, as well as a team of contractors in the Digital Division. The department was focused on delivery of all web based applications and designs for all of Saga’s Group businesses, Personal Finance and Saga Holidays businesses. As well as duties similar to the E-commerce manager role previously undertaken, this role expanded my responsibilities including : managing departmental budgets, attending board meetings, pay reviews, departmental reviews.

As a result of the Saga-AA merger, this role involved a great deal of project planning, creation of detailed requirements specifications in its early stages and a high degree of communication at all levels within Saga and The AA. This was an extremely important project for both organisations and regular updates to steering committees and the

Managed an eight strong E-Commerce development team and contractor resources, focusing upon delivery of insurance E-commerce applications, including aggregator and affiliate developments. Duties included: - Managing multiple projects, resource allocation & estimating timescales, recruitment & appraisals, reporting project updates to management teams and steering committees, liaising with relevant departments such as UAT & Internet Marketing and implementing new change control procedures for the E-Commer

Worked in a team of four with Group wide scope, carrying out a variety of consultancy tasks including: Business Process Reviews (BPR’s), Project Management, Creation of Business Cases & TOR’s, Competitor Analysis, Cost Reduction Reviews (Saving £6M)and Post Implementation Reviews.

Developed various E-commerce applications such as: - Online Quotation Engines for all the major Saga Insurance Products (Motor, Travel, House etc.) and their integration with the TIA backend system, as well as Online Shops. In addition to the Oracle skills listed below the following web development skills were acquired: ASP, Javascript, CSS, SQL Server, Data Encryption, Search Engine Optimisation and Principles of Affiliate Marketing.

Worked upon various projects involving the Saga TIA insurance system using an Oracle database with the following skills: SQL, PL/SQL, UNIX and Oracle Forms.

I completed the MBA in my space time, whilst working at Saga full time.