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Derek Essen

Derek joined Information Systems Associates in 1998 after seventeen years as joint principal of a small Management Information Systems consultancy (Doran Essen Consultants Ltd). His first degree was in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol University, and his early career was in Production Management in the Motor industry. He then gained an MBA at the London Business School, and worked as an internal consultant within the Pearson Group before becoming Group Planning Manager of Doulton Glass Industries.

In the late 1970’s he recognised the future for the use of microcomputers in business, and created one of the first business microcomputer networks for the Management Information systems (MIS) at Doulton Glass. In 1981 he started his own business as an MIS consultant with particular emphasis on the use of personal computers, and this grew into Doran Essen Consultants Ltd in 1984.

Business Information systems for a wide range of blue chip clients led ultimately to the creation of more general computer systems and Derek thus gained a very wide range of experience across different software platforms and diverse business areas.

At Information Systems, Derek brings considerable experience in gaining a rapid understanding of a client's business, its needs, priorities, business processes and its work flows. He is also a hands-on team leader with in-depth Microsoft .NET skills including C#, SQL Server, VB.NET and ASP.NET. He is thus ideally qualified to make the critical judgments necessary for a successful software implementation project - when to use packages, when to dovetail in existing systems and when to create new functionality from scratch.

In addition to his client facing roles, Derek is Director of Finance of Information Systems. Outside work he is a passionate classical musician and an accomplished violinist.