Markus Witcomb

Current

Test Manager at Environment Agency

Past

Performance Test Manager at Zurich Financial Services
Owner at QAIST Limited
Programme Test Manager at Zurich Financial Services

Business Test Manager at THINC Group
Test Strategy Consultant at Capgemini
Test Delivery Authority at Capita Life and Pensions
Business Process Test Manager at Capita Life and Pensions / Zurich
Student at Training Course ISEB Practitioner London
Test Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland
Programme Test Manager at Capgemini
Test Manager at Capgemini
Programme Test Manager at Capgemini
Test Analyst at Morse Hughes Rae
Senior Team Leader at EDS
QA/Test Consultant at Woolwich/Barclays Bank
Test Consultant at Volkswagen Group
Test Automation Lead at EDS
Test Analyst at EDS

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Education

Blessed Robert Johnson College
The University of Birmingham

Recommended

13 people have recommended Markus

Connections

314 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

Markus Witcomb’s Summary

A clear understanding of Test/QA methodologies i.e. Test planning process, Software planning process (PRINCE, RUP, CMM, ISO 9000), Testing/Software life cycles and Testing techniques (System, Integration, UAT, Automation, Performance/Scalability and Security). Comprehensive working knowledge of windows, database developments, general computer architecture, Office suites, Process software applications, auditing & risk management software this includes documentation such as Test Methodologies and Incident Management Reporting/Tools.

I have strong experience in the following areas: -
• Test Strategy and Test Approach development
• Test planning and metrics reporting
• Lifecycle methodologies - Iterative (RUP), Sequential (Waterfall) and ‘V’-model
• Definition and implementation of testing guidelines and processes
• Introduction of Test Management Tools, incl. Test Director and Test Manager
• Managing all stages of testing throughout the SDLC
• Change/Problem management & Risk Management
• Ensuring strong channels of communications exist and remain between the test teams and other work areas
• Excellent written and verbal communication

Markus Witcomb’s Specialties:

Rational Enterprise (Rational Robot, Test Manager), QARun, Oracle, DB2, VBScript, Excel, UNIX, T-Plan, MS Project, PMW, OpenWorkbench, MS Office, Mercury Load Runner, Mercury Test Director, Astra Load Test, Winrunner, AstraQuick Test, Astra Site Manager, QA Director, Oracle TOAD, iLOG, WAS6, FileNet, Mercury Quality Center (9.2), QTP.

Markus Witcomb’s Experience

Test Manager

Environment Agency

(Government Agency; Environmental Services industry)

September 2009 — Present (3 months)

Test Management on a number of various projects including PGP Encryption, GSI implementation, Upgraded 1GB communication line and security devices, MS Patching and upgrades to a number of EA public facing sites.
Performance Test Manager

Zurich Financial Services

(Public Company; ZURN; Insurance industry)

May 2009 — September 2009 (5 months)

To lead a performance test team to prove the sustainability of the Zurich Shared Platform, which currently supports five ‘mission critical’ applications, for the next 12 months growth. The role involved the definition of a performance strategy, linking in with the engineering group to define and report on KPI measurements; introduction of strategic performance tooling and monitoring, and analysis and reporting to Senior European Executives to provide confidence that the platform can support its anticipated future growth.

The team consisted of 5 performance consultants with a direct reporting line to myself, and a matrix-managed team from supporting areas; Unix engineering, Wintel, DB2, Operational Staff etc.. The team were located within the UK and Switzerland, where I was predominately based.
Owner

QAIST Limited

(Information Technology and Services industry)

August 2005 — August 2009 (4 years 1 month)

Director of IT services with QAIST Limited, specialising in Test Consultancy & Training. Clients include Royal Bank of Scotland, Zurich Financial Services and Capita Life and Pensions.
Programme Test Manager

Zurich Financial Services

(Public Company; ZURN; Insurance industry)

May 2007 — May 2009 (2 years 1 month)

A major programme of work was initiated within the UK Claims Division to transform the way that claims would be handled within the UK. Working within the Business Change & IT group, I was involved with a programme of work to enable a common customer experience in Claims through a single user front-end. The programme's objectives where to drive efficiency and effectiveness of business process, and reduction in claims leakage whilst at the same time driving flexibility to accommodate the need for change more effectively in terms of cost and speed for the future.

The introduction of a new BPM workflow (with associated changes and additions of new business processes) and the introduction of an electronic case file solution where delivered to both UK and offshore claims teams. The solution had to integrate with the organisations existing Mainframe systems and the introduction of SOA technologies.

The role involved the development of a programme wide test strategy, defect management process; including the introduction of Quality Center, management of 3rd party testing up to and including functional system testing, the definition of systems integration and business acceptance testing (weighted moreso to the development and proving of the business processes), performance testing and associated resourcing across all testing streams.

The role also included financial controls and stakeholder reporting on a regular basis. The team consisted of 12 business users and 9 external testing resources.
Business Test Manager

THINC Group

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Financial Services industry)

April 2007 — May 2007 (2 months)

To provide test consultancy on the business testing required to support an implementation of a 3rd party CRM system across the entire Group.

Intelliflo provided a 3rd party vanilla product (Intelligent Office) to THINC, where the Group then customised the product to meet their business requirement. I was responsible for the development of a test strategy and subsequent detailed test plan on how we would implement the solution across the Group after completing a 40 day business pilot assessment of the solution within 3 offices; London, Camberley and Winchester.

The role also involved the implementation of a web-based defect tracking tool to be used across the 3 sites to track and manage issues found during the pilot and also the development of the management process to collate and track progress against plan.
Test Strategy Consultant

Capgemini

(Public Company; CAP; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 2007 — April 2007 (4 months)

Engaged during the define phase of three (3) separate projects to produce 3 test strategies that would provide guidance and scope for the testing required transitioning into the design phase. The strategies were used to provide an initial costing back to the client on the testing required and resource profile(s).

The 3 projects were all within the Technology Refresh Programme and included: Disaster Recovery for National Systems, Network Convergence and Mobile Workforce capabilities.

The define phases for each of the three projects were based on a 5 week vigorous schedule where we had to demonstrate and identify the key product risks and provide mitigating factors to support future test design. Each of the three strategies had to undergo a commercial review which involved presenting the strategies to the Architects Design Office (ADO), the client, Project Management and Stakeholders.
Test Delivery Authority

Capita Life and Pensions

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

June 2006 — December 2006 (7 months)

Advising Testing best practice, formulation of test strategies (project and end to end), test plans, resourcing test professionals, defining best practice with outsourced clients Delivery specialist, with project management capabilities and responsibilities in the testing arena. Test process improvement, test metrics, infrastructure testing, UAT and pre-production responsibilities.
Business Process Test Manager

Capita Life and Pensions / Zurich

(Public Company; CPI; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 2006 — June 2006 (6 months)

In order to meet A-Day compliance regulations in 2006, Zurich Financial services launched a new set of Pension and Life Assurance products into the market place. This was a strategic implementation utilising a 3rd party off-shore product called Elixir from a company called Mastek. As Business Test Manager I was responsible for the definition and implementation of the test strategy, test scheduling, definition and implementation of a defect management process, resourcing of IT test professionals and management of Business SME’s and Operational users. The main challenge was to provide guidance to business users on test process and the use of test tools such as test director for the use of defect management and test condition management. The testing incorporated User Acceptance Testing, Business Process Testing and Operational Readiness. I was also responsible for the set-up of a model office.
Student

Training Course ISEB Practitioner London

(Information Technology and Services industry)

2005 — 2005 (less than a year)
Test Manager

Royal Bank of Scotland

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Banking industry)

August 2005 — December 2005 (5 months)

The role involved the re-definition of the Test Strategy, Test Plan and test schedule that would define the Integration and UAT test phases of the Project. Reviewing the test phases that preceeded the Integration test phase to ensure that the testing undertaken meet the objective of the test phase and did not duplicate previous test activities and to implement a risk-based test approach. This allowed the Project to deliver this phase of testing within 6 weeks, 2 weeks ahead of the previous plan, thereby allowing the Bank a 4 week contingency period prior to Implementation. Working closely with the Credit Reference Agencies (Equifax, Experian and Call Credit) I was responsible for ensuring that our test requirement was clearly communicated and that deliverables from each of the agencies were achieved on target and against plan.
Programme Test Manager

Capgemini

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

March 2005 — August 2005 (6 months)

Operating within a management role I was employed to lead a Programme of work and revivement of the test team, which required the management of four individual delivery streams and to ensure the integration of these systems with the entire Inland Revenue estate for a pre-determined legislative implementation date. The role involved the management of 34 testers, which included, 4 team leaders, & 2 Test Managers and were a combination of contractors & permanent staff, reviewing current test processes and techniques and implementing improvements in order to attain better efficiencies, higher productivity and consistent reporting and delivery.
Test Manager

Capgemini

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

November 2004 — April 2005 (6 months)

Operating a hands-on level, my main role involved the development, integration and implementation of the testing lifecycle and successful operational delivery of a Payments Framework which was required to support the payment mechanism in which the payment schedules would be made directly to all Financial Institutes that were eligible. Key responsibilities involved the production and management of a risk based approach, communication of the QA strategy to both Senior Management and the client, leading and executing testing activities within the following test phases - Functional, Integration and Acceptance.
Programme Test Manager

Capgemini

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

August 2003 — October 2004 (1 year 3 months)

Within this highly demanding role, the systems, which I helped deliver, migrated the presentation layer of 5 existing legacy systems through the use of a 3rd party conversion software (Seagull) onto web-based technologies. The governance included full system life cycle, from Component Testing, System Testing, Integration and User Acceptance Test. Working with multiple clients, we migrated 5 systems and successfully rolled out the project to the Live user population (20,000 users) for a period of 6 months. My main duties included the production of test assets such as Test Strategy, definition and implementation of a Risk Based Test approach, ensuring that all testing carried out complied to all business areas within the Company. Reporting to Senior Management on a weekly basis on risks, metrics, defects, financials and progress. I had to work closely with the client to ensure that any slippage against plan could be managed and that appropriate risk mitigation routes where actionned.
Test Analyst

Morse Hughes Rae

(Public Company; Information Technology and Services industry)

2002 — 2002 (less than a year)
Senior Team Leader

EDS

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

October 2001 — June 2002 (9 months)

Operating at a senior level, I was responsible for the design and execution of System, Integration and UAT testing. This involved liaison with all departments (including the client) in order to agree and initiate procedures to ensure smooth and effective software/hardware releases and upgrades. Part of my role involved the implementation of the defect tracking and management tool and training/supporting of an 8-person test team. Automation test tool (Compuware: QaRun) were used in order to maximise cost and performance efficiencies with a small number of testers. Other duties included production of high and lower level test artefacts such as Test plans, Test approach, metrics collation and reporting. I was also heavily involved in the creation of different testing environments in order to ensure they matched or reflected production.
QA/Test Consultant

Woolwich/Barclays Bank

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Banking industry)

August 2000 — September 2001 (1 year 2 months)

Working for an Outsource consultancy at the Woolwich, my duties involved the Design and Implementation of the Defect Tracking Tool - QA-Track Record. Designing a front end to suite the needs of these Fast Track Projects, which included Wap, Web, Call Centre and IDTV applications. Using an Oracle Database as the Backend to store Defects, Run Queries and pull back reports. The project also involved the automation of the Woolwich HomeSite, which included applications such as Web Bank, E-Mortgages, Loans, Travel Insurance, Health Insurance, Credit Cards, Credit Control Management and Money Management. Using Mercury Winner 6.0, QA Run and Web Link Checker to provide the Woolwich with a fully automated regression solution, which reduced expenditure in both cost and time by approximately 70%.
Test Consultant

Volkswagen Group

(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1999 — July 2000 (11 months)

Involved at a operational levels of problem solving and testing. Introducing and implementing different system and methodologies within problematic areas within the business. Ensure that all systems were UAT ready for share allocation weekend. The testing of Oracle database in order to ensure that the system would correctly allocate the specified amount of shares to those Customers with Authorised Codes. Management of email processes ensuring that Filters and streams were correct, in order to deal with the thousand of application and confirmation emails. Ensuring that a system was implemented to deal with over 15,000 bounced emails. This included liaison with Major Email Service Providers (ESP) in order to gain a clear understanding of how each ESP dealt with incorrect Emails ensuring that all bounce back emails were dealt with in a timely manner.
Test Automation Lead

EDS

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1998 — August 1999 (1 year )

Role included the evaluation and implementation of an automated test tools and processes to be rolled-out across the testing areas over a period of 6-9 months. Designed data driven automation Framework (Compuware: QaRun), which were used to form the basis for improving efficiencies over a 10-14 month improvement plan. The automated scripts where used extensively during the regression activity to provide repeatability and accuracy. As part of the End to End team involved in creating and executing the Regression Pack.
Test Analyst

EDS

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1997 — September 1998 (1 year 1 month)

My main responsibility was for ensuring quality assurance throughout the newly formed test team. The work involved setting up processes (CMM, TMM) for managing new projects, new releases, new functionality, system and software configuration, testing process and auditing. My role also entailed testing of the business process for the collection of Corporation Tax using both manual and automated testing techniques (Seque: Silk Test) I was also responsible for proving the batch processing and the integration of business data with external systems. I used QA Director for storing all front-end manual and automated scripts.