Strategist
Johannesburg Area, South Africa
- Current
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- Strategist at Cycan
- Past
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- CEO at DVT Gauteng
- Managing Director at Software Futures
- Product Manager at IBM South Africa
- Technical Architect at Sanlam
- Education
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- University of Cape Town
- University of South Africa (UNISA)
- University of Cape Town
- Recommended
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5 people have recommended Derek - Connections
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244
connections
- Industry
- Management Consulting
- Websites
Derek Hughes’s Summary
I am an out of the box thinker, who is passionate about everything I undertake. I am a self-starter and motivator, and am inspired by challenge and driven to succeed.
My 20 year career including 15 years experience in information technology and 5 in executive business management has equipped me with a broad range of skills, particularly on the topics of business strategy, sales and marketing, innovation, IT alignment, people leadership and motivation.
I am an accomplished public speaker, strategic thinker and dynamic facilitator, and assist companies in understanding the business implications and opportunities made possible and enabled by people and technology. I facilitate the strategic planning process for businesses and help to translate their strategy into action.
Derek Hughes’s Specialties:
Strategy, facilitation, marketing, sales, business management, motivation, leadership, financial modelling
Derek Hughes’s Experience
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Non-exec Director
DVT
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
September 2007 — Present (1 year 3 months)
DVT provides tailor-made software solutions.
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Strategist
LifeWorld
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
March 2004 — Present (4 years 9 months)
I am responsible for strategy and assist with new business development at LifeWorld and also provide strategy consulting to LifeWorld's clients.
LifeWorld is dedicated to devising and managing customer and employee relationship management strategies, for a select range of clients and industries. Its knowledge of life stages and events coupled with expertise in the communications and marketing industry enables us to create unique solutions which may be used by our clients to attract, acquire and retain profitable customers, and effective employees. -
Owner
Vistar
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Management Consulting industry)
January 2004 — Present (4 years 11 months)
I am one of five partners in Vistar, a business accelerator. Vistar was originally founded by me in January 2004.
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Strategist
Cycan
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Staffing and Recruiting industry)
January 2004 — Present (4 years 11 months)
I am reponsible for the strategic planning at Cycan and chair the board in a non-executive capacity.
Cycan has carefully constructed a cohesive set of services, and solutions to assist companies in assembling the best possible leadership that it can optimally develop and leverage. These include Executive Search and Headhunting, Executing Coaching and Business Transformation Consulting. -
CEO
DVT Gauteng
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
January 2004 — June 2007 (3 years 6 months)
I run the Johannesburg based operating subsidiary of DVT.
DVT delivers critical business systems to organisations by converting commercial ideas into process, system and software solutions. By combining the disciplines of project management, business analysis and software development, the company approaches each assignment with a focus on its unique requirements.
Taking a shared-risk approach, DVT offers a fixed-price fee structure. This enables clients to eliminate the normal risks associated with complex systems development.
DVT is MetaStorm Partner and a VAR for Solutional.
DVT has offices in the Cape and Gauteng. -
Managing Director
Software Futures
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
April 1997 — September 2003 (6 years 6 months)
I started the software development business of Software Futures in 1997 and grew the company to over 500 people by 2002. During this period we were acquired first by CCH and then by MGX (both public companies).
Software Futures developed bespoke software, sold and implemented packaged software, provided IT consulting and outsourcing services. -
Product Manager
IBM South Africa
(Public Company; Management Consulting industry)
1995 — 1997 (2 years)
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Technical Architect
Sanlam
(Public Company; Management Consulting industry)
1988 — 1995 (7 years)
Derek Hughes’s Education
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University of Cape Town
B.Comm (Hons) (incomplete), Information Technology, 1994 — 1994
Clearly a formal education is not for me. I was bored from the first class and the only positive from this experience was networking with fellow students. (There was no social life this time :) )
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University of South Africa (UNISA)
B.Sc (Incomplete), Computer Science, 1987 — 1987
Part time study was no more fulfilling or intesting than being on campus. I really enjoyed the programming assignments (even without access to a computer) and could have done without the rest. (As I was in the army at the time, social life was limited :) )
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University of Cape Town
B.Sc Eng. (incomplete), Electrical Engineering, 1984 — 1985
The only thing I enjoyed about universtiy was access to powerful computers - and therefore spent ALL my time in the campus computer center to the detriment of all my subjects but computer science. (OK, the social life wasn't so bad :) )
Additional Information
Derek Hughes’s Websites:
Derek Hughes’s Interests:
strategy, motivation, leadership, technology, scuba diving, technical diving, cave diving, rock climbing, flying trapeze, reading, movies, good food, fine wine
Derek Hughes’s Groups:
Deep Thought
Derek Hughes’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
