Ben Couzens

Download CV in Microsoft Word.doc format                  See Ben Couzens' CV on LinkedIn.com

A Business Leader with outstanding success in Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, USA and Middle East in turnaround, start-up, international business creation, professional services, technical and IT innovation, offshoring, and building world-class teams. Industries include Oil and Gas, ERP, IT, Software, Financial Services, Consultancy, Manufacturing and Civil and Structural Engineering.

Click on the links in this table for versions of Ben Couzens' CV highlighting specific experiences and skills
General CV Project Management CV Consultancy CV Business Development CV
IT/IS CV IT Project Management CV  SAP ERP CV Senior/Board level work CV
Software Development CV Oil and Gas CV Energy CV Renewable Energy CV
Banking and Finance CV Telecom CV Engineering CV Manufacturing CV
Relocation Microsoft Word.doc CV LinkedIn CV iProfile CV

Combining innovative Business Acumen with Technical Flair has driven my outstanding success in Management, Professional Services, Project Management, Consultancy, IT, ERP, SAP, Financial Services, Banking, Engineering, Manufacturing, Oil and Energy working in Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, USA, India, Philippines and UAE. I particularly enjoy building and leading international teams ranging from a few to a few hundred but am equally comfortable working alone.

Work experience includes UK, USA, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuanian, Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, India, Philippines

 2008 March to 2010 July   Knowledge Reservoir Oil and Gas Consultancy Services and Business Development Europe, Africa, Middle East

2004 to now   Independent Consultant

2003 to 2004    Misys International Banking Financial Services Software T/o £1bn
                        Global Product Services Director

Selected to direct 300 staff worldwide developing and supporting financial software and to introduce and implement wide ranging change

1996 to 2003    Deloitte & Touche    Global Auditing and Consulting T/o $12bn
                        Partner in charge SAP in 17 countries

Selected to develop Consultancy in Czech Republic

1995-1996    Coopers & Lybrand  Global Auditing and Consulting T/o $8bn           
       SAP Consultancy Service Leader

Invited to establish SAP Consultancy in Czech Republic

1995            SAP R/3 Academy, SAP Berlin Germany 

Residential training in the SAP R/3 Academy in SAP Berlin Germany.  SAP certified by examinations as SAP Financial Consultant.

1993-1995    PE International        Consulting T/o $300m        
       Project Director

1992 – 1993    Warwick University.  MBA Master of Business Administration

1986 – 1992    Bowater          Global Manufacturing T/o $3bn    
         European Development Director MiTek Inc T/o $150m

Approached to turnaround the company

1985 – 1986    Skanska          Engineering Company T/o $17bn 
         Technology Director DATECH

Approached to create new IT software company

1982 – 1985    M H Anderson Consultants             $500m Technical Consultancy
          Head of IT & Software Development

1981 – 1982    Harris & Sutherland Consultants   $70m Engineering Consultancy
          Senior Engineer        (also seconded ‘78–‘79) 

1975 – 1981    John Laing ($1bn Engineering Company)     
          Project Engineer (UK and Poland)

1975                 British Antarctic Survey      

1974                 Geoscience Consulting       

Qualifications 

1971-1975        MA Engineering
Cambridge University 

1992-1993        MBA Master of Business Administration
Warwick University 

1980                 Chartered European Engineer.  Chartered Civil Engineer    
Special Commendation for Excellence from Institution of Civil Engineers 

1990                 Chartered IT Professional   

1996                 Certified Financial Consultant
SAP Academy Berlin 

2006                PRINCE2 Certified Advanced Project Manager 

2007                Non-Executive Director      
Cranfield University (Residential Training)

 Languages    

French - business, Polish, Romanian, Czech - useful

Personal

British.  Married, 3 children.  Willing to relocate.  Enjoy travel.  

Currently location provides easy travel to Heathrow, London, Bracknell and Reading by train and motorway.

References from LinkedIn

 “Ben is the best boss I ever had.”  Attila Feher, Senior ABAP developer, reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“Ben is a bright, energetic, client focused, "can do" professional. He recruited then mentored and grew a body of professionals into a seasoned team of professionals, who shared his vision and unwavering passion to quality and client service. I had the pleasure of having him as my colleague and seeing, "up close", his single-minded focus on client service and quality.”  Azam Sher. managed Ben indirectly at Deloitte & Touche

 “Ben was responsible for our implementation of SAP - the most comprehensive in CEE - including a total BPR. He is a great guy to work with and very professional. Due to his skills we managed to succeed. My best recommendations!”  Dennis Thaagaard was Ben's client

 “Ben stood out as an exceptionally visionary and energetic leader, rapidly growing his SAP consulting practice into the largest and most profitable service line in our region. At the same time Ben demonstrated tremendous "people skills", generating enthusiasm wherever he went and gaining the support and respect of clients, colleagues and staff alike.”  Steve Knabe worked directly with Ben at Deloitte & Touche

"I was impressed by Ben's capability to build successful consulting business from zero to multi million business.  He had vision and made it into a reality.” Egils Simanovskis, SAP Senior Consultant reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“Some people understand technology, fewer understand technology and have the skills to deliver, rare are the individuals who combine the two with a deep understanding of business issues. Ben utilises this valuable combination of skills to great effect. Together we developed a business plan for SAP services, Ben made sure he delivered...”  Mats Beem managed Ben at Coopers & Lybrand

"Ben Couzens is a brilliant man. He has the ability to grasp incredibly complex systems-related issues, and to connect powerfully with human beings in meaningful ways -- a person who is a rare combination of technically gifted and interpersonally skilled.” Lenann McGookey Gardner, President, Lenann McGookey Gardner Management Consulting, Inc.

“Ben was my boss for almost 6 years at Deloitte&Touche. Ben was a exceptionally great manager and excellent leader. He inspired us all to do our best and earned our respect almost immediately with his depth of knowledge, experience and patience. Always able to motivate people and lead them to success.” Frantisek Honsa, Manager for SAP, Deloitte & Touche reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I worked under Ben at Deloitte in Prague and found him an excellent manager with an enviable understanding of the Central and Eastern European business environment.” Dan Taylor, Senior Management Consultant, Deloitte Central Europe, Prague, Deloitte & Touche reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I was impressed by Ben's capability to build successful consulting business from zero to multi million business. He had vision and made it into a reality.” Egils Simanovskis, SAP Senior Consultant, Deloitte reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I fully subscribe to my Deloitte former colleagues comments on the Internet, with Mr. Couzens I had the best and happiest time in my entire professional life. We regretted very much his departure from DTCE because without him good projects became scarce.” Cristina Chiriac, SAP Senior Consultant, Deloitte reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

Click here for View Ben Couzens's profile on LinkedIn

Interests

I enjoy my family, socialising, sailing, cycling, rambling, opera, travelling and experiencing new national cultures. I am a violinist in Reading Symphony Orchestra, I am the Cambridge University and Daily Telegraph expat mentor for Prague

Wokingham Bracknell
Reading England
Ben@Couzens.org

Cerny Vul Prague
Czech Republic
+44 784 135 3860

I am looking for a new opportunity to fully utilise the skills I have developed over many years of successfully creating profitable new international businesses, utilising a wide range of technologies, IT and knowledge and experience of many industries. 

I believe that I am particularly effective in roles that combine several of the following:

-        building teams in offshore locations such as Eastern Europe, Philippines, India, Middle East
-        designing and implementing offshore development strategies
-        a business role with a high level of technical content, such as IT, IS, telecom, engineering, Oil and Gas or manufacturing  
-        directing software implementation or bespoke development      
-        driving business strategy by the enhanced use of technology     
-        an international dimension in either a global or regional role       
-        creating business growth or geographic expansion

The next opportunity could be either strategic or operational, in either industry or consulting.  A key strength is my ability to combine profit focused business growth with technology and international operations.

I thrive in challenging environments and derive great satisfaction from the excellent relationships of trust and friendship I build both with my clients and staff.  I particularly enjoy identifying strategic business opportunities, designing and championing a business plan, and then driving change to achieve rapid business success.

Yours faithfully,

B C Couzens

Ben Couzens