Our team
Our ethos, way of working and our success is created by our people.
Meet our Strategic Management team – a group of likeminded people that have the ultimate responsibility for making sure that our strategy helps you achieve your requirements and objectives.
The Strategic Management Team consists of the board of Directors and 6 of the company’s most senior managers.
Peter HuntExecutive Chairman
I founded Orchard in 1979 having worked for IBM for the previous 10 years. I am now Orchard’s Executive Chairman and in that role I chair Board Meetings, provide leadership to the main Board of Directors on strategic matters and represent Orchard at a strategic level to external agencies and organisations.
I believe that the enhancements that IT can bring to businesses, public services and society as a whole are immense and I have a great enthusiasm for seeing Orchard delivering on that potential for the sectors in which we operate. In addition I want Orchard to be a great company with which to do business and also a great company to work for.
Much of my spare time is spent in trying to stay fit and healthy which involves trips to the gym, jogging and the occasional cycle ride but with a good measure of more pleasurable pastimes such as theatre, music and eating out.
Ian ShardManaging Director
I joined Orchard in 1998 initially in a project management role and progressed to Professional Services Director with overall responsibility for consultancy, project management and customer service before being appointed as Managing Director in May 2010. Prior to joining Orchard, I worked in the Social Housing sector as an Information Systems Manager where I project managed the implementation of the Orchard Housing system. I also have extensive experience of property management in both the education and public sectors.
I lead the Orchard team to ensure the continued growth, profitability and stability of the Company whilst at the same time retaining the reputation, values and culture which have earned Orchard the reputation of being an excellent company with which to do business.
Nick LambertFinance Director
I joined Orchard more than twenty years ago, and over that time, as Finance Director, I’ve helped us build the company from a very small concern to the very well established and successful business which it is today. And I still think that the best is yet to come!
I’m a law graduate and a Chartered Accountant, and I’ve used my skills to develop Orchard’s finance function and its contracts and commercial management. I’m an optimist and an enthusiast, a firm believer in the power of team working and have also always been very keen to help my colleagues develop their own personal and business skills.
Orchard has a very strong and positive organisational culture built on openness and honesty. I’d like to think that I’ve been influential in growing that culture.
Alison DavisOperations Director
I was the first home-based employee of Orchard when I joined in 1994 as the Account/Implementation Manager based in London. Having established the Southern Implementation team, I took on responsibility for the delivery of all implementation services across the country before joining the board in 2000. One of Orchard’s main strengths is the quality of our people and our positive cultural identity. Having worked closely with my colleagues to achieve Investors in People accreditation, I continued with my interest in HR and now have Board responsibility for all of our internal policies and procedures as well as our Professional Services and Customer Services teams. Prior to joining Orchard I worked in Software Sales and as an IT Project Manager in the Public Sector.
I am a keen traveller and enjoy seeing the world when I’m not working. Spending so much time in Newcastle has given me a great fondness for the North East and I like to think of myself as an ambassador for the place and its people.
John DoughtySales and Marketing Director
I was very pleased to join Orchard in 2002 as Sales Manager, became Sales Director in 2006 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2010 as Sales and Marketing Director. Although I don’t look old enough, I have worked in the ICT industry for over 30 years in both the public and private sectors covering a variety of roles from software design and development through to IT Management Consultancy and a successful career in sales and marketing.
As well as being involved in shaping the company’s overall strategy, I’m responsible for defining the sales, marketing and customer relationship management strategies which support our overall business objectives. I also enjoy having an active involvement in our product strategy. The thing I really like about Orchard is the way that we actively encourage innovation amongst our staff, which helps us to continue delivering great products and services to our customers.
To unwind I like to play a bit of golf (although I wish my clubs were a bit straighter), I’m a keen cyclist and I sometimes sit in front of the telly doing a bit of .NET programming in C# to keep my hand in.
Adrian WilsonChief Information Officer
Since joining Orchard in 1995 I have worked in a variety of roles including third party service/product delivery strategy and management, partner management, head of product development and chief technology officer. More recently I have taken on the role of chief information officer to concentrate on internal business processes, efficiencies and information management alongside overseeing the delivery of Orchard’s new information management strategy to its customers. I also chair Orchard’s strategic development group which makes recommendations on priorities and approach to new development initiatives to ensure that Orchard continues to provide the best and most relevant solutions to an ever changing market place. My spare time is spent attempting to undertake far too many outdoor activities whilst trying to encourage my two children to partake in as many as possible.
Chris MullisPST Team Manager
Before joining Orchard I worked as a programmer and systems analyst in the civil service and then in the private sector for a Lloyds’ insurance underwriting company. My first experience of Housing was working for my local council in the IT department and subsequently in the Housing Department where I first came into contact with a company called Orchard.
I joined Orchard in October 1996 as a Repairs implementor in what was then the Southern Implementation team. I also implemented Common, Property Lettings, Void Management, Right to Buy and Homelessness before taking on the challenge of Project Management. I have remained with the implementation team through many changes as it has grown with the business over the years into the current Professional Services team. As a team we are very proud of the good reputation for service delivery that we have built up and constantly strive to maintain the high standard of delivery that our customers expect.
Before I made my first foray in the IT world many years ago I had a keen interest in all types of dance so although I usually avoid all types of reality and talent shows on TV you will find me glued to ‘Strictly’ on Saturday evenings in the autumn.
Andy GoughSales and Marketing Manager
Since joining in 1996 I have been involved in a variety of business areas within Orchard, including Development, Customer Services, Professional Services and Sales. Having helped establish the successful OpenAccounts business unit during the late 90’s with Adrian I then took on responsibility for the creation of the Finance Sales Team in 2002, which led to full responsibility for the delivery of Orchard’s sales activity in 2005. Following on from my keen interest in marketing activities and having been instrumental in the creation of our Annual Customer Conference which started in 2007, I am now responsible for the operational aspects of our sales and marketing activities. Prior to joining Orchard I worked for the Sage Group plc for 4 years in customer service and development roles.
In my fifteenth year with Orchard I still feel as passionate about what Orchard stands for as I did when I joined – in a nutshell, we care about our staff and our customers and work together as a team to strive for excellence in everything we do.
My two young children and wife keep me busy when I’m not at work when we enjoy cycling and going to the cinema together. I am also an avid Newcastle United season ticket holder and am in the process of indoctrinating my daughter into the clan with her second season of colouring in during the match!
Paul CrennellTechnical Manager
I began working for Orchard in 1993 as part of my Sandwich Degree course. After University I returned to Orchard in 1995 as an Application Developer. I particularly enjoyed working with and helping our customers and in time moved into an Implementation role advising customers on our solutions and how they could help improve their business processes.
Technology has always been my passion and after many successful housing implementations I transferred to the ICT Team in 2001 as an ICT Consultant. I now have overall operational responsibility for Orchard’s ICT and Technical teams, working with these teams is great fun and it’s a privilege to work with such professional, intelligent and dedicated people.
In 2011 I was appointed to Orchard’s Strategic Management Team. I also chair the Strategic Technology Group, in addition to being a member of the Strategic Development Group, all of which allow me to become more involved and contribute to Orchard’s product, development and ICT strategies.
I have had many great opportunities at Orchard which has given me a great insight into the business and our products, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Aidan DunphyProduct Manager
Since joining Orchard in 1997 I have been involved in most of Orchard’s business activities including Development, Business Intelligence, Managed Service, Customer Services, ICT, Professional Services and eGovernment. In 2007 I was appointed Product Manager.
I join up the commercial and technical teams, developing and communicating our product strategy to Sales and Marketing, and driving product development in response to commercial opportunities and market need. I also head the Rapid Application Development team who work in partnership with customers to create new solutions using the Orchard Housing toolkit.
As the father of three very active sons I don’t have any spare time, but if I did I would walk the fells of the Lake District whilst listening to jazz and reading pop science or modern classics.
John LetticeDevelopment Manager
Since my first IT job way back in 1986, I have worked mainly for software houses delivering solutions to the legal, financial and insurance sectors in a wide variety of positions from Programmer to Head of Development. With a broad technical background, good business acumen and belief in the value of people and team work, I am able to deliver IT solutions that provide true business benefits and make a difference to people and organisations.
I enjoy learning new skills, which over the years have included a host of different technologies, programming languages and an MBA. To relax I enjoy jogging and participate in the Great North Run held annually here in Newcastle.
John HuntVestri Business Manager
I began working for Orchard in May 2011. I joined the Web Technology Group shortly after starting with the business and I now head up the team. The main focus of the team’s efforts is the continued development and the commercialisation of the Vestri platform. Vestri is a .Net based product which supports several applications. Of these Orchard Performance Management, Orchard Collaboration Management and Orchard Content Management are the most important and they are our focus currently. We believe that the Vestri platform represents an exciting opportunity for Orchard and the technology will become an integral part of our entire product offering. We are already in the final development stages of integrating our performance reporting functionality with the Orchard Housing and Open Accounts products.
Prior to joining Orchard I had a varied career. I started off working in the consumer goods industry and spent eight years in Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia in marketing and sales roles. Following that I completed an MBA at the London Business School which led to a career switch into Investment Banking. I worked for two years in the City before taking up the role at Orchard.
My spare time is usually spent with my wife and son shuttling between birthday parties, the gym and various parts of the North East. We try and get away as often as we can to the sunnier parts of the world.