Who Are 1st Thought?
1st Thought are the UK’s leading niche consultancy that specialise in delivering process, business rule and integration solutions.
We help our customers achieve outstanding operational efficiencies by enabling them to better manage and control their key processes and business decisions.
We are utterly committed to delivering customer success through our expert and highly focussed team of excellent people.
Find out more about what we do.
The Management Team
Alan Bates (Chairman)
Group Managing Director of Hoskyns in the 1970’s, which was at the time Europe’s largest IT consultancy. In 1994 as Chairman of the Cable Communications Association, Alan took responsibility for the $1billion NASDAQ flotation of Bell Cablemedia. In 1999 Alan was a finalist in the Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. A veteran of many business success stories, Alan now enjoys working with a select group of high performing, high growth companies.
Nigel Winship (Managing Director)
A technology entrepreneur and IT Delivery professional, Nigel founded 1st Thought in 2001. Prior to his role as MD of 1st Thought, Nigel led a number of successful and high profile process management programmes for the customers such as O2, Barclays and LloydsTSB.
Mick Abbott (Operations Director)
In his ten years as Professional Services Director for Staffware (now part of TIBCO software), Mick built, shaped and ran the UK’s leading pool of process management delivery expertise. Prior to that Mick founded and co-owned Software Support, which was acquired by Staffware in the early 1990’s.
Nigel Walters (Technical Director)
The technical brains behind 1st Thought! Nigel is a talented and highly experienced IT transformation consultant. As one of Staffware’s top performing delivery professionals prior to joining 1st Thought. Nigel has worked with many blue chip customers across the UK and Europe.
Wayne French (Financial Director)
Since qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant Wayne has held senior financial and managerial positions in a range of service and manufacturing industries. Wayne has extensive experience of the aerospace and defence sector, as FD, and latterly as MD with Schlumberger and Cobham Plc. During his five years at Cobham the company grew its annual revenues from £70m to £200m.
In addition to the board we have a core of highly experienced consultants (the ‘A’ team!) who drive our engagements and ensure our success.