Meet the team

Nick Thompson

CEO

Nick joined One Beyond in 1997 as a teenage junior programmer whilst still in full time education. He gradually worked his way up the company and became an expert Solution Architect for the business, responsible for designing and implementing a number of mission critical software systems, some still in use today.

After 16 years in the business, Nick completed an MBO to take ownership and control of One Beyond in 2013. After a further 7 years of rapid and ambitious growth, Nick secured investment from a private equity firm in 2020 and is now CEO of the Group.

Nick is responsible for the company strategy, heading up the executive team and reporting to the investment board. In his limited spare time, Nick enthusiastically plays classical piano.

Péter Zentai

Chief Technology Officer

Péter wrote his first web application in 1994 just a couple of months after the NCSA HTTPd server became first available for commercial use. Later that year he left university to be head of technology in Hungary’s first web application agency. During his professional career, Péter has founded multiple (4) Internet start-ups and had successful financial exits with all of them. Before joining One Beyond, Péter spent the last 10 years as CEO + CTO of a private equity backed business.

James O'Donnovan

Chief Operating Officer

A qualified Chartered Accountant with a background in consultancy and large-scale managed services, James joined One Beyond as Chief Operating Officer having had a successful 9 years in PE-backed technology businesses; focussing on scale-up challenges associated with moving from founder-run businesses to being more team driven. His most relevant previous role was Chief Operating Officer at Infinity Works, which was successfully sold to Accenture in 2021.

James is a highly energetic and passionate business leader with a strong focus on leadership skills and nurturing a strong people culture. He is a problem solver at heart who loves the challenge presented by fast and ever-changing businesses. The one constant is the customer always needs to be at the core of the decision-making process; they are the reason we exist. James describes himself as pragmatic, approachable and always available (unless with his family or in a swimming pool!)

Adam Bell

Chief People Officer

Adam brings with him over 15 years of experience from Senior HR roles in multiple industries.

He has held Global positions for large Corporate Organisations and has had responsibility for teams across the world, looking after anything from Sales and R&D, to back office and warehouse operations.

What keeps driving Adam in his career is a passion to make continuous improvements, allowing the people to develop and the Company to grow with them.

Susan Cummings

Chief Financial Officer

With 30 years of financial experience gathered across Africa and the UK, Susan has spent the last 10 years working as CFO in private equity owned businesses. Having obtained university degrees in both Accounting and Logistics, Susan went on to become a fellow member of CIMA in 2011 and brings with her a wealth of experience in financial stewardship and stakeholder management.

Susan’s familiarity with acquisitions, refinancing and exit processes will support the Group’s ambitious growth strategy.

Victor Perez del Postigo

Managing Director, Spain

Víctor has a degree in Telecommunication Engineering and started his professional career 15 years ago as a software developer. Since then, he has held a number of different roles before becoming the Managing Director of One Beyond in Spain.

As Managing Director, his main goal is to maximise the satisfaction levels of our customers, as well as our developers. He thinks that the success of any business is when all parties involved feel happy and that’s when you get the best possible result.

Alexis Shirtliff

Head of Software Engineering, UK

Alexis started out his software career in the mid 90s, developing commercial web sites and applications.

Since gaining an MEng (Hons) Software Engineering degree from Sheffield University, he has worked across a number of industries designing and delivering web, mobile and desktop based software systems.

Alexis is a strong advocate of continually improving development practices and knowledge. In his spare time, Alexis is a keen cook, and marathon runner.

Andrew Ellingford

Head of Delivery, UK

Andrew has always had a strong interest in computers but it was a Computing science BSc (Hons) degree that really set him up to being a professional web developer, an accomplished solutions architect and SQL expert.

As Head of Delivery in the UK, Andrew is responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of projects to high profile clients.

Emily Thompson

Treasury Manager

Emily started her career as a nurse in the NHS in 2000’s and over a decade progressed to a senior management position at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. In 2014 she left the profession to join One Beyond and assist with the finance and administration of the business as Company Secretary. During this time Emily accepted the role of Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and has organised various high profile events for charitable causes, raising a significant amount of money.

In 2020, Emily worked closely with the board to secure a substantial investment with Queen’s Park Equity and has since transitioned into the role of Treasury Manager. In her spare time, Emily enjoys travelling, country walks and enjoying time with family.

Iria Mavji

HR Director, Spain

Iria Joined GuideSmiths in 2019 to build the HR department. As a people first company, building an HR team was crucial to ensure employee satisfaction, organic growth, professional career development as well as team engagement by maintaining company culture and values.

Iria is responsible for taking care of the entire team based in Spain, together with Víctor. Iria loves traveling, meeting new people, sports and spending quality time with her family and friends.

David Harrison

Strategic Partnerships Director

David has over 15 years in technology solution sales, with extensive experience working with IT leaders across the public and private sectors to build long-term high-performing agile teams and enable organisations to realise their strategic ambitions and mission-critical activities.

David possesses a deep understanding of the challenges and technology disruption facing multiple industries and the need for CTOs to have a multi-layered delivery strategy, with a specific focus on how to make near-shoring/right-shoring work with an innovative agile delivery model.

David is responsible for engaging new partnerships across the business and driving our go-to-market strategy.

In his spare time, you’ll find David trying his best to impersonate a squash player or making very late tackles in his 6-a-side football league.

Don Grantham

Chairman

Don joins us with over 40 years of experience in the Technology industry, having most recently held the role of President of Central and Eastern Europe for Microsoft, overseeing 33 countries. He was also a member of the Microsoft International Executive Leadership team, sharing responsibility for the company’s global strategy execution, delivering operational excellence and market share performance, and talent acquisition and development.