The nFocus Team

Ross Lister

Chairman and Founder

Ross Lister completed his BSc (Hons.) in Commercial Computing at the University of Manchester’s prestigious Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), followed by an MBA degree at the University of Wolverhampton.

As Chairman of nFocus, Ross has an ongoing passion for the development of new technologies. With a strong background in both academic and technical research, he is able to use his specialist experience and skills to help provide cutting edge consultancy and system testing solutions for nFocus clients. Prior to co-forming nFocus in 2000, Ross worked as a freelance Analyst Programmer, for companies which included Jaguar Cars, Westland Helicopters and eventually IBM.

Danny Crone

Technical Director and Founder

Danny Crone is a Test Practitioner and Technical Director at nFocus Testing. Danny has been in Software engineering for over 20 years and although he is a developer at heart, most of his IT career has been spent in Quality Assurance. He is a regular speaker at Testing events and also Microsoft ALM events and has a real passion for Automated Testing.

Danny is a thought leader in the field of automated testing and has setup automated frameworks and approaches for many different clients. He has worked extensively with Visual Studio throughout the years and more recently became a Microsoft ALM Ranger, collaborating with other Rangers to produce “out of band” solutions for missing features and guidance in Visual Studio.

He loves challenges and helping others with their challenges, testing is always tough and he enjoys driving efficiencies into the test process to help build better software. Outside of work Danny has a passion for new technology, gadgets, skiing and helping his son Tom who has CP excel at all the things he does.

Phil Edwards

Managing Director

Phil has worked in the IT industry for over 20 years and has managed multi-vendor global testing projects. Phil is an accomplished, dynamic, hands-on Managing Director working and supporting business critical projects, within the Banking, Distribution, Insurance, Retail, Utility, Construction and Public sector industries. Phil has undertaken roles that include the safe deployment of platform migrations, upgrades, introduction of new both internal and external interfaces and onboarding of new clients to new systems and operating models.

Phil is a very motivated Director with a deep knowledge and understanding of the Quality Assurance Processes. He has detailed knowledge and experience of creating and implementing strategies for complex projects. This includes managing 3rd party suppliers, transitioning services, managing test environments, end to end business process testing and acceptance testing.
Phil is adept in creating an operating model for QA service utilising resources and facilities to provide the best possible outcome and safe deployment of projects and releases.

Prior to joining nFocus, Phil has worked for over 10 years with a primary focus on Test and Quality Management. Phil, besides running projects, has held directorship for a large systems integrator and one for Europe’s largest independent Test organisation and eventually holding the role of COO overseeing 70 projects and 400+ consultants.

Phil has been published on articles relating to testing and output based services and he has provided relevant consultancy to over 20 of the FTSE Top 100 companies.

Chris Edge

Financial Director

Chris, one of nFocus’ longest serving employees, was appointed Financial Director of nFocus Testing in August 2015.

Chris had been nFocus’ Commercial Operations Manager for several years having joined the company in 2006. He has previously been an Accountant at Veolia and Management Accountant at Goodyear after starting his profession in a number of manufacturing companies.

Chris is a Chartered Management Accountant having held senior finance positions for the past twenty years. He trained with the CIMA Accountancy Institution and has a passion for finance and the central role it plays within business. Outside work Chris is a school governor at his children’s primary school and is a keen badminton player and enjoys scuba diving when he can.

Scott Summers

Director

Scott started his career as a consultant at PriceWaterhouse where he had various roles covering the full systems development lifecycle from Business Analyst to DBA to Project Manager.

He has not looked back since he focused on testing as a career. He was Head of Testing at CSFB and then joined ABN AMRO where he set up and managed the Testing Centre of Excellence for the Investment Bank. Scott was the Global Head of QA at RBS Global Markets until moving back into consultancy and is now a Director and board member of nFocus Testing.

Scott’s passion is for creating improvement and efficiency through organisational change, and in particular using testing as a mechanism to drive this. He has managed business-wide offshore transitions, centralisation programmes, global tool roll-outs as well as testing projects.

Scott has worked with a range of technologies throughout his career and believes the recent developments of Azure, ALM tools and Business Intelligence will enable IT teams to transform businesses, provide exciting opportunities and deliver cost savings like never before.

Ryan James

Marketing and Client Director

Ryan graduated from Keele University with a BSc (Hons.) in International History and Psychology followed by completing the Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Diploma in Marketing from the University of Wolverhampton.

Ryan joined nFocus in 2008 and has advanced through progressively more responsible roles in both the Marketing and Sales departments, where he has played a key role in developing the sales and marketing strategy that has been instrumental both in supporting and winning new clients.

With over a decade of industry experience in customer-focused technology solutions and technical marketing makes him a natural fit for the Marketing and Client Director role responsible for the development and delivery of the organisation’s marketing strategy, marketing operations, Inside Sales, partner alliances and client relations while ensuring the vision and values of nFocus are continued.

Over the past ten years Ryan has been heavily involved in client engagements from testing health checks to managing the delivery of B2C UAT testing projects. In his role Ryan proactively works with new and existing clients to understand their current business initiatives and needs to ensure that they are engaged and getting the most value from nFocus’ services.

In his spare time Ryan enjoys travelling, running, and is a keen football fan.

John Qualtrough

Non-Executive Director

John graduated from Oxford University in Engineering Science & Economics, since then he has built his business experience in the UK and Europe. He has led four businesses successfully, including a business turnaround, and has been a non-executive Director of four other businesses, one of which was a winner of the Sunday Times Innovator of the Year Award.

He was co-founder of Minerva Group, which included businesses in software, recruitment and other business services – and Chief Executive of Amyyon UK, part of a world-wide group offering systems for customer relationship management. Those companies all moved on positively – two by MBO’s, one on the AIM market and one via a trade sale.

As part of this he developed mutually productive business partnerships with US and European companies. His work in nFocus centres on helping the Company’s strategy and business plans using his skills and experience (both good and bad!) as well as mentoring key executives.

He is also keen to help develop good business alliances and partners for the company.

Andy Vaisey

Head of Sales UK

Andy is an IT Sales Professional with over 18 years experience in winning and managing large scale complex IT solutions and services.

Andy has an excellent track record of success across numerous sectors in many blue chip accounts, such as Ford, the BBC, Boots, Egg/Citi, Eversheds, Pirelli, Next, Compass Group, Gala Coral Group, Home Retail Group and has strong contacts at senior levels.

He has won approximately 60 new clients during the past 5 years, and has had numerous instances of repeat business through his senior/key contacts.