Innovative, Leader, Entrepreneur

Jon Pickles is an entrepreneur and has run start-ups through to acquisition preparation and sale.  Jon has successfully built and run two software houses developing enterprise level software for the Travel, Retail and Television industries servicing enterprise level customers including Thomas Cook, TUI, BHS, Mothercare, London Weekend Television and Granada Television.

Jon has a passion for gadgets and innovative products that are of a high quality and deliver a great customer/user experience. Jon’s passionate about “the customer” who should always come first!

As a regular contributor, Jon provides articles to the Travel Trade press which are published online and in key industry magazines (Travel Weekly and Travolution).  Jon has hosted and regularly attends business and technology events as a panel guest, speaker and presenter.

A CRM specialist, Jon set up a company in 1998 writing CRM software which he sold to Airtours, First Choice, TUI and Thomas Cook the top 4 travel companies in the UK.  Jon has used the web since its inception and understands social media and innovative software systems for the Travel and Retail Market places.

Jon’s past experiences has seen him spend 8 years in banking during the “Thatcher Years” where he became the youngest branch manager and soon elevated to Regional Senior Management being one of the first entrants into the Nat West Tower which was once the tallest building in London.  At 18 Jon spent 2 years as a trainee Sound Engineer working his way up from “tea-boy” and went on to record some of the stars of the 70’s.  During his time at one of London’s premier Recording Studios (Trident in St. Annes Court, Soho, London) he made tea for rock bands: Rush and Kiss, found beer for Phil Collins on a Sunday, fended off calls from Alana Stewart to her husband, Rod, who was trying to avoid her at the time, and placed a prayer mat for Cat Stevens.