Chris Ridgewell

Areas of interest:

Chris specialises in the use of information technologies and telecommunications to create and manage organisational and cultural change and consider how this impacts on the people and business processes involved.  His first client’ flexible working programme was in 1984 while seconded to Bell Canada where he implemented a Working-From-Home project for 2,000 field telephone engineers.

Current projects:

Chris is co-founder (1992-3) of The Telework Association of which he became Chairman in February, 2011.  At Charterhouse Consultants group he is leading the implementation of a cloud-computing based virtual office for 8,900 staff working in eighteen countries. Chris is co-ordinating management training workshops for Brighton City Council supporting their business transformation programme involving team-based work areas within a reduced property portfolio.

Biography:

At Cable and Wireless/Mercury Communications Ltd (1990-1998) Chris led the introduction of team working initiatives and The Flexible Working Consultancy Programme for corporate and Government clients. Chris has been Board-level Director of Change Management for France Telecom and held strategic management, operational and new business development roles for Cable and Wireless in the USA, Caribbean, Hong Kong, China and Japan.  He was Chairman of The Nigel Clare Network Trust (The NCNT) helping the parents/carers of children with life-limiting conditions to return to employment through more flexible working arrangements.