Our Board

Patrick joined Bytes Technology Group plc as Chair in 2020. He is also Chair of EMIS Group plc and GCI Managed Services Group Ltd and Senior Independent Director of PageGroup plc. Patrick has significant knowledge of international markets and information technology, and experience as a non-executive in diverse industry sectors. He spent 23 years at Microsoft during which time he founded the Benelux subsidiaries, led the development of its Western European business and served as Chair of Microsoft for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Since leaving Microsoft in 2006, Patrick has served on the boards of a number of European public and private companies. He was Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Victrex plc, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Morgan Sindall plc and Anite plc and Chair of KCOM Group plc.

Neil joined Bytes as the Sales Director back in 1997 having previously worked as sales Manager for ICL Fujitsu. Neil has over 30 years’ experience working in the IT sector mainly in sales and sales management roles. In 2000 Neil was promoted to the position of MD of Bytes and over that time has with his colleague Keith Richardson overseen the growth and development of the Bytes business. Focusing on organic growth, coupled with some small tactical acquisitions the company has grown strongly over this period. Neil has focused on creating a "can do" culture with the customer at the centre of the strategy. There is a strong emphasis on people and building the right culture. Bytes has grown to become a significant Value Added Reseller in the UK market over the last two decades under his leadership.

Andrew joined Bytes as COO on 1 June 2021 from JSE-listed technology company, Altron Limited, Bytes’ former parent company, from which it demerged in 2020. Andrew has extensive financial and operational experience in the ICT sector, having spent more than 27 years at Altron, the last 15 years in various senior leadership roles. His most recent position was that of COO which he held for five years, including a period where he held both the COO and CFO roles simultaneously. Combined with his strong financial and commercial acumen, Andrew has a proven record of delivering insights into strategy implementation and executive decision-making.

Sam brings over 20 years’ experience in leadership positions to the Board. She joined Phoenix in November 2003, having previously held senior roles at WordPerfect, Novell Inc. and Trustmarque Solutions. Sam became MD of Phoenix in 2014, overseeing a period of significant growth during which Phoenix has won numerous awards, including Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2021. In October 2020, Sam won the Women in Channel ‘Industry Achievement Award’ from IT reseller magazine CRN. Two years earlier, she was named ‘2018 Business Leader of the Year’ at the Women in IT awards. Sam is currently the Managing Director of Phoenix Software Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bytes Technology Group - a position which she continues to hold together with her appointment to the BTG Board.

Mike Phillips ACA has over 17 years of experience serving as an executive director on UK listed companies, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of Micro Focus International from September 2010 to January 2018. From January 2018 to 31 May 2019 he was Director of M&A for Micro Focus and handled the divestment of SUSE to EQT. Prior to Micro Focus he was Chief Executive Officer at Morse plc, following his initial role as Group Finance Director. Mr. Phillips left Morse plc in July 2010 following the turnaround and successful corporate sale to 2e2 in June 2010. From August 1998 to February 2007, Mr. Phillips was Group Finance Director at Microgen plc and played a lead role in its transformation to an international software and services business with sustainable and profitable growth. Earlier roles include seven years of corporate finance work at Smith & Williamson, as well as two years at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he led the U.K. technology team, reporting to the global Head of Corporate Finance for the Technology Sector. Mr. Phillips began his career at Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (now KPMG) where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Mr. Phillips was a non-executive director of Parity Group plc from November 2011 to September 2013.

Erika brings over 25 years' experience in senior leadership positions to the board of directors of Bytes. During her executive career, Erika spent more than 18 years working in Silicon Valley and held senior professional services roles with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Erika earned a PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University and in 1994 began her executive career with IBM. She went on to hold roles at REL Consultancy Group, Computer Science Corporation and Symantec Corporation. During her tenure at Symantec, Erika led the team responsible for M&A in its Sales & Services division, completing 16 acquisitions including the $13.5bn merger between Symantec and Veritas. Since then, Erika has further built her transaction experience at Ernst & Young, where she led the firm's technology M&A Advisory Services (OTS) for the Americas, and more recently with PwC, where she was the UK Leader for M&A Integration Services and TMT M&A Advisory (DDV) Services. Erika is currently a Non-Executive Director of FTSE 250-listed JTC plc, where she is also Chair of the nomination committee. Other current directorships include Non-Executive Director at AIM-listed Aferian plc (formerly Amino Technologies) and private equity backed BluJay Topco Limited.