PROFILE

MICHAEL PRITCHARD

The Paladin Consultancy was Founded in 1989 by one of its current founders as an Open Systems Consultancy specialising in dealing with European, American, Middle East and Japanese organisations to play a significant role in taking UK companies to appropriate and possible international markets as well as representing the interests of international organisations, their products and services in the UK. At the time the consultancy offered a complete range of services both to the suppliers of hardware and software products and as well as to the larger/medium sized user organisations. In 1990 the consultancy moved due to demand to become a highly specialised recruitment/search service, utilising their extensive network of contacts in the European computer marketplace. During the last nine years Paladin has established itself as one of the premier recruitment consultancies in the Computer Market place and have made very successful placements in Sales, Marketing, Technical and Senior Management positions.

After leaving college and studying two years accountancy as an article clerk at Lloyds Register of Shipping Michael Pritchard commenced his sales career with Rank Xerox and after 3 successful years and several promotions, he attained the position of Major Account Senior Sales Executive. He was approached to join Kalle Infotec in 1976 selling WP, Fax and Copiers where, after 4½ years he became one of the youngest Branch Sales Managers with responsibility for over 55 sales personnel, as well as additional engineering and support staff.

In 1980 he joined Package Programs, marketing Software International’s range of Accounting/Financial and MRP products into the Mainframe Market and from there he was headhunted to Interscan Data Systems, where he was UK Sales Manager responsible for the division of .X25 packet switching and call logging systems. During this period he opened up Corporate, OEM and Distributor accounts throughout the UK and Europe. In 1983 he was headhunted to join Centronic Data Corporation, initially as UK National Sales Manager, and after a short period he was promoted to UK and International General Sales Manager, with responsibility for all distribution and OEM Business in EMEA.

Just before CDC was acquired he moved to Wang UK as a Senior Account Manager responsible for vertical partners. Within a short period he was asked by the then former president of Wang in the USA to be part of a team of four to set up Computer Consoles Incorporated as European Sales and Marketing Manager. When ICL acquired CCI he joined some ex colleagues at Atlantic Computers before setting up The Paladin Consultancy.

He is an enthusiastic part time golfer, purveyor of fine wines, enjoys good music, cooking and eating gourmet food, as well as being a keen observer of all competitive sports.