Hi, my name is Neil Taylor I am one of the co-founders and Managing Director of Opticore. In the years leading up to starting Opticore, I gained valuable experience in the delivery of enterprise level business and technology related projects and managed consultancy services. My background includes being ‘hands on’ with technology for many years, having always been structured in my approach to problem solving my love for technology soon evolved into natural desire to combine these skills and ply my trade as a Project Manager. This decision was the inspiration that led to the formation of Opticore. 

On starting Opticore, the vision was simple, to build an organisation that had honesty, integrity, and trust at its heart. With these principles in place, we could develop a strong culture that would drive significant positive change to all its clients. My role is multi-faceted, primarily it is my responsibility to develop and drive the company values, principles, and strategy, ensuring the Operations, Finance, HR, and Legal capabilities can support the organisation’s growth. 

Outside of the office, I am a big sports fan with significant interests in football, golf, and motor racing. I am also part of our local youth football team as a coach to the youth football academy. All these interests have allowed me to build on skills developed in the workplace and allowed me to meet a whole variety of people enabling me to build long lasting relationships outside of the working world. 

Hi, I’m Richard Greville and I’m the Technical Director for Opticore, leading the technical charge in the business. We live in a period of massive change and transformation, technology moves at a rapid pace and being on top of these developments is what Opticore is all about.. I’m a big believer in culture and people and when we started Opticore I had the chance to do it differently and build a business based on my personal standards. My goal was not just to be the best consultancy on the planet but to grow, develop and nurture our people, to build an unstoppable technical work force that is highly collaborative with a culture first approach. I look back over the last year with over 70+ extra certifications added to the business and feel very proud of all our people, we have achieved the unbelievable!

I’m an avid techie, I love it, you have to love it… I have mostly hung up my console cable but still retain my CCIE number! Over my career I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the UKs largest companies, deploying solutions and change that impact everybody’s lives, from rolling out a UK wide MPLS network supporting the traffic of the largest mobile providers, to deploying multiple large scale (15K+ endpoint) wireless networks. And I have enjoyed every minute of it…even those cold nights sat in a DC!

My other passion (when time allows!) is mountain biking, I can be found meandering along my local trails, trying as hard as I can to hold onto my childhood! If anyone out there fancies hooking up for a ride, coffee or just to shoot the breeze, let me know!

I am Commercial Director at Opticore with a range of responsibilities across sales, marketing and delivery. I have worked with Neil and Richard, my fellow Directors, on and off for the past 15 years and finally boarded the Opticore ship as Head of Delivery in 2019. I subsequently joined the Opticore Board in 2020 to give them an extra hand on the tiller and leverage on my experience in both Sales and Delivery.

The Company continues to grow at a rapid rate of knots which is challenging but massively enjoyable as we believe that we are building something very special.

My background is varied and includes roles in Sales Management, Programme Management and Marketing so hopefully I am well-equipped for the role I am performing at Opticore.

Outside of work I am a keen cook (which believe it or not I do for relaxation), nature lover and cricket fan. Being a QPR supporter, I am not so keen on football anymore!

I’m Neal Jacob, the Head of Technical Assurance at Opticore. I’m incredibly proud of our values and all of the people that I work with. By employing staff who are not only the best at what they do, but also have the personal skills to talk to people, we ensure that we always do what’s best for our clients.

My team and I support the business in all things technical. We work closely with our recruitment team to ensure we hire the best engineers, make sure that we actively support our staff’s continued development, and provide a point of escalation for complex technical questions

I’ve been a techie since 1995, with a focus on networking since 2000, and a CCIE since 2008. Over the years I have worked with several companies, both large and small, across a number of different industries, including banking, healthcare, legal, service provider and property. This exposure has not only given me plenty of examples of what works and what doesn’t, but it’s also given me a rounded and pragmatic view of how to deliver the most appropriate solutions for our clients.

In my free time, I have a great love of both rugby (now retired after 20+ years of playing socially) and triathlon, and I try to keep fit by cycling and open-water swimming!

My name is Karo Bonas and I am the Head of Programme and Portfolio Management here at Opticore IT. Before joining Opticore, my career has mainly been comprised of Project, Programme and Portfolio Management/Directorship, delivering complex technical and transformational programmes of work into the financial sector. During this time, I have enjoyed onboarding knowledge in different technologies and methodologies, building structured teams to assist in successful deliveries and creating strong relationships with vendors, internal stakeholders and business customers along the way.

Here at Opticore, the Project and Portfolio Management Practice (PPM) has the primary objective to build a high calibre capability across Project & Programme Management and its supporting proficiencies that encourage trust and confidence, gives our customers visibility, and provides innovation and continuous improvement. I aim to do this by building strong relationships with our customers, developing and encouraging growth within our team and continuing to innovate how projects are successfully delivered.

Outside of the office, I like to socialise with friends, and I am a family man with interests in golf, photography and a self-confessed geek when it comes to technology. Drones, cameras, video cameras, smart lights and a device that keeps your cup of coffee at the perfect temperature for a sustained period of time to name a few…

I am Head of Delivery at Opticore. Responsibilities include ensuring the delivery of high-quality Managed Services to our customers through our experienced NOC and Service Delivery teams, coupled with leading our Project Delivery Team. I joined Opticore in 2017 as Technical Services Manager and helped develop and deliver our Managed Services offerings. I assisted in forming partnerships with vendors/suppliers and helped to recruit the best talent into the business.

In 2020, I moved into my current role of Head of Delivery. I started in the IT industry as a systems engineer in 1998 and have been very fortunate to have worked in a variety of industries including Travel, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Electronics, Finance, Insurance and Government. The best parts of my role are creating close partnerships with our customers and working with the most enthusiastic and talented team in the industry.

When not working I enjoy spending quality time with my family and watching/playing sport. I am a keen golfer and tennis player while riding the emotional rollercoaster of my local football team Portsmouth.

Hi, I am Celia, and I am the Head of Finance at Opticore. I joined the team in August 2021 with the objective of further developing the finance function. My role includes ensuring that all things finance are running smoothly whilst reporting to the Board on company performance. My position allows me to work alongside key stakeholders across the company which gives the finance function a good view of the wider business, in turn allowing me to add value to key business decisions.

I am originally from Spain where I started my studies in Business and then went on to obtain my master’s degree abroad in the Netherlands. I moved to the UK in 2012 when I qualified as FCCA.

I had previously worked in one of James Caan’s private equity portfolios and Engage ESM as part of the Atos Group, working in both SME and corporate environments. Being part of these companies has enabled me to understand where I want to take my career. I enjoy focusing on medium size companies that are undergoing significant growth. Using my experience, I can help build and develop the financial capability and provide advice on improving processes and efficiency.

Outside of work I love travelling, good food, and being active. Skiing is my top hobby and I make sure I go to the slopes every opportunity I have!

Hey there, I’m Simon and I head up the Talent Acquisition team here at Opticore! Our team is dedicated to not only finding the greatest talent there is out there but also making one of life’s most stressful situations, the job hunt, much more enjoyable.

Let’s be honest, looking for a job can at times feel like you’re on a dating app, with people judging you on what’s written about you, hoping to get that chance to meet and sometimes even being ghosted… so we’re here to change that. We take pride in providing everyone that we speak to a phenomenal experience that means even if you are unsuccessful at the first attempt, you’ll still want to become a member of the Opti-Family in the future.

I started my career in construction where I ran a family business for 10 years before making a pivot into recruitment. Having made a career change myself, I’m passionate about helping you take the next step in your career by joining a company that truly wants you to develop and become the best at whatever you do!

It’s fair to say I’m an extrovert, who is super active. You’ll often find me running or in the gym before work, playing dodgeball, setting myself a challenge for one of our charities or just generally keeping myself busy. Two other passions of mine are food & travel and I try to incorporate them wherever I go. I’ve been very fortunate to travel to all 7 continents, but there are plenty of places I still want to go so any travel tips you have make sure you send them to me!

Finally, I’m a big believer in loving what you do, where you work and who you work with. Opticore has given me that opportunity and if you’re curious to find out more I’d love to speak with you. Feel free to reach out to me directly to set up an informal chat.

Hi everyone, I’m Michela and I am the Wellbeing Manager at Opticore. I joined the company in September 2021, and it has been a transitional phase for me. My background is in HR however when I saw the job advert for the Resource & Wellbeing Manager (my previous role), I felt as though it had been written for me. So far, I have loved the transition from working in a HR generalist role to homing in on the aspects which I am most passionate about… people, wellbeing, and learning & development.

Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, engaging our employees, and improving their wellbeing has never been more important.

I am passionate about making a positive difference.

Specifically, I want to get the conversation started and raise awareness about all aspects of wellbeing in the workplace. This will help to achieve our goal to create and maintain a psychologically safe environment for all our employees.

Growing, nurturing, and fostering relationships is something that comes naturally to me which closely aligns with my values, purpose, and moral compass. I am excited to be leading the strategic wellbeing roadmap for our organisation as part of my new role as Wellbeing Manager.

In my free time, I love to bake, travel, and explore different countries and cultures – any excuse to practice the languages that I studied at university (Spanish and Italian). I enjoy keeping fit, whether that be in the gym, on the tennis court or on the court as a member of the local women’s netball team.

A healthy mind, a healthy body and an inclusive and supportive workplace are the keys to success.