Management Team

The Solarvista Management Team are based in Sheffield, UK.

Here we tell you how they ended up as a Director at Solarvista, then ask each of them a few questions to find out more...

Chris Welsh | Sales Director

Chris began his IT career in the mid 1980s as a programmer and considers himself a graduate from “The University of Life”. He started his own business at 18 and worked for a variety of software companies where he was technically trained and self-taught. Since then he has worked for leading software houses in either a technical, commercial or sales management capacity.

Seeking new challenges, Chris joined Solarvista in February 2010 as Sales Director. His aim was to strengthen the management team by bringing business and service market experience to create and support business growth.

What’s the best thing about Solarvista?

"Every day at Solarvista presents new and exciting challenges that I can share with a like-minded team of people. It’s also an ambitious and professional company that has all the right ingredients to build on its previous successes."

If you weren’t at Solarvista where would you be?

"My ideal would be cutting grass for 6 months of the year and sat on a beach for the other 6! But in reality, I would most likely choose to work with some new and innovative product and service that needs lots of creative and passionate input."

What’s your favourite film?

"Pulp Fiction and anything Quentin Tarantino, or Ground Hog Day, as it reminds me to make sure every day is different."

What would you spend your last £50 on?

"A lottery ticket, just in case, and a night out at a drum jamming gig."

Andrew Pyott | Operations Director

Andrew started out as a hardware engineer in the mid 1980s for a local one man and his dog operation (well two men, one woman and one dog). His entry into the real world came at a stint at International Computers Limited (ICL), which proved an ideal place to learn the industry ropes.

After leaving ICL Andrew spent time in general systems maintenance and support (ironically with a company who would eventually become a Solarvista customer) and then Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS).

Having met Solarvista's now Development Director Paul Adams at college in the early 1980s, the pair made a decision to set up the business in 1988 that would eventually become Solarvista.

What's the best thing about Solarvista?

"Pay day... only kidding! All businesses face challenges on a daily basis, but working with a dedicated team of professionals who constantly turn these challenges into triumphs is extremely rewarding."

If you weren't at Solarvista where would you be?

"I really don't know - I've been here for 23 years now which is longer than any of the furniture. In a dream life somewhere warm with a sea view and enough in the bank to live on, and maybe I'll see if Richard Branson wants to sell Necker (this is a dream life after all). In reality, if my family are well and happy then I don't care where I am."

What's your favourite film?

"I have too many to narrow it down! I suppose I like suspense, action and a bit of a twist so it probably has to be The Usual Suspects, but then there's so many other brilliant films - The Great Escape and the Godfather (I and II, Get Carter, Schindler's List, The Italian Job, Rita, Sue and Bob Too, Life of Brian, Trading Places, The Dam Busters, Kes... shall I stop now?!"

What would you spend your last £50 on?

"Tea - it made Britain Great. Also as lots of problems are solved over a cuppa, maybe it would help resolve the last 50 quid issue."

Paul Adams | Technical Director

Following education in Microprocessor Engineering, Paul started his work life at a company which designed and manufactured hardware accessories for the Apple II computers in the early 80s. This role involved a combination of design work and service troubleshooting, both with hardware and software.

Subsequently, Paul joined a division of a Finnish multi-national which manufactured Intensive Care Monitoring Systems and Biochemistry Analysers, working as a Systems Engineer. Part of this role, included support and development of a patient information system too, which ultimately became one of the roots for Solarvista’s early years.

Paul is married with one son, Joseph.

What's the best thing about Solarvista?

"Creating solutions for real world problems on a daily basis is highly rewarding. I enjoy the complexity of some of the issues we face.”

If you weren't at Solarvista where would you be?

"Well, as far as work is concerned, no doubt somewhere in a corporate structure, perhaps in a far off place. If I was lucky enough to be idle and rich, then living in a white-washed, minimalist house overlooking the Pacific Ocean would be nice!”

What's your favourite film?

"A difficult question! But a few I like would be Amadeus, Nixon, The Godfather Part II, North by Northwest, Italian Job (original), No Country for Old Men and many of the Woody Allen films.”

What would you spend your last £50 on?

"A nice Thai meal… maybe some Cadbury’s chocolate too!”

Julia Thompson | Professional Services Director

Julia had worked in the hotel and leisure industry before she joined Solarvista Software in 1990. She moved from Head Receptionist at a four star chain hotel, to become the Receptionist at Solarvista’s head office in Sheffield. She has since progressed through a number of positions in Solarvista, including General Manager and Consulting Manager, before being announced as Professional Services Director in 2010. Striving to learn and develop her skills, Julia has also studied concurrent to her work commitments and now holds a post-graduate diploma in Strategic Management.

What’s the best thing about Solarvista?

"Solarvista offers a very friendly working environment and it’s great to be surrounded by a team of excellent people who are focused on delivering first class service."

If you weren’t at Solarvista where would you be?

"My dream location would be on a sunny island living a self-sufficient lifestyle!"

What’s your all-time favourite film?

"The Shawshank Redemption, with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman."

What would you spend your last £50 on?

"A trip to the seaside."