Neil French
About Neil French
Neil French is the Chief Operating Officer at Canonical Ltd., where he has worked since 2015. He has extensive experience in business growth, corporate development, and change management, with a strong background in technology product life cycle management.
Current Role at Canonical
Neil French serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Canonical Ltd., a position he has held since 2015. In this role, he oversees global Finance, People, Legal, Sales Operations, Business Services, and Programme Management. His leadership contributes to the strategic direction and operational efficiency of the company, which is known for its work in open-source software and cloud computing.
Previous Experience at Canonical
Before becoming Chief Operating Officer, Neil French worked at Canonical Ltd. as the Director of Commercial Operations and Strategy from 2012 to 2015. During this time, he focused on enhancing the company's commercial strategies and operational frameworks, contributing to its growth in the technology sector.
Education and Expertise
Neil French holds a First Class degree in Engineering from the University of Oxford and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in corporate development, change management, and strategy formulation, particularly in SaaS and subscription environments.
Career Background
Neil French has a diverse career spanning several prominent companies. He began as a Systems Analyst and Software Developer at Tesco and later held various roles, including Strategic Marketing Manager at Reuters, Product Management at Hewlett-Packard, and Senior Director Marketing at 3Com. His experience includes significant positions in strategic planning and business intelligence, as well as operational roles in multiple technology firms.
Achievements in Business Growth
Neil French has a proven track record in growing businesses profitably, with a focus on P&L management. His extensive experience in managing technology product life cycles, sales, marketing, and product management has equipped him with the skills necessary to drive business success and operational excellence.