Ben Croot

So Ben, what’s your role and what does that involve?

I’m the new site director at CMCS, and as a Disaster Recovery site one of my primary roles is to ensure that the site and the staff are best prepared to react quickly to emergency support requests from our clients. This involves ensuring that our equipment is appropriate and that our client’s work is tested regularly so that we can hit the ground running if work comes to us. The pandemic was a great measure for this as we were able to quickly support several clients who were experiencing capacity or resource issues of their own. This ensures that CMCS continues to grow and deliver on our commitments.

What are you working on at the moment?

CMCS are working on some very exciting opportunities at the moment that we hope to be able to announce shortly. Watch this space!

And what’s your career background?

I joined CMCS in 2001 on my gap year from Wolverhampton University, where I was studying Business Information System.  I started out as an IT Analyst, then moved into the IT Manager Position in 2005, then on to the Operations Manager position in 2008. In 2021 I moved into my new position as Site Director of CMCS. 

What do you think makes a good site director?

Many factors contribute to this, such as understanding and delivering the numbers, and being honest and consistent. It’s also about being forward-thinking as to what our clients need from CMCS, not just now but over the next few years too.

Here’s a new question I’m trying out – what does a good work/life balance look like to you?

At CMCS, we are a very lean and flexible business due to the nature of what we do. We can all be called upon at a moment’s notice to provide support to a client in an invocation. As such, we try and offset that by ensuring that everybody has a good work/life balance.

Anyway, I think that’s enough of the work stuff. What did you have for tea last night?

I made a spag bol, which we had with some garlic bread. I dropped a bit of chorizo in there as well. It was more of a supper – we had it at about 8.30.

Ok I’ll allow it. What’s your favourite biscuit and why?

It’s going to have to be a bourbon.  I like the chocolate and they are good for one dunk.  Problem is, if you open a pack, you can’t stop till they are gone.

Where’s your favourite place you’ve ever been?

Probably Madison Square Garden in New York. I went there to watch the New York Nicks vs the LA Lakers. We were on a road trip across America and my son wanted to go for his 16^th birthday. A close second to that would be Fort Worth in Texas, in particular Billy Bob’s Rodeo. It was amazing, we went down there, and they were herding cattle through the streets. It’s real old town Texas – everyone in denim and smelling of leather. The whole trip was an amazing experience – we landed in Orlando and drove across the country to California, and in total we drove about 5,000 miles.

Sound like a laugh! What’s your favourite word?

That we could publish. I always say “very” a lot, so I’ll go for that. Today I’m “very” tired because I’ve been up since 4.30.

How about a word you don’t like?

“Impossible”, because nothing’s impossible, you’ve just not asked the right question to get what you need.

Which three guests would you invite to a fantasy dinner party?

That’s a good question. Let’s have a think…I’d probably have Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill and Geoff Hurst. I played a lot of football when I was younger and was on the books at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and I’ve always loved Geoff Hurst – he’s the only man to score a hat trick in a world cup final, what more can you say?

What superpower would you choose?

I’ll say invisibility – not for any nefarious reasons, it’s just so I could hide sometimes!

What’s something outside work that you’re good at?

I play a bit of golf, and get to play about twice a month, which satisfies that competitive edge I’ve got. But I also love the social aspect of it as well and the team events. I run a golf society with about 100 people and it’s great.

How about something you’re bad at?

I think I’ll say getting a bit more time to spend with my mates. As you get older you have less time. It’s not necessarily work-related, I just don’t know where the time goes. 

What did you want to be when you were little?

A pirate. I just liked the thought of it. I think that changed when I was about 9 and decided to be a footballer instead, and then I ended up in print and mail!

I’m not sure the work/life balance in a life of piracy was all that great, and you had to contend with scurvy and cannonballs, so I think it’s turned out ok for you. Do you have any irrational phobias?

I don’t like having anything close to my neck. I hate wearing ties or scarves. Maybe I was strangled in a previous life? Anyway, it’s “Modern business” wear here so I’m ok!

Thanks Ben!