Introducing the Highlander Team
We believe in our people. They are a highly skilled, motivated, and forward-thinking group of individuals that really care about making a difference. When they say they’ll do something, it’s seen through with professionalism, dedication, respect, and trust – the steadfast values that our company is built on. Importantly, we love what we do. Many of us have been in the IT industry all our lives, and over that time have gained significant, real-world experience that has enabled us to become experts in our respective fields. We’re a friendly bunch, too, and true to our Yorkshire roots – all driven by dogged determination and a passion for doing the right thing for our customers; qualities we reward and nurture.
We’re different to other IT teams. At Highlander, we’re proud to be a collective. That means everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do within the business, has a say in how it is run. Our flat hierarchy sees that we are entirely team-led, so there are always opportunities for our team members to genuinely contribute to the decision-making process, and our open door policy ensures there are plenty of forums to provide honest feedback and ideas that help shape our future. While we do have a management team, we’ve also developed internal Social, Office, and Training teams that have just as much of an impact over all of the critical decisions we make. We understand the value of equality.
Management team
Steve Brown
Managing Director
As Managing Director, you could say that I’m responsible for Highlander as a whole. It’s a job that I take immense pride in, helped largely by the fact that I’m constantly surrounded by inspirational, hard-working people that I want to help succeed, no matter what their goal is.
Career-wise, I pursued my childhood passion of football into my early 20s, captaining England Schoolboys and spending two years as a professional at Sheffield Wednesday. When injury put paid to that, I quickly jumped back into education and graduated with a BSc in Business from Sheffield Hallam University. I started to take a very different career path with a graduate management role in Financial Management for Marks & Spencer plc. Shortly after this, I found my first IT-based role at a little-known shop that sold PCs to students; that shop became the Highlander we know and love today after we decided to go ‘business to business’ back in 2001. It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey, but I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to see the business grow, mature, develop, and improve over the 17 years that I’ve worked here.
Outside of work, I try to cram in as much ‘fun’ as I can; spending lots of valuable time with my family and two very active young children, as well as seeing friends for food, drinks, and plenty of football matches.
I love the business that we have built and take great satisfaction in the fact that we provide great services for our clients, while at the same time enriching the lives of everyone in the ‘Highlander family’.
John Akings
Systems Development Director
I’ve devoted nearly 20 years of hard work and time into the growth of Highlander as a business, which has ultimately led to my role as the company’s Systems Development Director. I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of the internal Highlander ERP and associated business systems, tasked with developing and refining current business processes through workflows and automation.
During my time at Highlander, I have helped build the technical department up from just 3 engineers supporting 20 customers to a full internal helpdesk and field service team supporting almost 200 customers. As per our company values, I care strongly about the effort and expertise that goes into every implementation and system we develop, as well as for the team around me. It’s exciting to see the business, and our team, continue to improve and the people within it prosper.
A family man at heart, I’ve been married for 30 years. Whilst serving in the Royal Air Force, I met my wife through the prequel to Internet dating (the Internet didn’t exist) known as Pen Friends. 30 years later we have 2 children and 2 grandchildren and hope for more of the latter. Like many of my colleagues, I have a huge passion for football, and am a season ticket-holder at my chosen club.
Ryan Connolly
Client Services Director
Working with both the commercial and technical teams as Highlander’s Client Services Director, it is my responsibility to ensure that our customers are receiving the best possible service. I joined Highlander as a Commercial Account Manager in August 2007, and since then have progressed to the position of Sales Manager and was finally appointed a Director in November 2015.
After leaving college, I lived in Florida having taken up a Football Scholarship, spending most of my time playing and then coaching at the local High Schools. Following this, I returned to Sheffield to study Business and Finance at Sheffield Hallam University, and eventually found myself a part of the Highlander team.
Integrity, honesty, and empathy, along with good old fashioned hard work, are the values I try to live by. I like to motivate and get the best out of people, which in turn ensures that our customers are getting the best out of Highlander.
Outside of work I enjoy keeping fit, so will often pay a visit to the gym, and play football whenever I can in-between caring for my young family, which now takes up the majority of my free time.
Dr Rich D Field
Chairman
I have gladly spent the entirety of my working life devoted to all aspects of business; chairing, coaching, and learning at a board level within Government, commerce, community, and business organisations. I’m also a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, Chartered Director, and Chartered Marketer.
My prime purpose within a working context is to learn and to share, bringing as much joy as possible into the world of work. In practical terms, this means through sharing the understanding and skills of how the use of collaborative, as well as business processes can enhance the long-term performance and enjoyment for both organisations and individuals.
It is a privilege to chair Highlander, which consists of a team of highly skilled and truly committed individuals.
Owen Hanley
Sales Director
As Sales Director, my role involves working with our team of Account Managers to simplify the latest IT innovations for our customers, identifying solutions that overcome common challenges and help them to achieve their goals. It’s all about building great partnerships – working together to solve problems and deliver exceptional service.
When I first joined Highlander as an Account Manager in 2011, moving into the world of IT was a steep learning curve. However, the challenge of understanding new technologies and working with a group of fantastic customers has made my time with the business hugely enjoyable.
Working in IT can sometimes mean that the typical 9:00 - 5:30 routine goes out the window, but it’s the determination to support our customers at all times that gives reassurance that they can trust us to get the job done. That said, I still manage to spend plenty of time with my wife, our two young boys and the family dog.
Outside of family life I’m also a keen sports fan, and you’ll often find me out on the golf course, even though I still can’t get round in under 8 hours no matter how hard I try!
Karrie Massie
Director
Since 2002, I have been a Director at Highlander, and during that time have been involved in HR, Employment Law, Stock Control, and financial administration. I now work part-time within the business managing our Pension Scheme and payroll administration, while also keenly continuing my role in networking and flying the flag for our wonderful company.
Our company values; care, dedication, professionalism, respect and trust were chosen companywide, and accurately mirror my own values both at work and within my personal life.
I am fascinated by self-development, and so have pursued the achievement of qualifications in Integral Leadership and have been known to attend various personality-related courses in The Wisdom of the Enneagram. I am also a fully qualified Dental Hygienist, a career which I enjoyed for many years before joining the IT industry.
I relish spending time with my family, socialising with friends, practising Pilates, and indulging in my latest passion of walking in the beautiful local countryside.
Chris McQueen
Technical Director
In my role as Technical Director, I feel fortunate to have found a position that not only helps me channel my own passion and love for technology, but affords me the opportunity to work with a fantastic and highly-skilled team.
Having joined Highlander over 16 years ago as a Workshop Technician, I’m proud to have played a part in growing the business. Everything from developments within the technical department, to the expansion of a broad technology portfolio that is at the heart of everything we deliver for our customers today.
My enthusiasm for IT and technology remains as strong as ever, and one of the most exciting parts of my role is helping the business identify and onboard the latest innovations.
Away from work, I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my young family, and when I can find the time, I’m also a keen mountain biker, although admittedly I have all the gear and no idea.
Chris Muscroft
Technology Services Director
My role as Technology Services Director at Highlander is without a doubt the most exciting position of my career to date. I’m also proud to be a Data Security specialist and self-proclaimed Cloud evangelist. A large part of my role is dedicated to the general management of the Technology Services team at Highlander.
On top of the knowledge and expertise I have accumulated across many years of working within various IT roles, I’ve also worked hard to obtain a Professional Diploma in Marketing through the Chartered Institute of Marketing, which I achieved in 2009. I try to apply the valuable skills gained through this qualification wherever possible to further the development of Highlander as a business, as well as applying a firm focus to my own personal and professional development.
Most of my interests outside of work revolve around my three children and sport, and more often than not end up consisting of a combination of both. As Chairman and Secretary of my local Tennis Club, I’m heavily involved with Sheffield & District Tennis, as well as playing in the Racketball leagues at Abbeydale. I’m also a keen runner, both on the road and on the trails.
James Yates
Commercial Director and Head of Enterprise Sales
As Commercial Director and Head of Enterprise Sales, I enjoy a varied role which includes managing all of Highlander’s vendor and supplier relationships, overseeing our procurement process, and heading up the sales support function.
As a more recent addition to the Highlander board, I was initially attracted by a set of core values that reflected my own. We have a common goal that is shared across the business, the objective of which is to continue to grow the business whilst remaining true to our founding principles of care, dedication, professionalism, respect, and trust.
My home life is possibly even more hectic than my work one with two young children providing a never-ending supply of joy and stress in equal measure! I enjoy most sports, particularly football which I both watch and still play, much to the dismay of my wife who regularly reminds me that now I’m in my forties and have responsibilities it might be time to give up.
As a Mancunian, I’m somewhat of an outsider to Sheffield, something that became apparent early on when I overshot a board meeting held externally by 20 miles and ended up at an infamous nature reserve south of the city. Needless to say, I haven’t heard the end of it!
Discover more about Highlander
ISO
From ISO 9001 to 27001, we’ve invested a lot into achieving independent standards that prove the high quality of our service.
Culture
Everything we do is led by our core values of care, dedication, professionalism, respect, and trust. We motivate our people and prioritise happiness.
Charity
We always do what we can to give back, from donating technology and services to supporting all sorts of good causes close to home and all over the UK.
Careers
We listen to you and what you want out of your career, then help put you on the right path to success.