Latest news with #Johal
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Skies Consulting Strengthens Leadership Team to Support Business-Side Transformation
Appointments Reinforce the Firm's Ability to Lead Complex, High-Risk Programs Where Business Alignment and Execution are Critical IRVINE, Calif., June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Skies Consulting, one of the few boutique business integration consulting firms in the nation—engineered to bridge the gap between strategic intent and operational execution—today announced three new executive appointments that expand and strengthen its leadership bench, including Inder Johal's promotion to senior partner and head of enterprise data management; Kamal M. Patel to head of program leadership and operational excellence; and the addition of Matthew Jackiewicz as partner and head of advisory services. "As client needs grow and transformation challenges become more layered, we've been very intentional about strengthening our leadership team with individuals who bring both strategic depth and operational fluency," said John Hoff, co-founder, senior partner and CEO of Blue Skies Consulting. "Inder, Kamal and Matthew each bring a rare blend of technical proficiency, hands-on leadership and business-first thinking—essential qualities for navigating the kind of transformation work where success is measured in outcomes, not just implementation." With studies showing that up to 70% of business transformations fail to meet their goals, Blue Skies Consulting is structured to address the root causes—from misaligned teams to disconnected systems. These appointments reflect the firm's continued focus on solving the most commonly overlooked—and most critical—elements of transformation. While many firms approach change through narrow focuses like technology or process, Blue Skies Consulting leads through business integration: Connecting strategic vision to operational reality by aligning people, systems, processes, data and decisions from day one. With deep experience in data strategy, governance and program leadership, Johal, Patel and Jackiewicz reinforce the firm's ability to reduce transformation risk and deliver lasting results. Inder Johal – Senior Partner and Head of Enterprise Data Management | Johal will spearhead the firm's data initiatives by overseeing enterprise-wide capabilities—including AI/ML-enabled solutions—while guiding client delivery, mentoring emerging talent and helping organizations unlock the full potential of their analytical assets. With more than a decade of experience in enterprise data strategy and SAP S/4HANA programs, he has led large-scale transformations for clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Brother and Kenvue. Prior to joining Blue Skies in 2013, Johal held roles at Capgemini and Warner Bros., where he specialized in SAP solutions for the media and entertainment sector—experience that now complements a global project portfolio spanning Latin America, EMEA, Asia and the U.S., with deep expertise in life sciences, consumer goods and healthcare. Kamal M. Patel – Partner and Head of Program Leadership and Operational Excellence | Patel's new leadership role will focus on centralizing program governance, strengthening internal delivery capabilities and applying a people-first lens to operational change. He will also play a critical role in aligning transformation programs across teams and business units. Patel's background spans finance, internal audits and global program delivery, with successful initiatives at Tiffany & Co. and Terumo Medical Corporation. Known for his structured, integrated and transparent approach, he excels at building systems of accountability that support long-term business goals. Matthew Jackiewicz – Partner and Head of Advisory Services | Bringing over a decade of experience in shaping and delivering large-scale transformation programs, Jackiewicz has joined Blue Skies Consulting to lead the firm's strategy & advisory group. In this role, he will oversee the development and execution of business and technology strategies, integrated roadmaps, end-to-end architecture, process and solution design, operating model and organizational design and strategic program management. His work will span critical domains including ERP, data and analytics, integrated business planning, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Jackiewicz is committed to helping clients stay focused on delivering tangible business outcomes. His approach emphasizes roadmaps that are operationally executable and solutions that are scalable, cross-functional and built to drive sustainable value. Prior to joining Blue Skies Consulting, Jackiewicz served as vice president at Verizon, where he led one of the world's largest ERP implementations, supporting more than $100 billion in revenue. He was instrumental in shaping the company's enterprise data and analytics strategy, integrated business planning efforts and emerging technology initiatives involving AI and blockchain. His previous executive roles at Accenture and Johnson & Johnson centered on ERP transformation, data strategy, operating model design and integrated planning. "This team turns strategy into sustainable success, aligning vision with execution in ways most firms cannot," added Hoff. "Each appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to building a leadership bench that brings clarity to complexity and thrives in nuance—connecting what works in theory to what holds in practice and redefining what transformation should look like going forward." To learn more, visit: ABOUT BLUE SKIES CONSULTING: Blue Skies Consulting is a business integration firm with 23+ years' experience guiding complex, high-stakes enterprise transformations. With offices in Irvine, Calif. and Princeton, N.J., it partners with innovative startups through Fortune 500 companies across life sciences, healthcare, financial services, CPG and manufacturing—sectors where data integrity, regulatory compliance and operational agility are mission-critical. Misaligned priorities, internal silos, tech shortfalls or adoption resistance can derail even the best plans; by embedding business integration from day one, Blue Skies Consulting spots risks before they become roadblocks, breaks down barriers early and primes every facet of the organization for what's next. Its nationwide bench of 100+ expert consultants combine the depth of a global firm with the hands-on care and accountability of a boutique. When every detail matters, trust Blue Skies Consulting to turn bold goals into measurable, lasting momentum. Learn more at connect on LinkedIn, or email info@ View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT:Leslie Licano, Beyond Fifteen Communications, | 949.733.8679 x 101 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Blue Skies Consulting Strengthens Leadership Team to Support Business-Side Transformation
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Blue Skies Consulting, one of the few boutique business integration consulting firms in the nation—engineered to bridge the gap between strategic intent and operational execution—today announced three new executive appointments that expand and strengthen its leadership bench, including Inder Johal's promotion to senior partner and head of enterprise data management; Kamal M. Patel to head of program leadership and operational excellence; and the addition of Matthew Jackiewicz as partner and head of advisory services. 'As client needs grow and transformation challenges become more layered, we've been very intentional about strengthening our leadership team with individuals who bring both strategic depth and operational fluency.' Share 'As client needs grow and transformation challenges become more layered, we've been very intentional about strengthening our leadership team with individuals who bring both strategic depth and operational fluency,' said John Hoff, co-founder, senior partner and CEO of Blue Skies Consulting. 'Inder, Kamal and Matthew each bring a rare blend of technical proficiency, hands-on leadership and business-first thinking—essential qualities for navigating the kind of transformation work where success is measured in outcomes, not just implementation.' With studies showing that up to 70% of business transformations fail to meet their goals, Blue Skies Consulting is structured to address the root causes—from misaligned teams to disconnected systems. These appointments reflect the firm's continued focus on solving the most commonly overlooked—and most critical—elements of transformation. While many firms approach change through narrow focuses like technology or process, Blue Skies Consulting leads through business integration: Connecting strategic vision to operational reality by aligning people, systems, processes, data and decisions from day one. With deep experience in data strategy, governance and program leadership, Johal, Patel and Jackiewicz reinforce the firm's ability to reduce transformation risk and deliver lasting results. Inder Johal – Senior Partner and Head of Enterprise Data Management | Johal will spearhead the firm's data initiatives by overseeing enterprise-wide capabilities—including AI/ML-enabled solutions—while guiding client delivery, mentoring emerging talent and helping organizations unlock the full potential of their analytical assets. With more than a decade of experience in enterprise data strategy and SAP S/4HANA programs, he has led large-scale transformations for clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Brother and Kenvue. Prior to joining Blue Skies in 2013, Johal held roles at Capgemini and Warner Bros., where he specialized in SAP solutions for the media and entertainment sector—experience that now complements a global project portfolio spanning Latin America, EMEA, Asia and the U.S., with deep expertise in life sciences, consumer goods and healthcare. Kamal M. Patel – Partner and Head of Program Leadership and Operational Excellence | Patel's new leadership role will focus on centralizing program governance, strengthening internal delivery capabilities and applying a people-first lens to operational change. He will also play a critical role in aligning transformation programs across teams and business units. Patel's background spans finance, internal audits and global program delivery, with successful initiatives at Tiffany & Co. and Terumo Medical Corporation. Known for his structured, integrated and transparent approach, he excels at building systems of accountability that support long-term business goals. Matthew Jackiewicz – Partner and Head of Advisory Services | Bringing over a decade of experience in shaping and delivering large-scale transformation programs, Jackiewicz has joined Blue Skies Consulting to lead the firm's strategy & advisory group. In this role, he will oversee the development and execution of business and technology strategies, integrated roadmaps, end-to-end architecture, process and solution design, operating model and organizational design and strategic program management. His work will span critical domains including ERP, data and analytics, integrated business planning, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Jackiewicz is committed to helping clients stay focused on delivering tangible business outcomes. His approach emphasizes roadmaps that are operationally executable and solutions that are scalable, cross-functional and built to drive sustainable value. Prior to joining Blue Skies Consulting, Jackiewicz served as vice president at Verizon, where he led one of the world's largest ERP implementations, supporting more than $100 billion in revenue. He was instrumental in shaping the company's enterprise data and analytics strategy, integrated business planning efforts and emerging technology initiatives involving AI and blockchain. His previous executive roles at Accenture and Johnson & Johnson centered on ERP transformation, data strategy, operating model design and integrated planning. 'This team turns strategy into sustainable success, aligning vision with execution in ways most firms cannot,' added Hoff. 'Each appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to building a leadership bench that brings clarity to complexity and thrives in nuance—connecting what works in theory to what holds in practice and redefining what transformation should look like going forward.' To learn more, visit: . Blue Skies Consulting is a business integration firm with 23+ years' experience guiding complex, high-stakes enterprise transformations. With offices in Irvine, Calif. and Princeton, N.J., it partners with innovative startups through Fortune 500 companies across life sciences, healthcare, financial services, CPG and manufacturing—sectors where data integrity, regulatory compliance and operational agility are mission-critical. Misaligned priorities, internal silos, tech shortfalls or adoption resistance can derail even the best plans; by embedding business integration from day one, Blue Skies Consulting spots risks before they become roadblocks, breaks down barriers early and primes every facet of the organization for what's next. Its nationwide bench of 100+ expert consultants combine the depth of a global firm with the hands-on care and accountability of a boutique. When every detail matters, trust Blue Skies Consulting to turn bold goals into measurable, lasting momentum. Learn more at connect on LinkedIn, or email info@
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
'More to be done' after spate of stabbings in Derby
Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has suggested work to tackle knife crime needs to focus on adults as well as young people following four stabbing incidents in Derby over a 12-day Johal was fatally stabbed at Lloyds Bank in the city centre on 6 May before a man in his 30s suffered stab wounds to his arm at a house in Crewton Way in Alvaston on 15 following day two men were stabbed during a fight between two groups in Middleton Street, Normanton, before another stabbing in Mercian Way on Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said she felt preventative work needed to be targeted at a range of age groups. Her comments come during national Knife Crime Awareness Week and the launch of Operation Sceptre - a co-ordinated week of action by police forces across England and Wales to tackle knife-related called the spate of knife incidents in the city a "deeply troubling period for local communities"."These are not just statistics — these are lives forever changed. Behind every headline is a person, a family, a community left in pain," she said."Too often, we focus on young people — and while that is important, it's not the whole picture. "Some of those involved in knife crime are now adults who grew up in environments where carrying a knife was normalised. We have to reach them too." The PCC said significant work has already gone into prevention — particularly education among young people - but the issue was "not confined to youth alone".She added there needed to be a "change in attitudes" to get to the "root causes" - such as poverty, mental health, addiction and organised as well as enforcement, collaboration with different organisations like schools and the NHS could office said Derbyshire had seen a 10.9% reduction in knife crime in the past year. Work 'not done' Derbyshire has received funding from the Home Office to support its Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and wider prevention work. In 2025-26, the PCC was awarded an additional £641,000 to expand these initiatives further."This funding is critical... It's helping us tackle knife crime from every possible angle — through education, community support, policing, and prevention," said Ndiweni-Roberts."But until people feel truly safe in their communities, our work is not done."Haybe Cabdiraxmaan Nur, 47, of Western Road, Derby, has been charged with the murder of Gurvinder Johal, 37. He is due to provisionally stand trial in the new year.A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the incident in Meridian Way.
Business Mayor
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Mayor
Labour must not rubber-stamp torture policy, say campaigners
Labour has been accused of rubber-stamping torture policy it criticised while in opposition for enabling UK complicity in serious human rights abuses overseas. The policies regulating British support for foreign security and intelligence services were blamed for facilitating injustices in cases such as those of Jagtar Singh Johal and Ali Kololo, and it was hoped Labour would strengthen them in government. But NGOs and senior MPs say 'light-touch' government reviews of the overseas security and justice assistance (OSJA) guidance and 'the principles' that govern intelligence sharing are likely to leave in place 'very serious flaws'. Their biggest concern is that Labour will not remove ministers' ability to approve UK cooperation in situations where there is a real risk of torture or the death penalty. Johal, a British human rights activist, was allegedly tortured in India, where he remains in jail, after a tipoff from UK intelligence services. Kololo was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death over an attack on British tourists after the Met police provided assistance to Kenyan authorities. The Conservative MP and former cabinet minister David Davis said: 'These policies are not a partisan issue; they are vital safeguards designed to prevent UK actions contributing to people being tortured or sentenced to death. 'Ministers should never be able to sign off on intelligence being shared or UK security assistance being granted where there is a risk of torture. 'That was true under the previous Conservative government and it's true now under Labour. We should never forget that it was bogus intelligence acquired under torture that led to the justification of the Iraq war. 'It would be a grave error to leave these failed policies as they are, and the government must avoid anything that looks like a Whitehall stitch-up, not least as this would have profoundly negative consequences for the UK's global reputation.' Reprieve, Amnesty International UK, Freedom from Torture, the Omega Research Foundation, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Unredacted UK have written a joint letter to the foreign secretary, David Lammy, expressing concern that the policy reviews 'may not sufficiently address the very serious flaws with the existing policy'. The Liberal Democrat MP and former cabinet minister Alistair Carmichael said: 'I would never have expected a Labour government to rubber-stamp Boris Johnson's torture policy while paying lip service to human rights concerns, but that appears to be what is happening here. 'There is disturbing evidence that existing policies on intelligence-sharing and overseas security assistance leave the UK at risk of being mixed up in torture in some way. These policies need a proper overhaul, with input from victims of the previous failed approach, not the consultation-in-name-only that is going on at the moment.' The government is being urged to consult Johal's family and others adversely affected by the policies as well as publish terms of reference for the reviews. Sir Andrew Mitchell, a Conservative MP and former deputy foreign secretary, said: 'Any review worth its salt should be learning the lessons of Ali Kololo, and indeed seeking Mr Kololo's input after everything he has been put through. The OSJA policy's abject failure to prevent this case and others suggests it is fundamentally broken. No responsible minister would want to go beyond the law and get mixed up in torture or the death penalty, and the policy should make clear this is never permissible.' Read More Legal bodies and media join taskforce to fight SLAPPs Reprieve's submission to the OSJA review states that under the former government the policy failed to block UK assistance to human rights abusers in Libya, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. Dan Dolan, Reprieve's deputy executive director, said: 'These two core human rights policies of the British government have in the last decade left a trail of people who have suffered torture and the death penalty, with sadly the UK's assistance. 'If this government fails to follow through on its recognition in opposition that these policies are fatally flawed, then it will let down the survivors of human rights abuses where the UK has played a role.' A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was 'engaging with external stakeholders' and 'recognising the important perspectives of civil society'. They added: 'The guidance will set out how we ensure the UK's overseas security and justice assistance work will meet our human rights obligations and values.'
India Today
09-05-2025
- India Today
Indian-origin restaurateur stabbed to death inside bank in UK
An Indian-origin man, Gurvinder Singh Johal, was stabbed to death inside a bank in the eastern England city of Derby. Police were called to Lloyd's Bank branch in St Peter's Street, Derby, at around 2.30 pm on Tuesday afternoon (May 6), and despite an air ambulance attending to Johal, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Daily Mail reported. He was Somali-origin man, 47, who has been identified as Haybe Cabdiraxmaan Nur, from Normanton in Derby, was arrested and charged with his murder on was a restaurateur. He was the owner of Hen and Chickens Bar and Grill restaurant in Shelton Lock. He is survived by three children and a WAS A 'GOOD FRIEND AND A SMILER': FAMILY FRIEND Johal had just returned from a family trip to India with his wife, children and extended family, a family friend of Johal told the BBC. The friend also said that Johal was "a good friend" and "a smiler". A friend said Johal had visited the Lloyds branch to deposit his restaurant's weekend earnings, as he couldn't do it on Monday due to the bank Shallow, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in the East Midlands, said, "After a review of the evidence provided by Derbyshire Constabulary, we have authorised criminal charges in relation to the death of 37-year-old Gurvinder Johal."advertisementA second suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested but later released without charge or further action in connection with the APPEARED BEFORE THE COURTThe accused appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court via video-link on Thursday, where he spoke only to confirm his identity with the assistance of a Somali has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Derby Crown Court for his next hearing was attended by family members of Johal, who was known to friends as Danny, news agency PTI reported."Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Johal at this time. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial," Shallow said."It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings," Shallow added.
