ACM Sir Anthony Bagnal parachutes in at EDS
 

EDS, the American IT services group, has recruited Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall, former vice-chief of the defence staff, to lead a global advisory board on defence contracts.
EDS is one of the British government’s biggest IT contractors. EDS has been harshly criticised for its role in some problematic government IT contracts, notably the Treasury’s tax-credit scheme — a deal it eventually lost — and its contract to provide IT systems and support to the Child Support Agency.
But last year it led the consortium that won a key contract from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to revamp and upgrade the armed forces’ IT equipment.
The Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) deal is eventually expected to be worth about £4 billion over a number of years.
Bagnall, who left the MoD in July, said that he hoped
EDS would eventually become the “partner of choice” for the MoD and other Whitehall departments.
“If you are going to get the best out of these new systems, you need a long-term trading relationship,” he said.
Bagnall said he had been approached by a number of defence contractors after leaving the MoD, but had decided to join EDS because he had been impressed by the company’s record on an earlier armed forces personnel contract, and its efforts on DII.
He said improved IT could help the British military in a range of areas.
“We are not just talking about back-office systems, but things close to the front line like mission-planning and tactical awareness tools,” he said.
Michael Jordan, EDS’s chairman, said the defence council aimed to exploit the expertise the company had developed in DII and in a similar contract for the US Navy.
The expert advice would also help the company to spot opportunities and trends in military contracting.
“It fills a void for us,” Jordan said. “We have a desperate need for more expertise in global defence issues.”
The council, which will eventually have eight members from around the world, held its first meeting in London last week.

Ooooh, he said the B word... :eek:

Says it all, doesn't it - American company EDS recruits the man with no name, unknowingly sending their reputation, credibility and share price down the toilet.....

Excuse my ignorance
 

Right then, here's a bone question...:O

Is this the chap that people are referring to when they mention 'the Scottish officer' or 'the B word' (or words to that effect?)

It may have been before my time - I've only been in the mob 7 years - but what did he do or not do? Have a love-child?

'The Scotish Group Captain'. A complete and utter to**er of the highest order.
The mas who wanted to do away with Boarding School Allowance, as soon as his son had finished of course. The considered it a 'Spanish Practice'.
Once stated that Officers did not need their own house, or working wives as there were perfectly good MQ's and the lady at home should be supporting hubby anyway.
Sat in his outer office once talking to his Sgt PA. The man just uttered obsceneties all the time about what he wanted to do to the 'boss'. Said the last bloke had quit due to stress and nerves. I marched in for my farewell chat after a 5 month course and was told to 'get a new hat', then asked to leave.
I am sure there are Ppruners who could use up the whole bandwidth with tales of this monstrosity of a man.
EDS? Avoid it like the plague.
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Just what would he know about such topics? Could only be what he has been told because when I knew him he was flying with the scope virgin in the back seat and between them they never found a target!

Having worked for "a large American systems integrator" for many years, this is not really surprising. They have pushed the other out of business time and time again. If you out bid your competitors for long enough, you win. That's always been their strategy.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. I don't know him, but EDS are the crowd who have made an artform of selling UK PLC successive £500 million+ computer systems (pensions, NI, CSA) which are absolute crap.

CG

GengisKhant, you've just committed yourself to buying each and every PPRuNer who sees the title of this thread a drink of their choice, as is required by Air Defence tradition:

Anyone mentioning the name of 'The Scottish Officer' in public must buy a drink for all those who hear the name of the B-word spoken.

Such was the esteem in which this person was held!

Sounds as though EDS have scored the same sort of own goal which RR did when they foolishly employed Ba$tard Bill!

BEagle, I think you've inflated his assessments!

Like poles sometimes attract
 

They are indeed entirely suited to one another.
I once had the dubious priviledge of de-briefing this individual about a Lightning auto-pilot fault he had reported. As my questions continued (it was a complicated snag) he became more and more irate and eventually slammed his flying gloves down on the table, said something to the effect of "I've had enough of these dumb-ass questions, just fix the bl**dy thing" and stormed out. I'm pleased to say the subsequent PS2 entry recorded something on the lines of "Change pilot, the system has better manners".:hmm:
As for EDS--absolute shysters, retained in their lucrative contract positions by....well, most people can guess. :(

Slightly before my time,as I first came across him as "the Scottish Group Captain", but I believe that as OC 43 and PMC he banned flying suits from the mess!!

True?

Edited to add that as AOC 11 Gp, he also said that morale was a line management problem and nothing to do with him. :(

Him and Nasty Nige, what a pair.

sw

Isn't there a 2 year purdah on such appointments? Mind you, a "special" rule applies for those at the top and I hope that us mortals pay the same credence to any perceived "conflict of interest" when we vote with our feet.

It matters not - EDS have been screwing us and others for years - 'big enough for the job' I've heard - seems to be 'big enough to screw up'.

ISTR when he was appointed CinC STC. We were all called to the OM for a trumped-up EGM, which of course gave the aforementioned individual the opportunity to address the officers, which he did. Oh how he gushed about this being the only job he'd ever wanted, couldn't wait to get started ... would need all our support ... difficult times ahead ... blah blah blah...

Within a few months he was off to VCDS ... no doubt he got all his staff together ...

One of the most horrible Men I have ever met either in or out of the service.

I've just twigged. He must be Southside. Or is he Tourist? Or maybe Admin Guru? Cripes, perhaps he's all of them!

Bet he's not Beagle though.

Regards

Ginseng

How did he ever get to Air Rank?

Must be the same system that put "Tweety Pie" in command of Male Cadets at RAFC Cranwell!!!!

Nothing personal Brian.

On second thoughts - YES IT IS!!!!

... by my count he said it TWICE. Like he's taunting us all ...

Not the Gp Capt Brian C? Otherwise termed 'Captain Grope Bottom'? Initials BM, which invited everyone in the know to insert a 'U'.

When he was whisked away, the 'system' tried to keep it quiet from mere Flt Lt QFIs. When we found out, we had more contempt for those who tried to keep it pas devant than we did for the bum-fondler.

This was, of course, a few years before Pink Wednesday!