Simon St John Chamberlain – North London – United Kingdom
UK Government Security cleared
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Highlights
- Extensive “hands-on” in-depth technical network experience
- Successful technical lead and manager for large scale networks
- Network Infrastructure Project Manager for BBC (major projects)
- Group Network Manager for Hitachi Capital
- Global Network Manager for iomart
- UK Network Manager for Concentrix (ten-billion-dollar organisation)
- Global Network Manager for Synthomer (Major chemical manufacturer)
About Me
I have extensive experience in designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise, data centre, and ISP-grade networks. As a Network Architect and former owner of Ping Networks Ltd—an ISP that later became LDeX Connect—I provided comprehensive connectivity solutions across seven data centres.
Industry Certifications
| Cisco | CCNA CCDA CCNP CCDP CCIE R&S (Written) Meraki ECMS1 Currently studying AWS certifications |
Proficient Technologies
| Troubleshooting | Ping, traceroute, MTR, Embedded packet capture, Wireshark, CDP, LLDP, UDLD, SPAN, RSPAN, MTR, debug, OSI 7 layer model, TCP 4 layer model, AppNeta |
| Technology | Protocol/Feature |
| VLANs | VTP, 802.1q, Native VLAN |
| Etherchannel | LACP, PAgP, Load balancing |
| Spanning Tree | PVST+/RPVST+/MST Portfast BPDU Guard BPDU Filter Loopguard, Rootguard |
| Layer 2 WAN | PAP, CHAP, PPPoE, MLPPP, Frame relay, HDLC |
| Addressing | IPv4, IPv6, ARP, DHCP, IP Helper, RFC1918, GLOP |
| Routing | Static, Default, Distance Vector, Link State, Path Vector, VRF lite, Route tagging, Split Horizon, RIPv2, OSPF, BGP, ISIS, EIGRP, HSRP, VRRP, GLBP |
| MPLS | MP-BGP, LDP, L3VPN, CE, PE, P, Pseduowire, |
| Tunnelling | GRE, L2TP, L2TPv3, VTI, IPSec |
| Multicast | IGMPv2, v3, RFP, PIM (Dense, Sparse, Sparse-Dense), Static RP, Auto-RP |
| Network Security | AAA, ASDM, Management Plane protection, ACL (Standard, Extended, Time), VACL, iACL, Storm control, Private VLAN, Port-security, uRPF, Static/Dynamic NAT, PAT |
| QoS | CoS and DSCP Mappings, NBAR, Policing, Shaping, RED, WRED, Jitter, MOS, RTT, IPSLA |
| Network/Monitoring Services | NTP, Netflow, SNMP, EEM, VTY, Telnet, SSH, FTP, TFTP, TCL, Python, Ansible, Git, YAML, APIs |
Platform Experience
| Vendor | Hardware |
| Cisco | Catalyst 2950, 2960, 3550,3560,3750,4500,5500, 6500 (7600),9200,9300, 9500 Metro me3750, me3600, me3800, me6500 Nexus N3K, N5K, N7K, N9K NCS 520,540 ASR 920, 1000, 9000 VXR 7200 ISR 800, 1800, 1900, 2900, 3800, 3900, 4300, 4400, 8000v ASA 5500, 1000 Meraki MS120, MS125, MS210, MS225, MS250, MS350, MS410, MX85, MX105, MX250 |
| Juniper | EX 3330, MX80, MX204, SRX320, SRX340, SRX380 |
| Other | Arbor Dell N2024, S4048 Barracuda F80B, F180B, F280C, F380B VyOS, PFSense, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Aruba, Ubiquiti, Versa |
| Monitoring/ Management | SNMPc, Observium, LibreNMS, Nagios, Cacti, Netbox |
Operating Systems
| Routing | IOS, IOS-XE, IOS-XR, NX-OS, Junos, OS9, OS10 |
| Server | Linux Ubuntu/Mint, Windows |
Non-Technical skills
| Technical Liaison | I am able to bridge the gap between technical leadership and executive management by presenting complex technologies in a more comprehensible form enabling management to make informed choices. |
| Team Management | I have a proven record of successful team management, with low attrition, focusing on team cohesion, well-being, development, and effectiveness. |
Employment History
| Synthomer – Global Network Manager (March 2024 – Present) |
| Synthomer is a Global UK-based speciality chemicals manufacturer focused on innovation and sustainability, operating globally and listed on the London Stock Exchange. As Global Network Manager I am responsible to leading a team of four network engineers. My responsibly is split 50/50 between hand-on configuration and team management. Area of responsibility include: Maintenance and operation of a Versa Global SD-WAN network operation spanning 50 sites. Management of onsite switching and WiFi infrastructure Infrastructure security management Monitoring, Altering, and Capacity management Change and configuration management Security advisory to CISO Future network strategy (SSE/SASE), AWS Network Migration Hardware procurement Infrastructure including Aruba Switches, Cisco Switches, Palo Alto firewalls, Versa SD-WAN, Libre-NMS, PRTG, Solarwinds, Ubiquiti WiFi, Cisco CW9800 WiFi etc |
| Concentrix+Webhelp – Network Manager (August 2023 – March 2024) |
| Concentrix+Webhelp is a global ten-billion-dollar organisation specialising in customer engagement and business performance. I am currently working as the Network Manager for the UK, South Africa, and India regions. My responsibilities include the following: In-depth, hands-on, configuration and operational support of large-scale complex international networks supporting 50,000+ staff Management and leadership of nine network and security experts Management and coordination of additional external technical support Technical liaison with Network Architecture heads and IT steering group Monitoring and capacity planning and licensing authority Network development advisory Network Incident and Alert resolution Internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) support Infrastructure including Cisco ASR 1K, 4K, 920, 9K, ASA 5K, FTD, Nexus N3K, N5K, N7K, N9K, Catalyst 2960, 3560, 6500, 7600, 9200, 9300, 9500, Dell N2024, S4048, Cisco Umbrella, Cisco Prime, Cisco DNA/Catalyst Centre, Juniper EX3300, EX4500, PRTG, Solarwinds, Observium, Nagios, VyOS, PFSense, FS.com DWDM |
| iomart – Network Manager (July 2020 – July 2023) |
| Iomart is a UK-based cloud computing and managed services provider, offering cloud hosting, data security, and digital transformation solutions. Serving businesses globally, it specializes in secure, scalable, and resilient IT infrastructure. At iomart I lead the iomart global network team. My responsibilities included the following: Administrative and technical management of the Network Team Analytical network reporting Network architecture design Network security and DDoS protection Large customer network support Incident resolution Full management and monitoring of national and international networks Transit planning and maintenance Alert resolution Internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) support RIPE management Infrastructure including Cisco ASR 1K, 920, 9K, ASA 5K, ACI, Nexus N3K, N5K, N7K, N9K, Catalyst 2960, 3560, 6500, 7600, 9200, 9300, 9500, ASA 5K, Dell N2024, S4048, Juniper MX80, MX204, SRX320, SRX340, SRX380, Barracuda F80B, F180B, F280C, F380B, Arbor sightline, Observium, Nagios, VyOS, PFSense, FS.com DWDM |
| Ping Networks / LDeX Connect Ltd CTO (April 2010 – July 2020) |
| I started an ISP called Ping Networks in 2010 providing Internet and connectivity solutions. In December 2013 I joined forces with the London Data Exchange (LDeX) group and rebranded as LDeX Connect. LDeX Connect Ltd was recognised as one of the fastest growing companies in the Deloitte top 50 for two years running. During this time I grew the company to over 100 customers providing and supporting a number of different technologies including: Full data centre WAN (over 6 data centres) IP Transit and BGP connectivity MPLS layer 2 and 3 services Managed Firewall RIPE management DWDM wave solutions Broadband (LNS) and Ethernet connectivity SD-WAN, DM-VPN Multicast Streaming Full 3rd party ISP management and support Consultancy Hardware procurement The LDeX group was sold to iomart in July 2020. Infrastructure included Cisco ASR 1K, 9K, ASA 5K, Nexus N3K, N5K, Catalyst 2960, 3560, 4500, 6500, 7600, ASA 5K,ISR 800, 1800, 1900, 2600, 2800, 2900, 3800, 3900, Metro me-3750, me-6500, me-3600, me-3800, VXR 7200, Juniper EX3300, Castlerock SNMPc, Cacti |
| Adapt (now Rackspace) – Lead Network Architect (May 2004 – March 2010) |
| At Adapt I was responsible for growing the company’s network during a period of rapid expansion (Adapt was the only UK master reseller for Level(3) transit). Key responsibilities included: Lead a team of three Network Architects, responsibilities including: Colo IP Transit and BGP connectivity (multiple data centres) MPLS layer 2 and 3 services Managed Firewall RIPE management DWDM wave solutions (Transmode) Broadband and Ethernet connectivity Infrastructure included Cisco ASA 5K, Catalyst 2950,2960, 3560, 4500, 6500, 7600, ASA 5K, ISR 800, 1800, 1900, 2500, 2600, 2800, 2900, 3800, 3900, Metro me-3750, me-6500, VXR 7200, Castlerock SNMPc, MTRG |
| BBC Worldwide – Infrastructure Project Manager (March 1999 – May 2004) |
| I was headhunted to join the BBC to project manage a full campus LAN replacement project for the main BBC Worldwide campus. This followed the successful delivery of a similar project for Hitachi Capital. Following this I was assigned a number of high-profile projects: Replacement LAN Project Full Project Management responsibility for the design and implementation of a £500,000 fully switched replacement Cisco LAN IPTV Project (multicast IPTV) Project managed in consultation with Cisco technical resources. Used to broadcast Greg Dykes quarterly message to staff BBC Audiobooks Acquisition Project Full project management responsibility Strategically important project for BBC Worldwide Designed interim and final network solutions BBC Worldwide Japan Acquisition Project Full project management responsibility Oversaw implementation of new LAN and WAN infrastructure BBC Worldwide Global Dynamic Routing Protocol Project Global network routing upgrade for strategic BBC Worldwide office |
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