Former Block boss takes CEO role at Tiger Communications

Tiger provides a data analytics platform for UC solutions

Former Block Solutions boss Jon Pickering (pictured) has taken on the role of CEO at comms specialist Tiger Communications, with a view to boosting the firm's presence in the channel.

Tiger's flagship product is Tiger Prism, which gives businesses visibility of how employees are using unified comms services across the business.

The platform integrates with solutions from vendors including Cisco, Avaya and Microsoft, and is sold predominately through the channel by Tiger.

The new role is Pickering's (pictured) first since exiting Block, the now-£40m revenue business he co-founded in 2006.

"Tiger has been in the unified communications market since 2001, but there is a misconception around what we do and the real value that we offer," he said.

"We've got this analytics legacy which I don't think we're known for. People think it's UC billing, or it's information recording, but it's not.

"It's a data analytics platform for unified communications systems across all the major vendors.

"We help people understand the information that they are getting from their telephony system, down to how different departments and individuals communicate with each other."

Pickering said that Tiger already works with a number of the largest VARs in the UK, but wants to expand its reach in the channel.

He added that his experience running Cisco Gold partner Block means he knows how difficult it is for channel businesses to stand out.

"We want to give partners that edge and unique identity on top of the solutions that they are providing in a very competitive market," he said.

"I know from running Block how competitive infrastructure is, but being able to give them a software platform on top of their collaboration solution provides some differentiation."

Pickering said that Tiger has plans to expand out of its traditional comms space into the business intelligence and analytics arena.

The Hampshire-based firm reported sales of £3.9m in 2018, a year which also saw then-MD Stephen McCallum complete a management buyout.

Pickering said that Tiger has a solid foundation of recurring and managed services revenue to build from.

From a personal perspective, Pickering said he is excited about taking on a role that is different to time at Block.

"I've been looking for an opportunity for about 18 months, but I didn't want to do the same thing," he said.

"This market excites me because of where it's at at the moment. People are looking for businesses intelligence and analytics, but how do they get it into the business? We're going to help them do that."