Retail technology veteran Ian Tomlinson hangs up Cybertill CEO hat and hands baton to James Ward

Cybertill boss Ian Tomlinson has announced his retirement. He is handing over the reins to company veteran James Ward.

Cybertill is a cloud-based retail software solutions specialist.

In a LinkedIn post, Tomlinson said: “After nearly 25 years of steering the Cybertill ship, I’ve decided it’s time to hang up my CEO hat (at least for now). It’s been one heck of a ride - full of laughs, challenges, and more coffee than I can count.”

“My bucket list is now longer than a Leonard Cohen song (and trust me, that’s saying something), and I’m finally going sailing, traveling more than Judith, and ticking off a few things I’ve always wanted to do. I want to give a huge shoutout to everyone who helped me grow along the way - our incredible team, our supportive partners, and all the amazing individuals who kept Cybertill moving forward.”

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT - NIGEL CLARE MENSWEAR

Nigel Clare is a designer menswear store carrying luxury labels from all over the world. Nigel Clare the store was founded back in 1995. Located in Chorley, Lancashire,

Visit their website via the link - https://t.co/l5wYprjpw6 pic.twitter.com/T8Of21AG3R

— Cybertill Retail (@cybertill) April 2, 2024

He added: “Whether you stayed with us, moved on to new adventures, or grew into something even greater - you're all part of this fantastic story, thank you. A special thanks to those who made Cybertill what it is today - you’re the real heroes. And don’t worry, I’ll still be around as a special advisor to the board, cheering everyone on from the sidelines.”

Tomlinson concluded: “Now, I’m handing the baton to James Ward who’s been with us for over 20 years. He’s the perfect person to lead the next chapter, and I can’t wait to see where he takes Cybertill next.”

“Exciting times ahead: with Valsoft’s acquisition and James at the helm, the best is yet to come. They will build on the strong foundations we’ve laid down to create a new vision for our customers and continue to innovate and grow. Thanks again for all the support, good times, and memories. Here’s to new adventures - and a little more sleep!”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Cloud solutions will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.