Meet our leadership team

Ian Bendelow

Chief Executive Officer

Ian has 30 years of experience in IT and enterprise resource planning solutions and over 25 years working with the company's portfolio of solutions, services and clients. His career developed from customer-facing roles in support, training and consultancy to executive positions in sales, international business development and other commercial functions. For some 15 years, Ian has been General Manager and CEO of KCS leading Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) strategy for growth.

Mike Jefferies

Chief Financial Officer

Mike Joined KCS in February 2024 and has over 25 years of experience in finance and leadership roles within Global businesses. Mike has worked in the software and IT sector for the last 15 years, most recently as COO for a division of Cisco and before that as Group CFO of IMImobile PLC. Mike has also worked for Star Trac Inc, a US based manufacturer and distributor of commercial fitness equipment and before that for the Whirlpool Corporation.

James Mitchell

Managing Director, UK, Ireland and Nordics

James has 28 years of experience in IT and software solutions. James’ career developed from technical roles in R&D and product management through to customer-facing roles in support, project management, professional services, consultancy and sales. More recently, James has been Managing Director of a software business with responsibility for Europe and Latin America. James has a BSc (Hons) in Business and Computer Science, an Executive MBA from Cranfield University Business School, and he is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Mick Forrest

Director, Ireland

Mick holds the position of Director at Kerridge Commercial Systems Ireland, a role he has excelled in due to his experience over 25 years. Throughout his career, Mick has dedicated himself to delivering innovative and effective solutions tailored to customers' unique needs in the Irish automotive aftermarket. His expertise in this specialised field is not just limited to strategic leadership but also extends to deep technical knowledge and an insightful understanding of market trends. This combination of skills has enabled Mick to spearhead numerous successful initiatives, driving growth and efficiency across the KCS Ireland team.

Graham Dobbs

Managing Director, Rental Division

Graham has been involved in the rental industry since 1987, working in equipment rental companies for 13 years before being drawn to IT software solutions and joining the leading rental software provider in 2000. His career developed from project management to operations director, then moving to sales director before becoming the MD for the rental software business. Based in the UK but with responsibility for global rental solutions, Graham has successfully driven global growth in the UK, Netherlands & Europe as well as Australia and the USA. With a passion for all that is rental, Graham sees his role as ensuring we continue to deliver market-leading solutions and services to equipment rental customers to keep them one step ahead.

Chris Owen

Chief Customer Services Officer

Chris Owen joined KCS as Chief Support Officer in July 2018 and, since 2024, has had a wider remit for Support, Cloud and Professional Services. Before joining KCS, Chris was responsible for 'Customer Success - Global Delivery' at the world's largest supply chain software company. In addition, he's pioneered multiple IT innovations for tier-one multinational software companies. Chris is based at the KCS HQ in Hungerford but works across our global network of customer service centres, leading over 600 associates that comprise the global Support, Cloud and Professional Services team. Chris also holds several professional and civic honours and serves in the RAF reserve in his spare time.

Giuseppe Martini

Managing Director, Africa

Giuseppe (Gus) joined Kerridge Commercial Systems South Africa for the second time in 2017 as Commercial Director. He was part of the original commercial division team in South Africa as a Project Manager in the 90’s and brings over 30 years of experience from various industries. Before his second stint with the company, he served in several senior roles, from operations to procurement & IT director at large multi-branch national building industry merchants. Giuseppe sees his role as continuing to grow KCS in SA and to share industry experience both internally and externally.

Fred Loos

Managing Director, Benelux

Fred's extensive industry and product knowledge has led to numerous successful European integrations. With over 35 years of experience within the software industry, primarily in KCS's distribution division, Fred is a passionate leader deeply committed to expanding KCS's European presence. He always aligns our portfolio with the unique needs of our clients, and his customer-focused vision aims to empower businesses with tailored software solutions that help them foster growth and success. Fred's expertise and dedication are crucial to KCS's ongoing European expansion.

Francois Patrice

Chief Revenue Officer

Francois is responsible for growing the top-line revenue at KCS across geographies while always staying true to our philosophy of seeking to help customers with their businesses first. He ensures that our customer needs are central to what our organisation does day-to-day, from building great products to getting them used at their full potential. Francois has been in customer-centric, commercial, and growth-related roles for over 20 years, and he's passionate about satisfying customers and delivering on expectations.

DJ Jones

Chief Technology and Product Officer

DJ brings his rich experience in ERP, SaaS, FinTech, and AI to revolutionise our technology and product offerings. With an impressive history in leading large-scale product development, particularly in accounting software, professional service automation (PSA) and ERP suites, DJ is directly aligned with the needs of KCS's diverse client base. As Global Vice President of Product at Sage Group PLC and Head of Productivity Products at IRIS Software Group, DJ has spearheaded transformative projects like 'IRIS Elements' and 'Sage for Accountants', demonstrating his ability to drive innovation and growth.

At KCS, DJ is dedicated to driving our technological vision and product strategy, ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed the evolving needs of our global clientele within the distribution, rental and automotive industries. His role is pivotal in developing cutting-edge technology and products that empower businesses to achieve greater efficiency and profitability.

Carolyn Adams

Chief People Officer

Carolyn Adams serves as the Chief People Officer at Kerridge Commercial Systems. Carolyn drives the human capital strategy in this role, including culture & engagement, talent acquisition & development and reward. Prior to joining Kerridge Commercial Systems in 2014, she held leadership positions in financial and software organisations. Carolyn holds a Business Management/Accounting degree, is a certified Global and Senior Professional in Human Resources (GPHR & SPHR) and is certified with the University of Oxford Saïd Business School Executive Leadership Programme.