For a few days now I’ve been developing a mental image to help share what I’m currently preparing to do. I’ve been imagining that I’m base jumping with my career. You meticulously check everything, ensure your parachute is packed properly and that the landing area is clear, the wind is just right, then you pause, clear your mind and at some point you choose to jump, to step into the void.
Today I have resigned from IBM UK to begin an exciting new adventure. From early May I will be the Technology Director of Demand247 who are a young and vibrant provider of hosted and managed services.
Lotus and IBM has been my life for very nearly 13 years and I want to thank everyone that I have worked with, you are all remarkable people and I owe a lot to a great many friends, colleagues, mentors and managers. I’m nostalgic and dewy eyed with memories of projects (good, bad and ugly), business partners, sales gigs, events and social time together (especially the BOI ‘residency’ in Dublin in 2000/2001, Vegas, Barcelona and Lithuania).
I want to also thank my family for putting up with all the late nights, time away from home, early mornings, insistence on dabbling with a laptop or a Blackberry at any available opportunity and who are now putting up with me becoming all entrepreneurial.
Thankfully with increasing ubiquity of social software tools my departure from IBM should only be a small hurdle in the maintenance of communication, for those that want to stay in touch here are some means to do so:
Blog: http://www.paulmartinsmith.co.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/paulmartinsmith
Email: paul@paulmartinsmith.co.uk
As I seem to have a soundtrack for everything I do, so as ever, I have prepared a spotify playlist to say ‘Goodbye‘ with.
With Demand247 I’ll not be a million miles away and I’m looking forward to working with you on hosted solutions in the future.
Very best regards
Paul
A 'rather chipper' Paul Smith
Paul Smith's Blog 
Hi Paul!
I saw the tweets, heard the conversation in St Aines and guessed that much. Good luck man. IBM will be loosing a top bloke and Demand 247 is the luckiest company around.
Of all the colleagues in Big Blue I have learned most from you. Thanks!
Paul
Best wishes for the future.
Looking forward to the drinks up in London and, later on, you know where we are.
Cheers
John
Good Luck Paul, and we will keep in touch đŸ™‚
Best regards
Scoot
Most excellent news Paul. We’ll miss you in the Yellow Bubble mate – as Ray said, I’ve learnt a lot from you over the past couple of years as well as enjoying your ‘chipper’ company!
Good luck with the exciting new venture – Demand247 have got a super talented guy as their Technical Director – and I wish you all the luck in the world.
Let me know about the drinks up – I owe you a pint!
Stuart
Paul, I think these are some really great news. I am sure you will enjoy the ride. It will be quite a change coming from a corporate environment. Keep me updated!
Christoph
Paul,
Sounds “very interesting” to say the least!
It was always great fun working with you and I hope our paths will cross in the future.
Good luck and Cheers,
Neil
Paul
I saw your announcement on Linked In – what a surprise! (Then clearly couldn’t resist googling ‘Demand247’ – we should talk…)
As another PMS fan – you taught me so much and always had the time, energy and patience to explain/advise/support – I agree with the guys wholeheartedly, Big Blue must be in a big boo… and Demand247 should be feeling suitably smug.
Look forward to catching up with you soon… JJx