The Theo van Dort Award is an annual award, named in honour of BASDA co-founder Theo van Dort, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2005.
The 2009 Theo van Dort Award is presented to the person who has done the most to foster collaboration within the industry and goes to John Crooks for his active involvement with BASDA since 1996 and particularly for his efforts in promoting software best practice and co-operation across the business community. John is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agresso Ltd, CODA GB Ltd and Business Collaborator Ltd and is responsible for providing strategy and direction to the UK arms of the Unit 4 Agresso Group.
John has announced that he will retire at the end of March 2010. He has been the prime mover behind the growth of the Agresso business over the past 14 years in the UK and Ireland, both prior to and since Agresso's acquisition by Unit 4 Agresso NV in 2000. He has overseen the growth of the business from start up in 1995 to its current position today as a market leading vendor of business solutions in the UK Public and Private Sector markets.
John began his career at Lucas Industries, after which he joined the US hardware vendor Data General Corporation where he held a number of senior sales and marketing roles, closing his 13 years there as UK Sales and Marketing Director for Data General Limited.
He joined Ampersand Systems Limited as Sales and Marketing Director in 1992 and introduced, as by then Managing Director, Agresso to the UK as a distributor of the Agresso product in 1995. Following the acquisition of Ampersand in 2007 by Agresso ASA, he oversaw the UK subsidiary become the largest revenue outlet for the Agresso product in the world - a position it holds today.
As MD of Agresso Ltd, he helped establish the Business and Software Developers Association (BASDA) in 1996 and spent three years as Deputy Chairman.
One of John’s early projects with Agresso and BASDA in the mid 1990’s resulted in the BASDA ‘selecting a business systems’ booklet which has proved to be a valuable tool for end users in their selection process. With Agresso, he was also instrumental in establishing the Euro accreditation as an active member of the steering group. Further contributions include the white paper on IFRS when it was introduced in 2003, the BASDA standard for eCommerce the CIS booklet when the scheme changed and the Sarbanes Oxley White paper.
John comments on some of the benefits he and Agresso have gained from being actively involved with BASDA:
“BASDA supports the creation of standards for software developers, which results in shorter timescales and reduced costs to introduce these standards to our own products. For example, we took part in the VAT steering group meetings and indeed the VAT standard BASDA produced, we used as a Group as the basis of our VAT module which we re-wrote on the back of this project. SO a major benefit for Agresso in this area.
Being part of BASDA has given us insight into Public and Private Sector initiatives and activities which affect our business, early on in the introduction of these initiatives being adopted. This really means we can get to the market quicker and in a more cost effective time.
BASDA supports software developers by representing our views as the ‘voice of the industry’ when government has adopted ‘inefficient’ or ‘impractical’ methods or ideas in implementing legislation that affects our customers. This helps us focus our development costs and not waste effort.
BASDA has several ‘faces’ not simply standards and software development, but also marketing and other aspects of business. It provides a good idea exchange forum and is useful for me to send other members of my team to engage with other like-minded people in the industry.
BASDA gives me access to many like-minded people in ‘our ’ industry facilitating networking and creating ideas...and it’s fun!”
Dennis Keeling, who was the co-founder of BASDA and worked with John for many years since its formation, comments on John’s contribution to the industry:
“John Crooks established Agresso to the UK; where it became the market leader and its UK arm the strongest subsidiary in the world. John was one of the founder members of BASDA and has sat on its General Council for many years and latterly as Deputy Chairman. His advice was always measured and constructive – a great inspiration to new members and to start-ups alike. One of the ‘greats’ of the UK software industry.”
Jairo Rojas, BASDA Director General, adds:
“John’s down to earth approach to business and his unselfish willingness to cooperate and guide is second to none. It has enabled me to quickly understand the importance of having executives like him on board, guiding and advising on the activities of our association. John will be greatly missed when he retires and I wish him and his family all the best in his future endeavours.”
