Accenture
449, Route des Cretes
06902 Sophia Antipolis
FRANCE
martin.illsley@accenture.com
Born in Burton-on-Trent, England, early in his school career Martin showed an aptitude for mathematics, which he subsequently studied at Brunel University, London. Doctoral studies in theoretical computer science at Edinburgh University followed, under the tutorship of Professor Rod Burstall, whom he recognizes as one of the great influences on his life. Indeed, it was Burstall who ignited his interest in computer science. Having gained his Ph.D. in 1988, he taught at the university before joining Hewlett Packard, where he remained for three years, learning the “mathematical beauty of writing computer code.”
But code on its own was not enough. Martin was driven by a passion to see the direct results of his work, which led him to Accenture in 1991. Working initially in the Foundation software development group, he was one of the two founder members of the European Research and Development group in 1995. Here, for the first time, he found that he could talk about research ideas to people who were actually in a position to do something about them. He also discovered how technology and business interact, and became fascinated by the application of technology to drive business growth.
“One of the great pleasures of my work,” Martin says, “is seeing research being put into action. My job is to craft a vision of the future, by piecing together different technology threads. I then have the chance to share that vision with our clients, which keeps us firmly grounded in reality.”
For him, two of the great strengths of Accenture Technology Labs are honesty and independence. Since the Labs is not tied in any way to particular software or hardware solutions, the only thing the Labs “sells” is raw brainpower applied at the leading edge of knowledge.
“In many research organizations, researchers never talk to potential clients directly,” he says. “I have the enormous advantage of being able to stand in front of the CEOs of leading corporations and talk to them about technology trends and the potential impact on their business. It makes for very stimulating, open relationships, because in effect it takes out the middleman.”
On a personal level, Martin is fascinated by what technology can achieve and takes great pleasure in discussing the practical aspects of applying new technologies. He abstracts his vision for technology from common situations he sees around him daily, asking himself how technology could improve or eliminate a process or activity that others take for granted. He believes that innovation is the most important item on the business agenda. Read more in Martin’s weblog www.accenture.com/illsley.
“Innovation will be to this decade what quality was to the last,” he says. “Companies need to learn how to manage and exploit it, which is why of course we invite them to the Labs to take time to think about things.”
Outside Accenture, Martin relaxes by developing property and building, while contemplating “writing a book, or maybe two.”