When people ask me what I focus on, I say change. Globally this fear has to be faced and dealt with. I am an evangelist for change, using innovative technology systems.
The aim is to innovate the way we work, to assist our partners in the travel industry and to develop ideas to launch new products to benefit their customers.
Let me start at the beginning. An evangelist? Pathak means priest; my ancestors preached religion in the Himalayas. In the northern states, the rajas invited them to preach religion to their peoples. My parents moved a good deal, to Kenya, to Mombassa where I was born, to Zanzibar, then to London and finally Manchester – all that travel before the age of five. Clearly my second name singled me out to be an evangelist but my first name probably stamped me out as a travel man. Whenever I talk to new people, they might have difficulty with the name Ashvin, so I say you can call me Ash, or Flying. I explain. Ashvin means Flying Horse!
As well as graduating in mathematics, I had cultivated quite a degree of commercial know-how – I’m related to the Pataks Pickles and Pastes Empire.
I joined the family business and eventually became general manager and at that age I often shot myself in the foot.
Then a traumatic change became necessary. The woman I intended to marry meant rebellion against the family tradition. I was the eldest son of a high-cast Brahmin family – she was English and Catholic. As heir to the business, I would have to say goodbye to a fortune. It was decision time.
Having settled for sunny Manchester, I got a job as a computer programmer. I found I could express myself through technology. As a systems analyst my additional commercial know-how provided a pivotal role in producing software for IBM’s clients.
After designing and implementing systems for a couple of medium-sized outfits, my second big change came when I formed ICC out of my home in Bowdon, Cheshire.
Two major contracts launched ICC as an IBM agent. We were doing so well we looked around for an investment to broaden our horizons. Right on cue, the travel industry approached us.
We wrote our first highly successful travel agency package for a local agent. In those days, you backed up on floppy disks.
One funny story comes to mind. We visited an agent down south. Proud of her new system, we asked if she was copying her disks. With enormous pride, she took from her filing cabinet photocopy after photocopy of disks, all dated and labelled.
We controlled ourselves – until we got outside the shop. I realised at once that we heralders of change employ a different language, mentality and perspective.
AT Mays took our system. I remember a crucial point in the negotiations with Jamie Moffat and his board at Saltcoats; we were trying to agree a price on a huge package when Jamie’s mother strode into the room rattling a charity tin! It completely threw me and we will never know whether we got the right price.
Then it was one change after the next.
Misys plc, a large FTSE 100 outfit specialising in systems for insurance brokers, approached us.
The company wanted to acquire us to do for travel what they’d done for insurance. I decide to accept their more than generous offer of cash, together with shares. Technology shares did not mean a lot then but look at them now.
Now we focus solely on travel. We have formed successful big name partnerships. Together we have witnessed a sea change in the industry, which is unprecedented. The majority of my time is involved in talking about change and technology – whether it is friend or foe – helping people discover what a friend it can be!
I once read a quote which really sums up my attitude to running my business. In their book called Organising Genius, W Bennis and P Ward said:”The best thing a leader can do for a great company is to allow its partners and employees to discover their own greatness.”
1973: Started maths degree. Part-qualified – Institute of Cost and Management Accounts.
1977: Systime Computer systems programmer.
1980: Computer Resources systems analyst.
1982: Formed ICC and became MD.
1984: Wrote Concord system.
1988: Sold company To Misys Plc. Became divisional director for Misys’ opensystems division.
1989: Created partnerships with Going Places, Bakers Dolphin, Galileo.
1998: Launched ICC Windows System.
1999: Organised buyout of Misys’ information system division and called it Ramesys Holdings. Became MD and divisional director of Ramesys travel and hospitality division
2000: The Ramesys Group acquirese-commerce company The Data Base.
l Find the people and activities that inspire. Make time to do them, those are the catalysts to replenish creativity. I make time to read books and play tennis.
l Treat everyone with unconditional positive regard and kindness. Build up your emotional bank account with them so if ever you have to dip in, you are not overdrawn.
l Make everything into a project. Measure it for motivation and inspiration and if it does not measure high, ask why it’s being done.
l Take time out to understand the technology.