MARK BEARD — CIO · System1 Group (2019–2025)

I had the privilege of working closely with Neil for three years at System1, and in that time he consistently stood out as one of the most driven and genuinely committed professionals on the team.

As a BA embedded across multiple agile squads delivering digital products, Neil brought a rare combination of technical rigour and infectious enthusiasm. His outputs were consistently detailed, precise, and perfectly crafted to feed the storification process — giving developers exactly what they needed to move fast and with confidence. He didn't just meet the bar; he raised it.

What truly set Neil apart, though, was that he cared. About the work, the team, the craft. He was never someone who clocked off at the edge of his job description — he actively shaped processes and standards, challenged conventional thinking, and was a trusted support to colleagues navigating complex deliveries. That same energy extended beyond the work itself; Neil was a cornerstone of the social committee, the kind of person who understands that culture and morale are just as important as velocity.

In his final year, Neil stepped into one of the most strategically important areas of our roadmap — the transition to AI-driven solutions. Working alongside me and key external partners, he helped define and shape what that future looked like in practice. It was exacting, fast-moving work, and Neil was exactly the person you wanted in the room.

Any organisation that brings Neil on board will be getting far more than a skilled BA — they'll be getting someone who genuinely elevates everything around them.

STEVE POWELL — COO @ Feefo | Tech, CS & Product Executive | Scaling Teams, Products & Customer Outcomes | CTO · CPTO · COO

I worked closely with Neil during his time at Feefo, and I can say that he is a committed, hard-working, and dynamic product expert.

What makes Neil stand out is his ability to stay level-headed and delivery-focused, even when things get complicated. When he stepped up to lead the product team at Feefo he didn't just "keep the lights on", he successfully steered the department through the disruption of the pandemic. He is able to take a high-level vision and turn it into something practical that actually works for the end user.

At Feefo, Neil was the driving force behind some of our most successful innovations at the time. He launched four AI-based products that became our fastest-growing revenue lines, with his work on "Smart Themes" even picking up industry awards.

Despite his deep technical background, he never loses sight of the "why" behind a product, ensuring everything is grounded in real business value. Beyond the stats and the strategy, Neil is a brilliant person to have in a team. He was rightly recognised with a company award for "Enabling Creativity and Innovation", which perfectly sums up his approach. He's a natural mentor who knows how to get the best out of people and bridge the gap between commercial, product, and engineering teams.

If you're looking for a leader who can navigate complex tech while remaining focused on delivery and quality, Neil is your man.

ROBYN DI CESARE — Chief Product Officer · System1 Research

I've had the opportunity to work with Neil at System1 in my role as Chief Product Officer.

Neil brought fresh thinking and a strong delivery mindset from day one. He was key across many recent projects including our new AI predictions tool, improving our data quality, and enhancing our core product reports and overall UX.

What stands out most working with Neil is his curiosity and willingness to probe. Neil never accepts the 'what' at face value; he thoughtfully pushes to understand the 'why', which leads to better decision making and stronger outcomes. He also champions the customer, always bringing the conversation back to real user needs.

A thoughtful, collaborative colleague across product and technology who drives meaningful business outcomes.

MATT COLLINS . Head of IT Project Delivery . System1 Group

I had the pleasure of managing Neil for over three years, during which time he served as a Business Analyst while also bringing a wealth of Product Management experience.

Neil's work centred on our flagship product Test Your Ad, where he delivered numerous features that moved the product forward. Most recently, he led standout AI initiatives including a respondent quality system that reduced poor and fraudulent responses, and a Tag and Search capability that lets clients search over 100,000 creative assets using natural language.

What makes Neil stand out goes beyond delivery. Neil lifts everyone around him, is down to earth, and is always ready to coach and support others. Neil also drove mental health initiatives and helped strengthen the team's social culture.

Neil is always experimenting, researching, and writing thoughtful papers on better ways of working and new technology.

Any team would be lucky to have Neil. I recommend him without hesitation.

SHRAVAN SAMPATH KUMAR — Creative Generalist | Strategy @ System1

I've had the pleasure of working with Neil for close to five years, and he has consistently been one of the most reliable and forward-thinking partners I've worked with. Having Neil alongside me made execution not just smoother, but stronger.

He is a true self-starter and someone who actively explores ideas, challenges assumptions, and looks for better ways to build. He works seamlessly with developers to turn concepts into reality, always going above and beyond what's asked, pushing for products that are not just functional, but genuinely delightful.

Neil has also played a key role in building some of System1's first AI-powered products, including competition monitoring agents that have made us more efficient and better informed as an organisation.

What stands out most is his mindset. Full of ideas, open in sharing them, and highly resilient to feedback. He iterates quickly, improves constantly, and brings others along with him.

A brilliant partner to work with and a real asset to any team!

MEGAN WATTS, ASSOC CIPD — Global People Leader | Executive-Level Workforce Strategy | Restructuring, Reward & Organisational Design | Executive Coach

Neil is one of those people who genuinely cares about the people around him, and it comes through in everything he does.

What really stood out to me was that he went and got himself qualified as a Mental Health First Aider completely off his own back, and then worked closely with me in HR to bring those learnings back into the business in a way that actually made a difference. He helped shape how we thought about wellbeing at work and made it easier for people to have conversations that aren't always easy to have.

He brought real warmth and commitment to that work, and you could see the impact it had on the people around him. Any team would be lucky to have him.

DR AGAMEMNON SFONDILIS — Software Developer with a PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics · System1

I've had the pleasure of working with Neil and have always appreciated his collaborative and thoughtful approach. As a Business Analyst with a strong technical background, he is very effective at clarifying requirements, engaging with stakeholders, and helping teams connect business needs with practical delivery.

Neil communicates clearly, brings structure to discussions, and works hard to ensure teams have the context they need to move forward. He also has a good understanding of AI-related topics and emerging technologies, which helps him contribute to conversations around innovation and future-facing initiatives. He is professional, approachable, and a pleasure to work with.

VASYL HOBAN . Senior Frontend Developer

I had the opportunity to work with Neil and can recommend Neil as a reliable and professional business analyst. Working together on complex tasks, Neil consistently translated business needs into clear requirements. Neil was actively involved in collaboration with UX. Neil is genuinely easy to work with.

ED WOOLDRIDGE . Senior Software Developer . System1 Group

I have really enjoyed working with Neil. Neil is one of the most product minded business analysts I have come across.

Neil cares about building the right thing, not just delivering requirements. Neil is passionate about building great products, especially when it comes to UX, and is always pushing for a better experience for users.

Neil is also great at turning ideas into clear, well structured stories that teams can work with. Neil is tuned into the AI space and is always thinking about practical uses.

Neil has great energy for driving change and helps move work in the right direction.

I would happily work with Neil again.

WILLIAM HEADLEY . Head of Labs . System1 Group

I enjoyed working with Neil for several years and can recommend Neil for senior technical thinking and the broader business context that Neil brings. We worked together on complex AI initiatives where Neil helped bridge the human and commercial implications. Neil brings a high level of personal engagement to make sure what is built is practical and valuable.

NAGASHREE HEGGADDE SHIVASHANKAR . Senior IT Development Team Lead

I highly recommend Neil for any senior business analyst or product owner role. Neil was instrumental in the success of some of our AI initiatives, handling complex story writing and facilitating Scrum ceremonies. Neil makes refinements efficient and retrospectives productive. Neil's blend of AI knowledge and Agile delivery makes Neil a strong asset to any product team.

DARREN GRAY . Solutions Architect

I had the pleasure of working with Neil at System1 for nearly three years. Neil bridges product, technology, quality, and the business. The functional specs Neil produced were thorough and insightful, and gave me a solid foundation to design systems with confidence.

Beyond delivery and AI experience, what makes Neil stand out is how Neil shows up for the people around him. Neil is caring and supportive, and brings professionalism and warmth to any team.

I recommend Neil without hesitation.

GUILLAUME GARNIER . Research Director . System1

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Neil on several product development projects at System1. As a market researcher, I worked closely with Neil on testing and feedback cycles before new product releases and updates, and I was consistently impressed by Neil's technical skill and common sense approach.

Neil understands that product development does not exist in a silo. Neil recognises that every technical decision impacts other departments and, ultimately, the end customer. Neil was a constant advocate for broader business goals, which brought value to our cross functional teams.

I highly recommend Neil to any team looking for a thoughtful, collaborative, and highly skilled professional.

TIMOTHY FREWIN — Head of Product Performance · System1 Group

I worked closely with Neil for more than three years and saw firsthand the consistency and quality of his contributions. He brings genuine passion to his work, along with a sharp ability to bring complex ideas into clarity, working with developers, designers and business stakeholders.

Neil is deeply product-focused and isn't afraid to challenge assumptions, often leading to smarter, more effective outcomes. He also played a key role in championing innovative applications of AI, pushing our thinking forward and helping unlock new opportunities.

He has a strong instinct for identifying where processes or internal tooling can be improved to drive clarity and efficiency, and he is always the first to step forward and demonstrate what is possible to others. Neil is also a strong advocate for ensuring product development work is clearly understood and effectively communicated, both internally and externally.

Neil is a forward-thinking problem solver, and I believe he'd be a great asset to any company needing a strong product tech collaborator.

SUJITHA JAGADEESAN — Senior QA Engineer · System1

Hi Neil — It was really great working with you at System1. We worked together many years, and I truly enjoyed our collaboration.

I really appreciated your friendly and open approach. You were always available to clarify requirements whenever needed, which made a big difference in keeping things on track. As a BA your ability to bring clarity and suggest useful scenarios really helped the team deliver quality work.

I especially valued how you encouraged us to use automation wisely and ensured we were always thinking about the best approach. We also had a lot of great moments working together, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Personally, I'm going to miss working with you — we had an amazing time. Thanks again for everything, and wishing you all the best! — Suji

YAKUB MOHAMOUD — Technical Consultant

Ridiculously efficient is what comes to mind. It's rare that you come across standout talent like Neil.

JOHN IKWUMELEZEH — Chartered IT Consultant · Testing & Quality Assurance

Neil has the insight and expertise in helping the company move their product to the next level. Having worked and reported directly to Neil, I have picked up and improved my skills and gained knowledge in people management. Other skill includes product reshaping and channeling towards achieving high quality product and excellent delivery while working in an Agile environment. I will definitely recommend Neil to any company that has a desire to add a high level of professionalism to quality of product and management.

PAUL GOLDING — Commercial Operations & Office Management Professional | Quality Assurance / Test Analyst

I have had the pleasure of working with Neil for a number of years, a highly knowledgeable and approachable colleague that would be an asset to any company he worked with. Very professional in his work ethic, Neil is focused and dedicated with the determination and drive to achieve results.

HOWARD WHILEY — Software Test Engineer · Leidos

I would recommend Neil Terry to any prospective employer. Neil goes beyond what is expected of him. He can handle many different tasks and projects at the same time. He is very focused and dedicated to the work he does.

STEWART PONSFORD — Software Developer

I have worked with Neil for 12 years. He is a very professional, hard working colleague with attention to detail. He has great technical knowledge and lots of enthusiasm for any project he is involved in.