December 2009 | Executive compass
Around the world in 80 days
Nigel Lambton
Director of sales
and marketing, EMEA
So it’s Wednesday, that must mean I’m in Eindhoven? Or is it Prague? No, Riyadh of course. Could it really be the end of 2009 already? That sums up my first year as the new director of sales and marketing for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
When the GXP team said “We spend a lot of time on the road,” they weren’t kidding! Of the 42 countries in the EMEA region, our small team, based in Cambridge, U.K., has managed to visit 18 — some multiple times — and I have attended 15 of the 16 industry exhibitions, shows, and seminars the EMEA team has participated in, exhibited at, or organized. The feedback I have received throughout the year has been greatly appreciated. Please don’t be offended if I have not yet had the opportunity to introduce myself personally. I plan to cover more ground in 2010.
Getting out and meeting customers is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. No matter how many emails or phone calls I log, it is no match for personal, face-to-face discussions, where I gain an understanding of how different users are implementing SOCET SET® and SOCET GXP® software in their workflows and production lines.
I compare my GXP career with SOCET GXP v3.0 software — my professional background is predominately image analysis, and both SOCET GXP v3.0 and I were introduced at the end of 2008. As 2009 draws to a close, I reflect on the vast amount I have learned about photogrammetry and geospatial intelligence. Although, as one of my colleagues said “It’s easier to punch functionality into a computer than it is the new boss!” Clearly, I have more to learn.
However, armed with my erudite skills, I am well-prepared for the launch of SOCET GXP v3.1 in early 2010, and the next step for both software and Lambton. With additional SOCET SET strengths and mid-range photogrammetry tools being integrated into SOCET GXP’s automated processes, it swiftly is becoming the exploitation and production tool of choice. There is particular interest in the BAE Systems unmanned aircraft systems team that has developed our UAVs. If you follow BAE Systems news, you will have seen that the MANTIS UAV is now flying, and will use SOCET GXP in its ground station for exploiting still-imagery and full-motion video data sets. BAE Systems’ HERTI UAV team also is using SOCET GXP. The HERTI system captures, processes, and disseminates high-quality imagery.
Moreover, SOCET GXP’s pedigree — and now proven advantage — has reinforced our standing with many NATO nations, most notably the British military. All three services will be using SOCET GXP by the end of March 2010, and the British Army and Royal Air Force are training with it prior to taking the software on live operations abroad.
BAE Systems’ MANTIS UAV is a fully autonomous
next-generation unmanned aircraft system.
It has to be said that the larger part of the EMEA customer base is comprised of photogrammetry users and the production community. The release of SOCET SET v5.5 earlier this year delivered a significant number of new features to update existing versions, which will assist us with transitioning all users to SOCET GXP in the future. I believe this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to a valuable customer base. I am particularly enthused to see that SOCET GXP’s continually increasing functionality is meeting and surpassing the expectations of those whose production processes are rooted in the SOCET SET era. The veteran software may be reaching its twilight years, but we all still can learn a lot from veterans.
It is with a very optimistic outlook that I can reflect on a massively successful year for the GXP group, particularly the EMEA team, and I look forward to meeting more of you in due course. There are many significant developments in the works that we plan to demonstrate during the 2010 user conferences; in San Diego next April, and Cambridge in September.
Finally, I must express my sincere thanks to the many organizations who have welcomed me with open arms and to our global GXP team for the support and assistance in a packed first year.
Seasons greeting to all.
Sincerely,
Nigel Lambton
Director of sales and marketing, EMEA
BAE Systems Geospatial eXploitation Products™ (GXP®)