Graham Bolton
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About Freelancer
Graham Bolton is an experienced ‘software detective’ specializing in equity transactions for private equity partnerships and investment funds. With a strong reputation and extensive industry knowledge, Graham brings unique insights to any technology due diligence team.
Graham has successfully guided numerous private equity partnerships through over 80 transactions, helping them overcome growth obstacles hidden in software source code. With meticulous attention to detail, he excels at identifying areas for improvement and risk mitigation. By scrutinizing source code alongside a network of more than 60 qualified programmers, Graham uncovers potential roadblocks to software growth, scalability, and market viability, empowering clients to make informed investment decisions.
Graham’s career reflects a wealth of experience in software and database expertise. After earning a degree in Computer Science in 1983, he worked at Logica, an international software house, and later joined Ingres, a prominent relational database supplier. As a freelance database expert, he traveled the world, honing his skills in dozens of large-scale projects.
In 1993, Graham established Elegant Relational Development, growing it from a team of three programmers to a group of four companies with a workforce of 70. Serving diverse clients across industries, Graham’s ability to navigate different sectors and deliver tailored solutions was key. After exiting the software house in 2003 and a six year sabbatical, Graham founded IfSQ (The Institute for Software Quality), where he pioneered the development and publication of standards for computer program source code, becoming an authoritative figure in the field.
In 2013, Graham co-founded The OSQR Group, assisting Dutch government and commercial organizations in optimizing their relationships with software service providers. In 2016, the group ventured into technology due diligence, experiencing 100% year-on-year growth until lockdown in 2020.
Today, Graham continues to leverage his expertise, driving innovation and excellence in the software sector. His passion for software quality, combined with strategic acumen, makes him a valuable asset for private equity transactions and organizations seeking software-related enhancements. His ability to efficiently review source code and identify growth obstacles sets him apart as a key player and trusted ally for many investment teams.
Education
Activities and societies: Electronics Club, Printing Press, School Choir, School Orchestra
Activities and societies: Member of University Senate, Member of Staff-Student Liaison Committee. Put forward and implemented a proposal that students should be allowed to use computer labs under student supervision during evenings and weekends; the scheme was still being operated 20 years later!Activities and societies: Member of University Senate, Member of Staff-Student Liaison Committee. Put forward and implemented a proposal that students should be allowed to use computer labs under student supervision during evenings and weekends; the scheme was still being operated 20 years later! B.Sc. (Hons) in Computer Science -- graduated with an Upper Second
Work & Experience
Programmer, Analyst, Project Manager; worked for: Shell Exploration, Philips Audio, Unilever Research, Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid, ESTEC
Consultant, Trainer, Product Manager; worked for: GAK, Hoogovens, KNMI, RIVM, Holland Heating, RUG, KUB, Bouwfonds, Computer Centrum Waterleidingbedrijven Overijssel, SHAPE, NATO
Worked for: Kuwait National Petroleum Company (Kuwait), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (Italy), Bekaert Steel Cord (Belgium), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (UAE), Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), ETISALAT (UAE), South African Ports Authority (RSA), Airtours (UK), Raytheon (NL)
Established ERD with one employee; grew to 12 employees; clients included KNMI, Rotaform, Nationale Postcode Loterij, Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid
Joined forces with John van Nes of SEAC to form Elegant Group which we then grew to 70 employees; new clients included Ministerie van Financiën, Ministerie van Defensie Telematica Organisatie, KLPD, Pon’s Automobielhandel, Elf Enterprise Caledonia, Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal, Sponsor Loterij, Essent Retail, Qua Raad, KPN Telecom, Het Financieele Dagblad, Bankgiro Loterij, Dycore, TPG PostJoined forces with John van Nes of SEAC to form Elegant Group which we then grew to 70 employees; new clients included Ministerie van Financiën, Ministerie van Defensie Telematica Organisatie, KLPD, Pon’s Automobielhandel, Elf Enterprise Caledonia, Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal, Sponsor Loterij, Essent Retail, Qua Raad, KPN Telecom, Het Financieele Dagblad, Bankgiro Loterij, Dycore, TPG Post
Responsible for assuring the performance of the BRP (Basisregistratie Persoonsgegevens), the new register of births, deaths and marriages (and other data) with regard to all current and past residents of the Netherlands.
Master of the Guild of Programmers (ad interim) working on the pooled software resources shared by the four largest cities in the Netherlands.
Graham took part over 80 technical due diligence (TDD) engagements as a member of the Intuitus advisory team, mostly in the context of transactions involving private equity, tasked with identifying and quantifying 'red flags' in computer software development Read more at https://intuitusadvisory.com/services/transaction-advisory
On November 1, 1989 I stepped out of employment to become a freelance software consultant. First taking on staff in 1993, I grew the Elegant Group to 70 employees, with a combined turnover of €8 million. I exited in 2003 and am now involved in various private equity transactions.
Producing, publishing and promoting a coherent, transparent set of open standards for Computer Program Source Code. Read more at http://www.ifsq.org/standards.html
Chair of the Dutch National Standards Committee for Software and Systems Engineering, NEN 381 007, a participant in the ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1 "Information Technology", Standards Commitee 7 "Software and systems engineering". (See https://www.nen.nl/Normontwikkeling/energy/Software-and-systems-engineering.htm and http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_technical_committee%3Fcommid%3D45086)
In the last twenty five years, Graham and his team have brokered dozens of "secret deals" between his clients and the software houses who have delivered them software of poor quality, resulting--in all cases--in necessary repairs being carried out free of charge. On his website, sqmi.nl, you can read how the team use an impartial, open, uncomplicated and transparent method to produce overwhelming and indisputable evidence of any bad practice they find in source code. If you are in dispute with software developers, Graham can help you stand up for your rights and get your money back.
