Simon
Knight

Simon joined Fortium Partners with a distinct ability to solve problems, manage risks, unlock business insights, and drive improvements in shareholder value.  His credentials include working with enterprises ranging from $50 million to over $1 billion in revenues on IT strategy and complex ERP projects.  Simon has also provided IT leadership for several private equity backed portfolio companies.  His diverse industry experience includes manufacturing, energy, high-tech, logistics, gaming, hospitality, and transportation, among many arenas.  Simon is passionate about how data can strengthen organizational performance and benefit society.  He enjoys building the professional capabilities of the IT team and is recognized as a strategic thinker on technology evolution, data analytics, and digital marketing. 

As a CIO, Simon served a publicly held company and led restructuring of its US operations.  He also served as Interim CIO on multiple engagements with a focus on improving productivity, quality, governance, and financial controls.  His ability to assess risk management issues, guide ERP implementations, and accelerate software development benefits from his experienced leadership in varied settings and sized companies.  Simon relishes the opportunity to engage with cross-functional task forces working on strategy, organizational development, and technology infrastructure initiatives.  He is equally comfortable digging in to solve complex problems related to internal controls, business applications, and data quality.  Simon believes that challenges provide a platform ripe for innovation and he effectively coaches teams to imagine and drive new ideas to achieve enterprise success.

Simon graduated from Warwick Business School in Coventry, England with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in operations and information science. He attended professional development courses in general management and advanced information management at GE Crotonville.  A community leader and an accomplished musician, Simon serves as a board leader of the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara, where he is Vice President.  He also is a founding board member and Treasurer of the Santa Barbara Chamber Players.  In addition to playing bassoon and saxophone, he enjoys golf and cycling.