Robin Meehan: my small tribute to a force of nature
Former employees and contractors of Ipswich company Smart421 have met with some very sad news this week.
Our former colleague and friend Robin Meehan passed away peacefully on Sunday, 17 September 2023.
Robin had a successful career in the technology sector, starting modestly in 1994 as a C/Assembler Developer at Ciba Corning, passing through Willis, Norwich Union / Aviva, Verus360, Smart421 and Beamap, to the present where he worked as Founder and Managing Director at Inawisdom, experts in Data, AI and Machine Learning founded in 2016 and acquired in 2020 by Cognizant.
Our paths first crossed at Smart421 in 2008.
Having started there in 2004 as Lead Consultant, Robin rose to take the role of Chief Technology Officer by 2009 and then in June 2012 to the dizzy heights of CTO and Director of Principal Consultancy.
It was there that I reported to him. I agreed with him. I disagreed with him. I looked up to him.
I respected him. I learned from him.
We all did.
That's what made Robin a force of nature.
His prowess to understand and explain the nuances of both established and emerging trends in information technology, his ability to tame its complexity, and to put it into the hands of organizations in ways which left customers and onlookers aghast.
Characteristically starting his sentences with: "Anyway, my point is..." then delivering something invariably so profound as to inspire and drive us forward.
Robin's wisdom was matched with his wit and consistent good humour. Anyone who attended a 'Smartie Night Out' will know this.
He was an indomitable optimist and showed it during working hours as much as after hours.
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This endured lately when, in July this year, I heard from Robin directly and was impacted by his courage as he outlined his situation.
I recall with fondness what was to be our last face to face conversation at Adastral Park on 21 June 2022; Robin sat down with me and was candid in unfolding his experiences at the helm of Inawisdom, transparent about the challenges he faced wearing 'new boots' outside of a pureplay CTO role.
But his enthusiasm and commitment to lead the team to the very best of his ability was evident.
Robin made no secret of his penchant for toasted crumpets. And made no secret either of how he loved his family. And it showed.
It was for them that Robin applied himself so fully to his work, and we are beneficiaries - all of us - of Robin Meehan's remarkable zest for life, and all that made him a force of nature.
My small tribute can only ever scratch the surface.
You will each have your own tributes to share.
The photo used on this tribute is the same photo Robin chose for his own LinkedIn profile. It was taken during a Smart421 Management Team photo call held at 'Mr. G's Room', Milsom's Dedham on Tuesday 29 March 2011.
Photo: Andrew Hendry
Communications Data Investigator at Leicestershire Police
1 个月I don’t know Robin in a business way in the slightest, but we were best friends at primary school and our early teens. He is the reason I got into music and play bass - he was a skilled guitarist at a young age and we wrote many songs together, and gigged together. Also, our paths went very separate ways in the 80s and I must admit I had no idea what he ended up doing. But reading these comments, I guess he was always destined for this sort of career. I remember many days pootling around on our ZX Spectrums - we even wrote a game together which we hoped would be the new Manic Miner (called Bug Bedlam) - I say “we” - he did all the hard work and the coding. But so many happy memories from this really sad news. RIP.
Programme / Senior Project Manager (Salesforce)
1 年This sad news has only just reached me and it with a heavy heart that I am moved to add a few inadequate words in remembrance of such a great man. It's been a while since I last worked or spoken with him, but his influence and direction has stayed with me over the years and I am grateful that to have worked alongside such a great man. Robin - the world was a better place thanks to your technical brilliance, humour and kindness. Thanks you for sharing that with many of us.
Head of Change Delivery
1 年Sad news.
Senior Business Analyst | Blockchain Enthusiast
1 年Joseph this is such a lovely tribute for the amazing man that was Robin. I have many good memories of working with him at Beamap /Soprasteria. He gave me a chance to work with his team, when I was a junior consultant and he not only mentored me but also played a pivotal role in shaping my career. His wit and exceptional ability to simplify complex technical concepts made him truly extraordinary. My thoughts are with his family during this challenging time.