Who Is To Say? Remember I Told You So!

Perhaps having seen several too many Omen sequels, the PropheZy team of Alan Helmore-Simpson, Dimitris Fatouros, Lonnie Hamm and others work with Michael to process some interesting datasets in earnest. For those of you unfamiliar with this tale, PropheZy builds dynamic anomaly and pattern response systems in minutes. Z/Yen is building predictors for scheduling television programmes, identifying failed trades in investment banks, setting customer targets for sales, working out your audit costs, calculating model risk prices, evaluating operational risk metrics for banks, setting partner performance targets for professional firms, cleaning databases for charities and other vital applications which use historic data to predict future results, for instance how many people will turn up at a Z/Yen networking event on a boat on the Thames. Standardised test results on PropheZy, ranging from gene splicing to satellite imagery, have turned out to be excellent. Unfortunately, the team struggle over very serious issues, such as the byline. For instance, should we say that results are “as foretold by PropheZy”, “enlightened by PropheZy”, “the truth according to PropheZy”, “as fulfilled by PropheZy” or even “the gift of PropheZy”? Eschewing blasphemy, the Z/Yen board has gone all biblical, drawing on 1 Corinthians 14:22, “prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers”. Hmmm…we shall foresee.

Taking Cover in the City

As May Day approached, Z/Yen planned how to carry out work in the Square Mile without attracting the attention of anti-globalisation protestors. Jeremy Smith, who had a formal public speaking engagement in the afternoon, came to work in dreadlocks and old combat trousers (no change there then. - Ed) before changing into his svelte pinstriped suit (when did he buy that? – Ed). Despite the costumes, Z/Yen has won a number of new assignments in the City for banks and clearing houses.For these projects, Jeremy Smith, Michael Mainelli, Giles Wright and Francesca Birch are supplemented by new associates Derek Long, David Pearce and Francis Hellawell. The assignments include a number of demanding projects ranging from establishing the benefits of clearing houses, through cost-per-transaction benchmarking, to the structure of product control and accounting in investment banks.

Run, Run, Run…Fun, Fun, Fun???

As May Day approached, Z/Yen planned how to carry out work in the Square Mile without attracting the attention of anti-globalisation protestors. Jeremy Smith, who had a formal public speaking engagement in the afternoon, came to work in dreadlocks and old combat trousers (no change there then - Ed) before changing into his svelte pinstriped suit (when did he buy that – Ed?).Despite the costumes, Z/Yen has won a number of new assignments in the City for banks and clearing houses.For these projects, Jeremy Smith, Michael Mainelli, Giles Wright and Francesca Birch are supplemented by new associates Derek Long, David Pearce and Francis Hellawell. The assignments include a number of demanding projects ranging from establishing the benefits of clearing houses, through cost-per-transaction benchmarking, to the structure of product control and accounting in investment banks. At least we know Jeremy has two supporters (sic – tormentors) for next year.

Z/Yen’s Public Speaking Marathon

Following Michael Mainelli and Anthony Hene’s tour de force at the Charity Investment Forum, Z/Yen are eager to flex their public speaking muscles in front of the not-for-profit sector. Ian Harris followed with a stunning display of technical virtuosity (we’re allowed these terms in an informal newsletter) in front of the Charity Finance Directors’ Group Annual Conference on 13 May, where he enumerated the principles of collaborative working in the voluntary sector. Z/Yen’s next exhibitionist display will be the June launch of the Strategic Planning Society’s new Voluntary Sector Special Interest Group, where Michael will join Ian Bruce of RNIB and Roger Perrin on the podium. In July Stephen Martin and Mary O’Callaghan will pool their resources at the Institute of Fundraising’s annual convention, discussing how senior fundraisers can apply “Evidence of Worth”. Come September, Michael and Anthony travel to Manchester to the Charity Accountants’ Conference to discuss charity expenditure and also to present some results from our study of voluntary sector insurance. Anyone who makes it to all of these Z/Yen charity appearances deserves a special sponsorship award for endurance! Contact hub@zyen.com for more details on any of these events.