ITIL 4 Master. The ultimate badge of credibility
Ian Clark – Director, Fox IT Service Management
ITIL 4 Master is the designation that Ian Clark has wanted more than any other. In 2024 his ambition came true and it’s already forging new avenues for his consultancy business.
Since taking ITIL v1 in the 1990s, Ian can say with confidence that the ITIL framework has been an enduring and successful part of his career. But it’s since running his own company over the last 12 years in South Africa that the value of ITIL certifications has become even more important.
“I’m in no doubt that we would not be winning service management training and consultancy projects with large and often international companies if I didn’t have ITIL 4 Master. It puts the company head and shoulders above even the most well-known consultancies.”
Ian says, above all, having ITIL 4 Master is a sign that he’s committed to the service management profession and knows what he’s doing.
“I’ve worked in and with many different types of industries around the world. I know what it’s like to experience the highs of success and the pain of failure. Organizations that want to invest in high standards of service management excellence are certainly looking for that depth of experience. But when they speak to me, they realize they will get an invaluable extra layer of credibility that comes from being an ITIL 4 Master.”
ITIL: An enduring path of excellence through the years
Ian’s path to Master started when he joined a UK insurer in the IT division. His colleague Peter Youart encouraged him to read the ITIL handbooks, starting him on the road to ITIL v1, v2, and v3 Expert.
“I’ve always found it hugely satisfying to gain the ITIL certificates and I’ve made it a personal goal to have the highest accreditations that I can. As I had already achieved v3 Expert, the logical next step was to obtain ITIL 4 Master.”
“It took me around six months to go through the different modules of Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, and Practice Manager. It wasn’t easy but I had a solid foundation on which to build.
“However, you shouldn’t approach it by thinking studying books will get you through. The books will only show you the principles of ‘What’ and ‘Why’. It’s the ‘How’ that makes Master the top accolade and you can only do that with in-depth, detailed proof of experience.”
ITIL 4 Master is a professional differentiator
“I think this aspect matters today and the way ITIL 4 Master is designed, and what you must do to attain it, reflects this. It really means something to me because it’s the perfect way to showcase both my academic knowledge and extensive practical know-how.”
Ian describes the difference it makes: “It’s a complete differentiator in my profession of consulting, coaching, and training. I have further cemented my role as the ‘go-to’ for service management excellence.”
Increased demand for ITIL 4 Masters
Ian’s investment in professional development matters to companies from every industry: “Banking, insurance, logistics, mining, and manufacturing all see the merit in developing operations using service management techniques. But it’s having people who strive for excellence that can make the competitive difference,” he explains.
Therefore, this means his achievement is highly prized: “The best companies are investing in people who can deliver excellence competently and consistently. You can feel it when you step into the building. They are so committed that if they can’t find candidates in their own organization then they will actively recruit them. Either way, I am being asked to support organizations on their quest because I am an ITIL 4 Master.”
Ian thinks leadership needs to catch up in its use of service management for organizational strategy: “ITIL 4 Master has reinforced to me the importance of holistic thinking. Excellence in architecture, design, and strategy needs highly-qualified, all-round thinkers. Whilst the operational benefits are clear and well understood, some companies could achieve even greater success if they used service management to craft and guide their strategy. It’s an area where I think ITIL 4 Masters can really make a difference.”
Start with the foundations and keep learning
30 years ago, Ian could not have known the influence studying the ITIL books would have on his career: “When you leave education you think about the need to have a specialism – coding, tech support, networks. Little did I realize that understanding service management frameworks, and continually updating my knowledge, could be so important in forging a successful professional career.”
In a country where unemployment is high, Ian says thinking beyond initial qualifications is critical to stand out: “I’d encourage all school and university leavers looking for a role in IT to get some form of service management credibility on their CV. There’s no doubt that ITIL Foundation will help get their foot in the door and, with ambition and hard work, perhaps they too can become highly valued ITIL 4 Masters.”