After working for Retail Decisions for over ten years, I decided that it was time to move on. I forged a number of life-changing relationships over that time and I felt that many people would think that I was letting them down by leaving the company. I struggled with how to deliver this message to people and wrote the following letter. Aside from my 'goodbyes', there were over 30 people who told me that the letter was everything from "classy" to "the most well-written goodbye they've every read". You can judge for yourself:
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MEMO
Christopher Uriarte,
Chief Technology Officer & Head of International Development
Retail Decisions, Ltd.
18 March 2011
Dearest Friends and Colleagues:
It is with bittersweet feelings to share with you today that I am leaving Retail Decisions, where I've worked as the company's Chief Technology Officer and Head of International Development for the past ten years. Those who have been with me for this long ride understand the amazing things that weve done in such a short period of time: From being de-merged from a larger company, to going public on the London Stock Exchange, to serving the largest banks and retailers in the world, to being purchased by private equity and, most importantly, becoming a leader in our industry. We used to be a small company who processed payments for telecommunications companies. Now we see approximately one out of ten card payments that take place around the globe: Simply amazing.
But I've always been a person to grasp opportunity when I'm faced with it. Some of you may recall me telling the story about how I showed up to my job interview at ReD only as a favor to a friend, and actually sat in the parking lot contemplating whether I should go through with the interview or not. But as much as I thought that I wasn't ready to move on from my previous life, the opportunity presented to me at ReD was too good to turn down. And today is no exception. My primary motivation for this move is not to leave ReD behind me, but, instead, to take advantage of opportunities that lay ahead.
The next step in my career will begin on the other side of the water from my home in Hoboken, working with American Express (AMEX), where I'll be taking an executive position charged with leading the global expansion of their key, next-generation platforms. On April 11, I'll begin playing the role of Vice President & Head of International Operations and Implementations. Knowing that the payments landscape is changing quickly, AMEX has made a considerable investment in building a ground-up platform to handle its emerging products and services on a global scale. Those who have worked with me know that I am, both, an enterprise architect at heart, and a recognized global thought leader in the payments space. In other words, this position is perfect for me. I look forward to helping lead and build a business within AMEX with much the same success that I achieved at ReD.
The most challenging part of this move will be leaving the people who I work with every day. Many of you have been along side of me from the start. A substantial number of you are team members that I've personally hired. You have become the people who I trust as much as anyone else in this world and are part of my extended family. Over the years, I've witnessed some of the best and worst parts of your lives and hope that you feel that I've been there to support you through them. You have challenged me every day that I've come to work, you've taught me something new each day and you've made me a better person, both personally and professionally. I simply cannot say thank you enough. I hope that you take this opportunity to ask yourself how you can step up, be a better leader, and move ReD forward for another successful ten years.
Finally, I would like to thank my fellow senior leaders within our organization, specifically Carl Clump and Kevin Sprake, who have given me numerous opportunities to grow and succeed throughout my career (all while having a bit of fun in the process).
Looking back, I think my biggest flaw as a business leader has been that I've always put people first and have sometimes, as a result, made people-related decisions which were not best for the balance sheet. Most of those decisions, however, I do not regret, and I hope that you remember me as a person who always believed that we could run a successful, world-class business, all while treating people fairly. I hope that you, too, can lead your professional lives under this principle, to the best of your ability and to the best of the situations that face you.
If I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out.
All the best,
Chris