Meet Vicky, Senior VP of Engineering

Meet Vicky Larmour, a new addition to the Plextek team. Vicky recently joined Plextek as Senior Vice President of Engineering, bringing over 30 years of experience in tech consultancy and leadership. With a strong background in wireless systems and a passion for team engagement, she’s focused on driving innovation while keeping people motivated and supported. Find out more about Vicky below:

Hi Vicky, can you tell us about your new role at Plextek?

Certainly, I’m the new Senior Vice President of Engineering. This means I’m responsible for the entire multidisciplinary engineering team; project managers, software engineers, digital and analogue hardware specialists, and RF experts. My main aims are to improve efficiency and productivity while also focusing on employee engagement and morale. We’re aiming to keep the team happy, motivated, and busy… easy, right? However, I’m very lucky with the team I’ve inherited here. They are a broad and talented group, so it’s been a lot of fun so far.

That’s great! What are you most excited about in your new role?

In my first few months, I’ve prioritised getting to know the team at Plextek. So, I’ve been having one-to-one meetings with everyone across the business and then building a mind map of insights to really understand the business from every angle. I feel like I’m up to speed and have reached a point where I can start implementing meaningful change but in a way that respects the existing culture, of course! There are so many great things already in place here at Plextek, which is why the business has been as successful as it has been. I’m genuinely excited about adding value to the business and making a concrete difference.

Can you share a bit about your background?

Where do I start? I studied computer science at Cambridge University before beginning my career as a software engineer in technology consultancy. For the past 30 years, I’ve worked for a couple of firms, but always in that consultancy space. For this time, my technical focus has been wireless communication systems – especially satellite communications – and embedded software and RF systems. Over the years, I slowly moved into leadership positions. By the time I left my previous role, I was leading a team of 250 people across the UK, the US, and Singapore. It was a big operation.

Coming to Plextek has certainly been a welcome change & challenge. It is a very personable environment, which I’ve really enjoyed. It’s my first new job in 26 years, so there’s been a steep learning curve, but it’s been invigorating. As I say, I’ve been in full-on listening mode and absorbing everything I can.

What was it about Plextek that made you want to join?

Honestly, when I read the job description, it felt like it was written for me. It was clear they were looking for someone to come in and really make a difference; I felt strongly that I could do that. At this stage in my career, I thought it was an excellent opportunity to challenge myself and try something new. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and push myself, so it felt like the right move. I’d also heard great things about the culture at Plextek and knew that they were involved in some exciting projects. It was too good an opportunity to miss!

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Outside of work I have loads of hobbies. Firstly, I’m a puzzle nut. I love doing escape rooms, cryptic crosswords, anything weird or challenging. I also love baking and cooking, especially when chocolate is involved. I have two children who keep me busy, too. My son is just finishing a physics degree at Warwick University and has a job lined up in tech consultancy, so he’s following in my footsteps, which has been lovely to see. My daughter is a little younger and still lives at home with us, so I love spending time with her.

Another one of my big passions is STEM outreach. I got into computer science through a STEM programme for girls at Warwick University, and I’ve been committed ever since to paying that forward. In my spare time I actually set up and ran an outreach programme at my previous job, and I’m hoping to do something similar here. It’s a way to help people to use their specialist skills to inspire the next generation, particularly girls and young women. Oh, and lastly, I’m a tap dancer!

Amazing! Finally, what’s one thing you’d like people to know about Plextek and yourself that we might not already know?

I’ve said it before, but we’ve got some amazing people here at Plextek. Seriously bright minds solving tough real-world problems. From a leadership perspective, that’s incredibly exciting. In terms of what people don’t know about me? One thing that matters to me is having fun at work. I want my kids to enjoy their lives, and I try to model that by ensuring I enjoy mine, too. You spend so much of your waking life at work – if it’s not enjoyable, what’s the point? I want to really enjoy what I do and help others enjoy it, too.