Accor's CEO regarded the PCI effort as an organizational priority. And since Butler's project team was able to deliver encryption capabilities over the new network, the PCI effort, which earlier this year was named a winner in Computerworld's Honors Program, would be a side benefit of the network upgrade.
It took Butler a few months, but he eventually rounded up the support he needed in October 2006.
It certainly helped that he was able to gain buy-in from senior management, starting with his own boss, Accor North America Executive Vice President and CIO Jeff Winslow. "My boss was instrumental in being a sounding board," says Butler.
"Adrian's strategic and technical leadership, vision and ability to align business objectives with IT strategy are keys to the success of this project and our organization," says Jim Amorosia, president and chief operating officer of Motel 6.
"[The project] maps directly back to our customers' perspective," says Butler. "[So] when they come to Motel 6, their data is going to be safeguarded."