Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top Buckinghamshire based Chairman operating in the Information Technology space. If you think a Chairman is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Jens Montanana
Executive Chairman of Westcon-Comstor
Jens is the founder and principal architect of Datatec, established in 1986. Between 1989 and 1993, Jens served as Managing Director and Vice-President of US Robotics (UK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Robotics, Inc. which was acquired by 3Com in 1997. In 1993 he co-founded US start-up Xedia Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts, an early pioneer of network switching and one of the market leaders in IP bandwidth management, which was subsequently sold to Lucent Corporation in 1999. In 1994 Jens became Chairman and CEO of Datatec. He has previously served on the boards and subcommittees of various public companies. Jens graduated with a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
Follow Jens Montanana:
About Comstor, Datatec, Logicalis, Westcon-Comstor: Westcon-Comstor is a value-added technology distributor of category-leading solutions in security.
Larry Hirst
Deputy Chairman of The Board Of Advisors of The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security
Larry Hirst joined the Board in January 2011. He is the former Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa. He retired from IBM in 2010 having previously held a wide range of senior positions since joining the company in 1977. He currently chairs the Imperial College Data Science Institute Advisory Board. He is the Senior Independent Director at MITIE Group plc and an Ambassador to Everywoman and Black British Business. Former roles include being a UK Business Ambassador, a Commissioner for the Commission for Employment and Skills, and Chair of e-skills UK (the UK Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology) and he was also on the International Advisory Board for British Airways. He was awarded a CBE in 2006.
Follow Larry Hirst:
About The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security: The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security is a U.K.-based academic research institute.
Bob Brittaine
Chairman & Director of CMI
Bob Brittaine, an electronics engineer by profession owned and managed a successful UK IT services company, employing 300 staff before selling it to a PLC in 2007. Bob continued with the new entity heading up Sales and Marketing and integrating his former company. He also is the President of Euroserv, an association comprising IT services companies across Europe, a post he has held for over 20 years. In 2010 Bob formed a consultancy business focused on assisting owner managers in achieving their personal aims and strategic goals. With these aims in mind, Bob joined CMI in 2012 as an investor and Chairman, as the business embarked on an expansionary phase to develop CMI into a UK National Managed Services business. With a wealth of experience and track record in the IT services sector Bob brings the pragmatic input and advice where needed and the energy to develop the business. With interests also in a Mussel farm, property portfolio and property development, Bob also finds time for gardening and following F1 motor racing
Follow Bob Brittaine:
About CMI: CMI is a company offering manufacturer business streamlining and growth services.
Ken Blakeslee
Chairman of WebMobility Ventures
Ken’s involvement over the past few years has been specifically in the area of private equity investing in the mobile sector, and his previous experience in developing telecoms, IT and web commerce business strategies spans 25+ years. His focus has been on the emerging new media content, applications and commerce methodologies, and the merging of these with the ubiquitous, personal access of mobile. Recent emphasis has been placed on Wearable Technologies, Fitness/Wellness, mHealth, Augmented Reality, Mobile TV, Virtual Reality Devices, 3D360º content and other personal viewing scenarios for rich media and innovations in technologies enabling multiscreen convergence. Alternate energy, energy harvesting and additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies and applications are also a recent focus. Ken’s Company, WebMobility Ventures, focuses on private investing and advising companies on bringing innovations in multimedia mobility to market. He has also been an Investment Advisor to Ascension Ventures who manage early stage EIS and SEIS funds. Prior to that he was Chairman of WirelessWorks with The Vesta Group, managing the investments of one of Europe’s top networked venture capital funds, Frontiers Capital. In addition to being a venture partner, he established and was Chairman of their Board of Advisors. He has also served on the board of directors and advisory board of several companies, all innovatively active in various sectors of mobile investment, product definition and service delivery. Previously, he was VP of Business Strategy for Wireless Internet at Nortel Networks. Ken has held numerous industry positions including chairman of the Mobile Data Association, vice chair of the UMTS Forum Market Aspects Group, and in 2001 was named to the GSM Association ‘roll of honour’ for “longstanding commitment to the GSM industry”. In 2004 Ken launched and produced “Cool and Connected” a ‘Wearable Technology Fashion Show’ and in 2006 the “Innovation Showcase” of emerging key technologies at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona and also at the International Broadcasters Conference in Amsterdam. Ken was born, raised and educated in New England, USA (NH and Maine mostly) and has settled in the UK “for the time being” (30 years so far!).
Follow Ken Blakeslee:
About : WebMobility Ventures, focuses on advising companies on bringing innovations in multimedia mobility to market.
Gautam Mitra
Founder, Managing Director, and Chairman of Optirisk Systems
Follow Gautam Mitra:
About OptiRisk India, Optirisk Systems: Optirisk Systems a global reach that provides products and services for Optimisation and Risk Management solutions.
