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 United Kingdom based Chairman operating in the Computer 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.
Alexandre Harkous
Founder & Executive Chairman of OneWealthPlace
Alexandre, BI-SAM founder, has over 20 years of solid experience in strategy and information systems for the Capital Markets and Asset Management industries. He began his career at Mitsubishi Bank as Head of IT before joining Demachy Worms & Cie Bank as Projects Director and then SIP in 1995 as Client Management Director. In 1998 he joined Deloitte Consulting where he developed the Asset Management Expertise Center working closely with various global clients such as HSBC, Merrill Lynch, ABN Amro AM and Dresdner RCM Global Investors. Throughout his career, Alexandre gained a significant international experience in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and a solid experience in business development, strategy, change management and systems for banking and asset management including securities services, portfolio management and analytics. Alexandre holds a Degree in Engineering and Computer Science.
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About OneWealthPlace: One Wealth Place’s mission to support the digital transformation of private wealth banks and global asset services companies.
Eli Talmor
Chairman of Cipia (formerly Eyesight Technologies)
Eli Talmor is a professor at London Business School and was previously on the finance faculty of UCLA and Wharton. He serves on the board of governors of Tel Aviv University and the advisory board of the African Venture Capital Association among others. A renowned authority on private equity, he testified to the UK Parliament and advised the UK Prime Minister’s Office. Business-wise he is a serial cornerstone investor with multiple exits, notably a co-founder of SunRay Renewable Energy which was acquired in one of Europe’s largest venture exits of that year.
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About Coller Institute of Private Equity: Cipia, formerly Eyesight Technologies, is a leading provider of computer vision AI based solutions for the automotive in-cabin industryץ
David Rasche
Chairman of the Board of Directors of GB Group
Appointed to the Board in September 2010. He was the founder of SSP Holdings Limited, one of the largest specialist insurance software houses in the world. David has over 40 years IT industry experience with over 35 years at board level in the software and services sectors. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Onyx Group.
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About : GB Group offers a series of solutions that help organisations quickly validate and verify the identity and location of their customers.
Judith Halkerston
Chairman of Symphonic
Judith is a senior industry figure in the IT sector with over three decades of executive sales, marketing and operational experience in major IT, services delivery and consulting companies. She is now a non-executive and adviser to a number of IT and consulting companies in both Scotland and England. Previously, Judith held positions at BT as VP Global Health, at Logica as MD of their Energy, Utilities and Telecoms sector, and at Xansa where she worked in the UK, Europe, the US and India.
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About Symphonic: Symphonic is the provider of Intelligent Authorization.
Nigel Knowles
Chairman of The Link App
Sir Nigel Knowles is a former Global Co-Chairman and Senior Partner of DLA Piper, having served as Global Co-CEO and Managing Partner for nearly twenty years before. He is credited with DLA Piper’s remarkable growth, leading the firm through a series of merges and taking the firm from its regional origins to the global firm it is today. He received a knighthood in 2009 in recognition of his services to the legal industry. In 2015, Legal Business awarded Sir Nigel a “Lifetime Achievement Award” and in April 2016 Sir Nigel was given the Financial News “Editor’s Choice” award for lifetime achievement. Sir Nigel is Chairman of Sheffield City Region LEP and a Trustee of The Prince’s Trust. He was High Sheriff of Greater London 2016/17.
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About BioSURE, DWF, The Link App: The Link App is an easy-to-use platform that reinvents a law firm’s client experience.
Ric Ackland-Snow
Chairman of Sharedband Limited
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About Sharedband Limited: IP layer bonding company, headquartered in Ipswich, UK
Gary McIlraith
Executive Chairman of Tomia
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About Tomia: Tomia is the merger of Telarix and Starhome Mach, offers transformative connectivity solutions to service providers worldwide.
Mike Hickey
Chairman of pureLiFi
Mike Hickey held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Wolfson Microelectronics from January 2009 until its acquisition by Cirrus Logic Inc in Sept 2014. Mike joined Wolfson from Motorola Inc. where he was Senior Vice President & General Manager of Multimedia Mobile Products. Prior to joining Motorola, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel Optronics UK, Chief Executive Officer of Kymata Ltd and also held senior positions at Motorola, Digital Equipment and Philips. He has also served as a director of Motorola Ltd and as a non-executive director at Incline Global Technology Services Ltd and UIQ Technologies.
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About pureLiFi: pureLiFi develops technology for communication networks that integrates data and lighting utility infrastructures.
Neeshu Lukha
Chairman of the Board of Realeyes
Neeshu chairs Realeyes’ Board and leads business development with key brands. Neeshu comes to Realeyes with over 17 years brand management experience at Procter & Gamble (where he obtained P&G peak advanced level in marketing and advertising) and running Yum! Restaurants in Europe for another 3 years. He has successfully grown businesses over a diverse spectrum, including US, Europe and 15+ years in emerging markets, 50+ brands over 25 categories, and a wide variety of business situations like launching and designing new brands, expanding established brands, entering new geographies and segments, turnarounds, high-growth markets, economic downturns, joint ventures, technology and innovation partnerships and numerous acquisitions. Neeshu has worked across businesses such as Olay, Hugo Boss, Pampers, Pizza Hut, KFC, Gillette, Crest, Braun, Vicks, and in marketing these brands has also lead development of new marketing models and new research & innovation approaches.
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About : Measuring Human Response At The Speed & Scale Of AI
Dennis Millard
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Connect Group
Dennis’ former appointments include Chairman of Connect Group plc, Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Premier Farnell plc, Chief Financial Officer of Cookson Group plc, Finance Director of Medeva plc and a member of the Economic Affairs Committee of the CBI. Dennis has a broad commercial and financial experience in the retail, service, distribution and manufacturing sectors in the UK and internationally. Dennis is a member of the South African Instituted of Chartered Accountants and holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town.
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About : Connect Group is a leading certified supplier of production systems, printed circuit boards and cable assembly services.
William Carrington
Chairman of LonRes
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About LonRes: LonRes is the premier data source and network for top property professionals who do business in London.
Nigel Gifford
Founder and Chairman of Windhorse Aerospace
Nigel Gifford OBE CP Eng.(Aero) Chairman / Founder Windhorse Aerospace Nigel is best described as an eclectic solutions architect ~ drawing on skills, practical experience, and research acquired at different times of his life. It is from his aeronautical, skydiving and catering background he conceived the Pouncer(tm) food carrying AV that is also made of edible components. Presently, using his specialist knowledge in feeding in non-human environments, Nigel is working to get Pouncer(tm) into service with his team, and is working in the critical food technology area to ensure that the food cargo and edible structure are fit for purpose on deployment as first response into disaster areas Biography Brought up in a busy restaurant, and then trained as a chef at the Army School of Catering, Nigel has extensive knowledge of differing styles of cuisine. This includes feeding explorers and adventurers in remote and hostile environments, as well as cooking at 26,000ft on Mt Everest in 1976. He wrote the present Royal Geographical Society catering manual and his advice is still sought for extreme expeditions. As an aerospace solutions architect Nigel has designed equipment for UK Special Forces, and built protective equipment housings for the RAF Tornado. In 1991 he designed a special camera platform for the first ever hot air balloon flight at 33,000ft over Mt Everest and worked on Sir Richard Branson’s round the world balloon project advising on the small capsule’s internal ergonomic layout, feeding, and the living routines for the crew confined inside. Prior to Windhorse, he was Managing Director of the Ascenta™ – The high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle acquired by Facebook in 2014 to provide Internet access into the developing world. The aircraft has since been renamed Aquila by Facebook.
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About Windhorse Aerospace: Windhorse Aerospace has created the world’s first purpose-built UAV/Drone intended for humanitarian aid delivery – POUNCER.
Peter Howells
Chairman of Howells Associates Ltd
Peter formed Howells Associates Ltd in 1991. He has 40 years’ experience of share-based remuneration; as a benefit consultant, as a stockbroker and 21 years as an administration specialist. After starting his career in accountancy, followed by a short service commission in the Royal Engineers, Peter was a consultant with WM Mercer from 1973 to 1986 and a director of stockbrokers Wise Speke (now Brewin Dolphin) from 1986 to 1991. He is a founder member of the UK Share Schemes Advanced Studies Group and also of the Global Group.
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About Howells Associates Ltd: Howells Associates have provided innovative and market leading services for share scheme administration.
