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 Director operating in the Information Technology space. If you think a Director 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.
Victoria Reddington
Director of Partner Strategy, EMEA of VMware
Victoria Reddington is a Director of Partner Strategy, EMEA at VMware.
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About VMware: VMware is a software company providing cloud and virtualization services that powers complex digital infrastructure.
Russell Poole
Managing Director, UK and The Nordics of Equinix
Russell joined as UK managing director in April 2000, bringing with him nine years of experience in the UK telecommunications and internet industries. From 1998 to 2000 Russell was a director of MessageNet Ltd – an internet security and messaging security provider. Responsible for sales and operations, he also led the development of e:)scan – Europe’s first e-mail virus and content control service. In October 1999 MessageNet was acquired by Articon-Integralis AG.Between 1993 and 1998, Russell was the national sales manager for General Telecom – the business telecoms division of General Cable Plc. During this time he grew the business from four sales people and £3m annual revenue to 35 sales people in three locations and £25m annual revenue. Russell attended Nottingham University, where he read production engineering. Following twelve months travelling, he commenced his managerial career at Coca-Cola and Schweppes where he enjoyed a successful career as a national account manager.
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About Equinix: Equinix is an internet company that provides data center services for companies, businesses, and organizations.
Karen Orr
Director of People & Engagement of QA Ltd
Karen joined QA as Director of People and Engagement in 2016, bringing almost 20 years’ experience leading HR teams across a range of retail, services and technology organisations. She holds an MSc in Management Development and Organisational Change from Bristol University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Karen is responsible for HR strategy and operations across the group and serves as a member of the executive committee. She leads all employee engagement and development activities in addition to compensation, benefits and HR technology for the group.
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About QA Ltd: QA is the UK’s leading training company, providing the complete range of training, talent development and learning services.
Neil Hall
Managing Director, UK & Ireland of Computacenter
As Group Director of Business Enablement and Contractual Services, Neil is responsible for Contractual Services Sales and Solution Design, along with key business enablement functions such as governance, contract and bid marketing management. Neil joined Computacenter in 2001 as part of a TUPE process and has held management positions in the UK and Germany for more than twelve years.
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About Computacenter: Computacenter provides IT infrastructure services and solutions in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Belgium.
Colin Wallis
Executive Director of Kantara Initiative
Being based in New Zealand adds significant challenges of distance and time, but that hasn’t hindered Colin noticeably. With typical Kiwi pragmatism, he has cultivated an enviable understanding of North American and European identity programs, and a corresponding network of relationships with key stakeholders around the world.
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About Kantara Initiative: Kantara Initiative establishes new status as Autonomous Corporation. Kantara Initiative has changed its entity type by filing Articles.
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
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About CMI: CMI is a company offering manufacturer business streamlining and growth services.
Gautam Mitra
Founder, Managing Director, and Chairman of Optirisk Systems
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About OptiRisk India, Optirisk Systems: Optirisk Systems a global reach that provides products and services for Optimisation and Risk Management solutions.
Raza Rizvi
Technical Director of activereach
Raza is co-founder and Technical Director of activereach. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s Technical Support & Service Departments, and ultimately the highest level of customer experience possible. Raza’s remit includes product portfolio development & vendor management. His experience and insight supports the continued success of the company across all sectors. Widely respected for his technical expertise, Raza built his reputation working as Technical and Operations Director at REDNET. Raza has also held senior positions in Centrica and The Carphone Warehouse, where he assumed responsibility for Internet service provision and technical data services respectively. In 2002 he was appointed non-executive director of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), the world’s largest Internet Exchange, overseeing and advising on the development of the Exchange’s product portfolio. He served for 10 years, standing down in May 2012.
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About activereach: activereach is a leading provider of Internet, networking, voice and security solutions.
Murray Cooke
Director of MC5G
Murray has over 30 years of experience in Telecoms and IT – gained working for some of the leading Telecoms and IT companies including British Telecom and Intel. He has worked in Software Defined Networking since 2003, and is now a Consultant working with Telecoms Operators adopting the technologies.His experience includes several years working as the Operational Engineering Manager at BT with responsibility for some of the largest managed network services in the UK; and subsequently as the Business Services Architect in the BT Group CTO’s Office. In that role he pioneered the use of software based network appliances in Carrier Networks, and subsequently progressed the adoption of that technology at Intel to establish what we now know as Network Function Virtualisation. He has worked with leading Service Providers globally to develop their NFV strategies “From the Silicon to the OSS”; including significant contributions into NFV Orchestration standardisation. Murray is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.May 2017
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About MC5G: MC5G is a consulting focussed on telecomms network transformation.
Murray Cooke
Director of MC5G
Murray has over 30 years of experience in Telecoms and IT – gained working for some of the leading Telecoms and IT companies including British Telecom and Intel. He has worked in Software Defined Networking since 2003, and is now a Consultant working with Telecoms Operators adopting the technologies.His experience includes several years working as the Operational Engineering Manager at BT with responsibility for some of the largest managed network services in the UK; and subsequently as the Business Services Architect in the BT Group CTO’s Office. In that role he pioneered the use of software based network appliances in Carrier Networks, and subsequently progressed the adoption of that technology at Intel to establish what we now know as Network Function Virtualisation. He has worked with leading Service Providers globally to develop their NFV strategies “From the Silicon to the OSS”; including significant contributions into NFV Orchestration standardisation. Murray is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.May 2017
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About MC5G: MC5G is a consulting focussed on telecomms network transformation.
