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 Security 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 โ Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth โ Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management โ Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact โ Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data โ 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.
Joshua Pennell
Founder and Chairman of IOActive
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About IOActive, ISSA-UK: IOActive is a security consultancy with a global presence and deep expertise spanning hardware, software, and wetware.
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.
David Williams
Founder Chairman and CEO of Arqit Limited
David Williams is a Founder at Arqit company.
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About Arqit Limited: Arqit develops a quantum encryption platform.
Justin Pike
Founder & Chairman of MYPINPAD
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About : INVENTORS OF THE WORLDโS FIRST SOFTWARE PAYMENTS TERMINAL
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.
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About Comstor, Datatec, Logicalis, Westcon-Comstor: Westcon-Comstor is a value-added technology distributor of category-leading solutions in security.
Steven Rose
Chairman of 4sl
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About 4sl: 4sl focused on data custody and availability services for mid-size and enterprise firms.
Henry Thomson
Chairman of Anglo Scientific
Henry Hyde-Thomson is Co-Founder at Phasor Solutions. He is Founder & Chairman at Anglo Scientific.
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About Anglo Scientific, Anglo Scientific, Phasor Solutions, SeeQuestor Ltd: Anglo Scientific is in the business of seeking out technology and business opportunities and creating and growing companies around them.
Richard Farleigh
Chairman of Oxonica
Richard studied economics and mathematics, before working at the Australian Central Bank and then becoming an investment banker and hedge fund manager. In 1994 Richard branched out on his own as a private backer of emerging businesses. He has since backed over 50 young, mostly UK-based technology companies, including Amino Technologies, ARC International, Celoxica, ClearSpeed Technology, Cmed Group, Radiation Watch, Wolfson Microelectronics, Green Chemicals โ and Oxonica. Richard is author of the investment book, Taming the Lion, and has appeared in the BBC series Dragonโs Den. He joined Oxonica in July 2007.
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About Oxonica: Oxonica develops and commercializes advanced nanomaterials for UV protection, security, and biodiagnostics applications.
Jeff Orr
Founder, Chairman & Managing Director of Stack Group
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About Stack Group: The Stack Group provide a comprehensive range of IT services and solutions.
Eric Van Der Kleij
Chairman of Keybox
Eric van der Kleij is a pioneering technology entrepreneur who founded FinTech company Adeptra (sold to FICO.) In February 2011 he was appointed by the UK Prime Minister as Chief Executive of the UKโs Tech City initiative, after which he created Level39, one of the largest Fintech and Smart City hubs in Europe.Following his entrepreneurial experience in building and selling Adeptra, Eric helped create the strategy for and was appointed the first Chief Executive of the Tech City initiative by 10 Downing Street. After establishing the Tech City organisation he moved to Canary Wharf in 2012 where he created and led Europeโs largest FinTech and Smart City hub Level39 for Canary Wharf Group. In 2016 he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Group and Adviser for FinTech and Blockchain for the UK Governmentโs Global Entrepreneur Programme at the Department for International Trade, and is also Special Adviser to clients such as the Swiss Kickstart Accelerator in Zurich. He is a volunteer member of the Tech London Advocates Advisory Board. Eric is currently planning the launch of his next major project, focussed on the 4th Industrial Revolution.
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About ENTIQ, Keybox: Keybox is an SDK for information secure data storage and sharing, built with Activeledger DLT.
Robert Brown
Executive Chairman of RazorSecure
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About RazorSecure, Route Reports: RazorSecure is a cyber security software that provides continuous threat monitoring & active defence strategy for trains, buses, cars & etc.
Ray Bryant
Chairman and Managing Director, CEO of Idappcom
Ray started working life in a firm of London chartered accountants, qualified as Chartered Company Secretary in 1979. His career in I.T. started at the Control Data Corporation, in finance, production and logistics. Ray spent fifteen years with Ciba Geigy Switzerland, working on Finance and ERP software implementations in the UK, USA, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Turkey and the Philippines. Ray also worked at SSA Global Technologies as a financial systems consultant culminating in the creation of an independent compliance company, SLA Management Services (Barham Group) which Ray headed as chairman and managing director. The Barham Group, during the next six years, grew to service many I.T. companies including one of the largest IBM mid range, UNIX, ERP and CRM software providers in the world. Ray took the company from start up to successful sale in 2008.
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About Idappcom: Idappcom supplied software and hardware that enhances network security, reducing risk and lowering cost of ownership of devices.
Shimon Sheves
Founder & Chairman of HolistiCyber
Deeply committed to Israel, Shimon Sheves works diligently in support of his homeland. And yet he is also a veteran businessman, and highly regarded international management and finance consultant with a deep knowledge of the intricacies of the corporate world. Sheves does not procrastinate. He is constantly on the lookout for ways in which he can increase his expertise and gain more experience. Early Years and Public Service Shimon Sheves was born in Israel and entered politics early in his life when he worked in the Ministry of Defense with Yitzhak Rabin, the former Prime Minister of Israel. Sheves was appointed as the personal assistant to Rabin when he was serving as the Defense Minister. During his tenure Sheves managed the implemented infrastructure initiatives and was in charge of maintaining the growth of these programs โ particularly initiatives pertaining to the Jewish West Bank settlements. Shevesโ unique vision and contributions to this area of the government is widely recognized as a major factor in the successful implementation of economic policies in the future of Israel. In 1992, as the Yitzhak Rabin and the Labour Party were about to enter into a general election Shimon Sheves was appointed as campaign manager. His innovative approach and leadership skills helped Rabin achieve victory, and the party to achieve majority votes in the Knesset. These successes lead to Rabin appointing Sheves as his Chief of Staff and General Director. In 1995 Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. Sheves experienced a deep sense of loss and resigned from Israeli politics. He continued his social work and also started working as consultant for various private sector companies. he has served as a crucial political advisor to prime ministers from Romania. Entrepreneurial Ventures The sudden rapid growth of the Israeli cyber industry years ago was an inspiration to Sheves. He started working with some of the most prominent cyber development and cyber security companies in the country. The massive expansion of tech companies in Israel over the past decade has given Sheves the opportunity to use his skills to help start-ups. Shimon Sheves co-founded RSLB, a consulting company located in Washington DC. The RSLB team of professionals consists of experts in politics, finance and business. They work with Sheves in the lead to promote Israeli companies around the globe and with various prominent cyber firms. The technology and cyber industries in Israel continue to experience exponential growth, and RSLB works closely with several Israeli start-ups interested in promoting and expanding their service offering to Europe and the US. Focus on Social Causes A vision and commitment to provide results-driven and sustainable long-term programs that bring about improvement is what drives Shimon Sheves. By facilitating collaboration between the international real estate markets and developing nations around South America and Africa, Sheves is helping local economies to be stimulated โ and to benefit from international investment. He aims to help keep investments and skills within the countries to facilitate economic improvement. Sheves also devotedly supports the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv and several non-profit organizations that focus on providing assistance to the disabled.
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About HolistiCyber: With many years of experience in the public and private secotr providing a nation-state level cyber security.