Ken Ingram - Chairman
A Senior Executive whose career with several premier multi-national companies culminated in leading an employee buy-out of a division of NCR. Consequent to this major project, was directly involved in fund raising, mergers, acquisitions and disposals. This experience combined with market and product development assisted in growing the fledgling company to a turnover in excess of £14 million in eight years of operations. In order to extend entrepreneurial experience, is involved in the public sector encouraging new start–ups, and individuals who have sound commercial ideas to embark on business on their own or with partners.
John Beaton MBE
Founder of Kolfor Plant which in addtion to supplying the North Sea Industry also operated in West Africa, Far East, USA, Brazil and the former Soviet Union. Included in Johns notable achivements and recognitions he is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Abertay and was the recipient of the UK Offshore Lifetime Achievment Award in 2000.
John Bennet FRICS IRRV
John is Senior Partner at J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors with over 30 branches operating throughout Scotland and England. In addition to his role of managing the firm he also enjoys a Director role at Dundee United Football club.
Stephen Bruce
Stephen is Managing Director of Bonspiel Engineering Limited which has grown steadily since starting in 1985.
Ann Budge
As a founding director of Newell & Budge, over the past 20 years Ann Budge has established the company as one of the UK's fastest growing IT services companies. In 1985, she formed Newell & Budge with Alison Newell and in 2001 spearheaded a management buyout, and has since led the company to a record turnover of £38 million in 2005. In July 2005 Newell & Budge was acquired by Sopra Group. Sopra Newell & Budge was formed in the UK and Ann assumed the role of Chief Executive of the enlarged business.Ann sits on the main boards of both Scotland IS and Intellect, the trade bodies for the IT industry, for Scotland and the UK respectively and is a great supporter of Equalitec (the organization formed to promote best practise in the IT industry for the recruitment and retention of women). In 2005 Ann's achievements in business were recognised when she received the Entrepreneur of The Year Award from The Entrepreneurial Exchange.
Scott Carnegie LLB (Hons), CA
Is a Director of Dand Carnegie Accounting Solutions, a Chartered Accountancy practice which specialises in turnaround and recovery, and mergers and acquisitions. Scott was the driving force behind the original founding of the Discovery Investment Fund in order to create a venture capital base in the Dundee area. He sits as a Director of several UK companies covering such diverse sectors as software, retail, property, and manufacturing. He is also chief executive of Teasses Capital, a venture capital fund based in Edinburgh.
Laura Conway
Laura's career began with KPMG and she now is Deputy Managing Director of Presentation Products Limited sourcing niche retail gift and related products from areas such as the Far East via subsidiary business Farfalla Limited. Laura currently holds a number of director positions including, Presentation Products Limited, Farfalla Limited, Dead Whisky Society Limited and property developers LEJ Limited.
Frank Esposito
Following a successful carreer as a professional footballer with Dundee United FC Frank has developed a number of interests in property and retail. His property development directorships include Emmock Homes Ltd. and Westcourt Mill Ltd.
Graeme Hay
Graeme's career in food retail saw him hold a number of management positions with organisations such as Wm Low PLC, Watson & Philip PLC and CJ Lang & Son Ltd. He was a Director of The Scottish Grocers Federation Ltd till 2004. He is now owner of G Hay (Properties) a property investment company.
Scott Landsburgh
Having studied and practised as an accountant Scott assumed the role of Director of Landsburgh Bros Ltd, MD of DS Landsburgh Retailing Ltd and MD of DS Landsburgh Ltd (corporate Hospitality providers to corporates at the open Golf Championship) until 2006. In addition from 2000-2005 held post of Chief Exec of Scottish Grocers Federation and is a Member of Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
John Mountford
John had a successful career in which he built a chain of restaurants and subsequently sold them in 1994 to a large group. Since then, he has actively invested, mentored and prepared a diverse range of companies for trade sale or further growth including a marine consultants, Financial advisers, manufacturers, retail stores and gaming specialist. John is keen to continue this trend and is an active Director on a number of boards.
Bob Preston
Bob works in a non executive capacity advising a number of businesses ranging from turnover of £2m to £25M.
These are family or management ownership companies looking for professional support ultimately leading to a sale in some form (including MBO).
Bob's background is Finance Director of various organisations including Marshall Food Group and Aviagen Group Limited. Bob has also worked as an advisor with Scottish Enterprise as Company Development Manager working to assist 20 Companies in Tayside.
Jim Roy
Jim is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers (Scotland) and currently holds a number of director positions including, Presentation Products Limited, Farfalla Limited, Dead Whisky Society Limited and property developers LEJ Limited.