Board of Directors
John Coulthard - Chairman
John Coulthard is the Director of Healthcare at Microsoft Ltd UK and has been working in this capacity since his appointment to the role in June 2006. John is responsible for building on the healthcare teams successes, in particular he will focus on supporting the NHS in the achievement of its long term vision for an integrated and modern health service.
Prior to John's appointment to this role, he was working directly for the Managing Director of Microsoft UK as Chief of Staff and was responsible for the smooth running of the UK Board.
In early 2003, he became Director of Small Business for Microsoft. In that role, he was responsible for Microsoft sales strategy for small business in the UK as well being responsible for www.bcentral.co.uk the largest online resource for small businesses in the UK. He was instrumental creation of the Microsoft alliance with the British Chambers of Commerce.
Spencer Jeffries Founder and CEO
Spencer first started in business as an FSA Registered broker in the Futures & Options Market in London on Black Wednesday in 1992, subsequently working for Nomura, JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Citigroup over an eight year period. He was appointed head of sales for a successful Outlook-based CRM consultancy. In 2002 he moved to Cobweb Solutions, an applications service provider, as Sales Director where he led a sales strategy targeting direct customers as well as channel relationships with traditional IT suppliers, ISPs and teleco's. Spencer founded Accelerator in 2003 aiming to provide a comprehensive portfolio of affordable business-standard IT tools for small and medium sized enterprises delivered over broadband.
Roy Naismith - Non Executive Director
Roy is Group Finance Director and Company Secretary at French Connection, the listed international fashion retailer and wholesaler. Roy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Glasgow and London and then spent six years at Capital Radio plc during a period of significant growth and acquisitions. He moved to Starbucks Coffee Company as it entered the UK market, helping guide the business through its initial roll-out around the UK. He joined French Connection Group plc in 2001 since when store numbers have doubled to over 300 internationally.
Jon Monkcom - Non Executive Director
Jon has a BA in Literature and is a member of ICAEW. Jon comes from a background of accountancy having worked as a Trainee Chartered Accountant for KPMG until 1984 where he took up a position with Lombard Tricity Finance as a Management Accountant. In 1987 he moved to AFLAC and in 1993, set-up an insurance administration company to manage the run-off policies from this business as they withdrew from the European Market. In 1995 Jon purchased the AFLAC business from its US Owners. Jon is Chairman of the Wessex Group, has been a board member of the Theatre Royal in Winchester and is currently a board member for the Hampshire Sculpture Trust.
Gareth Sampson - Company Secretary
Gareth left university with a BCom (Hons) in Business Finance and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young (South Africa) in 1995. After heading up the finance function for Spar Group Retail Division, Gareth moved to the UK in 1998 to join Barclays Bank and then 1st Contact Money as Managing Director. Gareth joined the Wessex Group, an FSA authorised and regulated third party administrator in the insurance sector, in 2002 and is currently their Joint Managing Director. In 2004 he obtained a Masters degree in Business Administration from Bournemouth University and was awarded the Entrepreneurial Post Graduate of the Year award.