EDINBURGH e-business solutions company Realise has appointed Iain Macdonald, one of Scotland’s foremost technology business advisers, as its new non-executive chairman.
Mr Macdonald, who takes up his new position this month, is a successful entrepreneur and has held several national and international executive and non-executive roles in his career, including positions on the boards of several listed companies.
H
e is currently chairman of Scottish software developer Yakara and a director of venture capital trust Northern AIM VCT.
Drawing on his experience in high-growth, well-financed technology companies, Mr Macdonald’s role is to provide business development and strategic expertise as Realise moves forward.
Gavin Nicholson, Realise chief executive, said: "He will be instrumental in helping guide the company through a new period of growth and expansion.
"His skills in investor relations and in-depth knowledge of the technology industry add strength to Realise’s management team, giving the company a great resource to draw on.
"Strong commercial management has been key to our success and Iain fits in with that culture for hard work with a strategic focus."
Mr Macdonald began his career with Hewlett Packard before joining another computer industry giant, IBM.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Directors and a visiting fellow at Manchester Business School.
His appointment is one of a number planned to strengthen Realise’s management team over the next few months.
Axios Systems, the international help desk and IT service management software specialist, has added two new sales executives to its team in Germany, where it recently won a series of high-profile clients including the European Space Agency.
Based in Munich, Gerhard Badke covers southern Germany as well as Austria and Switzerland. Anja Keuneke covers the remainder of Germany from her Hamburg base.
Mr Badke has extensive experience of the IT industry in Germany, Spain and Italy, having held various posts as an analyst, sales engineer, project engineer, product manager and sales manager.
Ms Keuneke spent six years with Sybase, including posts as senior telesales manager and latterly as a key account manager.
Ailsa Symeonides, sales and marketing director at Axios, said: "The appointments of two more experienced sales staff in Germany underline our determination to win even more new business as well as providing the best possible service for our existing customers."
Based in Edinburgh, Axios Systems also has offices in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States and Australia.
Legal practice Fyfe Ireland has announced the appointment of Alexa Miller, who is joining the firm’s litigation department and brings with her five years of post-qualification experience. Prior to taking up this post, she worked at Biggart Baillie for three years.
Ms Miller has spent much of her career working in the Court of Session.
Her remit at Fyfe Ireland will include Court of Session work as well as commercial property and insolvency matters.
Commenting on the appointment, partner and head of the litigation department, Drew Taylor, said: "We are a small but effective team. Having Alexa in place allows us to grow in size and stature.
"Her experience in the Court of Session further develops our ability to meet the wide-ranging needs of our clients and thus provide the best possible service at Fyfe Ireland."
Wisdom IT, the Livingston-headquartered professional IT services business, has appointed Jason Fiddes to a key business development role in its expanding sales team.
The former corporate account manager with telecoms firm Thus and sales manager with IT consultancy Today’s Telecom joins Wisdom with responsibility for generating sales across Scotland.
Mr Fiddes said: "Earlier in my career I was concerned primarily with selling network services - the lines that interconnect businesses - and now I’m looking forward to providing outsourcing and other managed services that run over these lines to enhance customer’s IT capabilities through Wisdom’s partnerships with such top industry names such as Novell, Microsoft, Commvault and Dell."
Wisdom IT currently employs a staff of 42 and has a strong client base of predominantly medium-sized enterprises spanning the whole of Scotland and through the north and Midlands of England.
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