Jon Richards

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  www.aria-networks.com/company/BoardofDirectors.html - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/31/2009    Last Visited: 3/31/2009  

  Jon Richards - Chairman
  
  In recent years Jon has chaired to exit a number of companies including Citymeeting Ltd, Redsky IT Ltd, MM Group, Propero Ltd and Quadstone Ltd. Jon has a wealth of relevant experience in the UK IT industry and was CEO of Anite Group Plc from 1989 to 1997. He was Chairman of the National Council for Education & Technology reporting to the Minister of State from 1992 to 1995.

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  www.augustequity.com/news/story.cfm?ref=44 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/29/2007    Last Visited: 7/29/2007  

  Chairman Jon Richards said "The sale of RedSky IT concludes the successful two part exit strategy implemented in 2005.

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  chair.vbnlive.com/pooled/articles/BF_ABOUTART/view.asp? - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 12/24/2008  

  Jon Richards, the first-class mathematician who was running an IT company at 25 and retired - for the first time - at 40.
  
  At the age of just 25, just four years after graduating from university with a first in mathematics, Jon Richards was given his first management job - as managing director. It was to be the first of many. Indeed by the time he was 40, when most executives are taking their first tentative steps in the boardroom, Richards was retiring - at least temporarily.
  
  Swooped up by GEC on graduation with a first in mathematics, Richards started his career as a programmer 'not a very good one either,' he says. 'I never enjoyed it much. I was much better at fixing other people's bugs than writing my own code,' he confesses.
  
  But life in the vast GEC was, says Richards, stultifying. After two years he was looking around when a small ad in the trade press caught his eye. 'It was for a small company - Miles 33 - and it seemed to be everything that GEC was not.
  ...
  His business acumen was spotted and when the owner decided to take a back seat in the company, it was Richards to whom he turned. 'I was given charge of the company. My job was to grow the company at 50% compound.' And he did. The company grew from strength to strength, through the old Unlisted Securities Market through to full listing.
  
  But as the PC grew Richards' demanding growth targets became increasingly challenging and eventually the company was sold to UEI Plc.
  
  At the age of 29 Richards joined the board of £100m+ public company.
  
  'I was very much the junior boy, but coming from the IT industry, that was sort of accepted.' It was to be a formative experience. From the relatively benign atmosphere of Miles 33, the board of UEI was riven with internal politics. 'There were a lot of powerful voices in that board room'.
  
  Eventually UEI itself was bought by Carlton, and briefly Richards found himself on their board. It lasted six weeks before he found himself out of a job. Richards, along with three colleagues were approached by Warburgs [merchant bank] to help rescue the ailing Cray Electronics Plc.
  ...
  Richards left Cray and for two years did, well, just about nothing. 'And I loved doing it.
  ...
  For Richards the chairman's role is two fold - one to support and mentor the CEO, the other to run the boardroom itself. 'A good chairman is able to bring the talents of the board to a focus.
  ...
  When it comes to running the board, Richards is scathing of directors who take the pay, but don't do the work. 'I don't want people who are going to turn up for the meeting, not having read the [discussion] papers. A board meeting where people just sit around talking without achieving anything is just wasting time. A board needs to concentrate on the things that concern it. Being presented with a list of sales prospects and talking through them is the job of management, not the board.'
  
  Richards has only one anomaly on his very impressive CV. He spent three years as chairman of the old National Council for Educational Technology (now BECTA) reporting to the education minister. 'I learned there is no place for me in politics', he laughed., 'It was an exercise in abstract chairing, keeping the great and the good in line.

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  www.chairmansnetwork.com/pooled/articles/BF_ABOUTART/vi - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/8/2006    Last Visited: 5/21/2007  

  Jon Richards, the first-class mathematician who was running an IT
  ...
  Jon Richards, the first-class mathematician who was running an IT company at 25 and retired - for the first time - at 40.
  
  At the age of just 25, just four years after graduating from university with a first in mathematics, Jon Richards was given his first management job - as managing director.It was to be the first of many.Indeed by the time he was 40, when most executives are taking their first tentative steps in the boardroom, Richards was retiring - at least temporarily.
  
  Swooped up by GEC on graduation with a first in mathematics, Richards started his career as a programmer 'not a very good one either,' he says. 'I never enjoyed it much.I was much better at fixing other people's bugs than writing my own code,' he confesses.
  
  But life in the vast GEC was, says Richards, stultifying.After two years he was looking around when a small ad in the trade press caught his eye. 'It was for a small company - Miles 33 - and it seemed to be everything that GEC was not.
  ...
  His business acumen was spotted and when the owner decided to take a back seat in the company, it was Richards to whom he turned. 'I was given charge of the company.My job was to grow the company at 50% compound.' And he did.The company grew from strength to strength, through the old Unlisted Securities Market through to full listing.
  
  But as the PC grew Richards' demanding growth targets became increasingly challenging and eventually the company was sold to UEI Plc.
  
  At the age of 29 Richards joined the board of £100m+ public company.
  
  'I was very much the junior boy, but coming from the IT industry, that was sort of accepted.' It was to be a formative experience.From the relatively benign atmosphere of Miles 33, the board of UEI was riven with internal politics. 'There were a lot of powerful voices in that board room'.
  
  Eventually UEI itself was bought by Carlton, and briefly Richards found himself on their board.It lasted six weeks before he found himself out of a job.Richards, along with three colleagues were approached by Warburgs [merchant bank] to help rescue the ailing Cray Electronics Plc.
  ...
  Richards left Cray and for two years did, well, just about nothing. 'And I loved doing it.
  ...
  For Richards the chairman's role is two fold - one to support and mentor the CEO, the other to run the boardroom itself. 'A good chairman is able to bring the talents of the board to a focus.
  ...
  When it comes to running the board, Richards is scathing of directors who take the pay, but don't do the work. 'I don't want people who are going to turn up for the meeting, not having read the [discussion] papers.A board meeting where people just sit around talking without achieving anything is just wasting time.A board needs to concentrate on the things that concern it.Being presented with a list of sales prospects and talking through them is the job of management, not the board.'
  
  Richards has only one anomaly on his very impressive CV.He spent three years as chairman of the old National Council for Educational Technology (now BECTA) reporting to the education minister. 'I learned there is no place for me in politics', he laughed., 'It was an exercise in abstract chairing, keeping the great and the good in line.

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  Accipitor - Talent Agents for senior executives - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/8/2009    Last Visited: 9/8/2009  

  Jon Richards BSc
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  Jon Richards BSc
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  Picture of Jon Richards
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  Jon is currently Chairman of Aria Networks and Low Cost Travel Group, as well as advisor to UBS AG. He has a wealth of relevant experience in the UK IT industry and was CEO of Anite Group plc from 1989 to 1997. He also served as Chairman of the National Council for Education & Technology reporting to the Minister of State from 1992 to 1995.
  
  Since 2000 Jon has chaired to exit a number of Private Equity backed companies including Belle Associates, CityMeeting, MM Group, Propero, Quadstone and Redsky IT. His First Class Honours degree is in Mathematics. (back to top)
  
  Viscount Slim OBE DL FRGS
  
  John had an illustrious career in the British Army including Commander of the SAS and in Special Forces. He is a former Non-executive Director Of Trailfinders Ltd.
  
  He is also President of the Burma Star Association and President of the Special Air Services Association to name but a few. Previously he was Chairman and Chief Executive of Peek plc a relationship that lasted 27 years.
  
  Past directorships have included Boyden International Ltd, Banque de la Meditarranee, Jasra Jackson Pty Ltd and in the Morgan Crucible Group. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 1971, where he is a member of the Defence Group, The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and a number of internal committees.

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  Aria Networks - Our Leadership - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/6/2008    Last Visited: 9/6/2008  

  Jon Richards - Chairman
  
  In recent years Jon has chaired to exit a number of companies including Citymeeting Ltd, Redsky IT Ltd, MM Group, Propero Ltd and Quadstone Ltd.Jon has a wealth of relevant experience in the UK IT industry and was CEO of Anite Group Plc from 1989 to 1997.He was Chairman of the National Council for Education & Technology reporting to the Minister of State from 1992 to 1995.Jon is also chairman of LowCostTravel Group a high growth internet-based Tour Operator.

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  Board Changes - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/10/2003    Last Visited: 10/6/2009  

  In a further reorganisation of the Board, Jon Richards, a non-executive director, has also announced his resignation.

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  Chairmans Network : About Chairman's Network : Contact... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/8/2006    Last Visited: 5/21/2007  

  Jon Richards, the first-class mathematician who was running an IT

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  GX Neworks - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/4/2003    Last Visited: 9/4/2003  

  Jon Richards, Non Executive DirectorJon Richards was Chief Executive of Anite Group plc from 1989 to 1997.Previously he was Chief Operating Officer of the technology group UEI plc and Managing Director of Miles 33 plc, a vertical market software business.Between 1992 and 1995 he also served as non executive Chairman of the National Council for Educational Technology, a position to which he was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education, reporting to the Minister of State.

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  Management Team - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/14/2006    Last Visited: 6/14/2006  

  Jon Richards , ChairmanJon is the chairman of Propero as well as Ramesys, a provider of specialist application software, and Quadstone, an analytics software company.He was previously chief executive of Anite Group.He has extensive experience of growing successful IT companies both organically and through acquisition.

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