Promethean boss scoops top CEO award

THE boss of North West classroom technology specialist Promethean has won a coveted national award.

Jean-Yves Charlier has been named the best chief executive of a private equity-backed company by the British Venture Capital Association.

The award recognises the achievements of CEOs throughout 2008 and nominees selected from across the UK were judged on their company’s performance.

Promethean, which is said to be looking at a £400m flotation, supplies interactive whiteboards to schools in more than 90 countries. During 2008 sales soared 49% to £151m.

Under Jean-Yves Charlier’s leadership the company, chaired by Graham Howe, co-founder of mobile telecoms giant Orange, has focused solely on the education sector, adopting a global indirect sales model and accelerating new product development investment.

Promethean attracted funding from private equity firm, Apax in 2004 when it came to the fore as one of the UK’s fastest growing technology companies.

Before  joining Promethean in September 2007, Mr Charlier was CEO of Colt Telecom and chief operations officer of BT Global Services.