Villareal takes helm at Young IoD
ONE of Birmingham best-known emerging entrepreneurs has taken over as chairman of the West Midlands Young IoD (Institute of Directors).
Villarreal is the co-founder of telecoms business ROAR and its parent company, Glide Utilities, which offers tenants and landlords a simplified billing service.
He takes the reins of the West Midlands Young IoD from Michelle Leavesley with a goal to treble the number of under-42 members of the IoD in the region.
East End Foods director Jason Wouhra, who is a former vice chair and fellow Young IoD founding member and current chairman of the IoD West Midlands, said: “James has a tough act to follow in Michelle. But he is a success in all he does, so I’m sure the Young IoD will be no exception.”
Villarreal’s number one priority is to attract young directors at large and sponsors who want to engage with them to provide practical and hands-on support.
He said: “We want to build a support network for young directors to become great leaders, so we’ll be teaming up with all sorts of organisations from the London Stock Exchange to Birmingham’s professional services organisations.
“Our style is not stuffy or pinstripe suits, but about being there in a real way for young leaders.”
Villarreal has already built a new committee comprising vice chair Paul Morgan (PRM Wealth Management), Ranjit Bajway (DWF), Rob Bloxham (ORB), Neil Holloway (Artemis Executive), Dean Kavanagh (Geotech), Jason Langford-Brown (Lucid), Alex McIntosh (Barclays), Mark Petty (Nextira), Christine Rouse (Circle Square), Anthony Tattum (Big Cat) and Greg White (Purple Frog).
Villarreal started Glide in 2006 with Sandeep Krishan when they were both students at the University of Birmingham.
He won the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year award in 2010 at the age of 24, becoming the youngest entrepreneur to take the crown.
