Entrepreneur in as chairman at Connect Yorkshire
TECHNOLOGY entrepreneur Richard Doyle has been appointed chairman of Connect Yorkshire, the organisation that helps high growth and technology firms achieve their potential.
Mr Doyle founded Esteem Systems in 1985 and developed it into a multi million pound company before selling it to its management team in a deal backed by Primary Capital in late 2004.
The company manages and supports IT infrastructure and IT security systems for large organisations.
Since selling the company, Mr Doyle has immersed himself in a variety of voluntary roles combined with a number of commercial activities, the first being the development of Boon Business Centre in Boroughbridge.
He is now a non executive director and investor in Endeavors Technologies, chairman and investor in Total Commerce Management, and a non executive director of Nynet.
Mr Doyle said: “I first became involved with Connect four years ago when they asked me to sit on a panel at one of their events and I’ve become a great admirer of the work they do in the region, so naturally I was delighted to be offered the position of chair.
“Helping young businesses with high growth potential has become something of a passion of mine. It’s vital for the growth of the region and the wider economy that we identify and support the employers of the future and give them as much help as possible.”
The outgoing chairman of Connect Yorkshire is Barry Dodd.
Connect Yorkshire’s chief executive Nick Butler said: “We are delighted that Richard has agreed to come on board and we’re looking forward to using his considerable expertise for future projects in the high growth and technology sector.
“On behalf of all those involved with Connect Yorkshire, I would like to thank Barry Dodd for his huge contributions to the work we do. All our directors give their time without charge (or expenses) and Barry has been unstinting in the time and effort he has been willing to give to Connect. He will be a difficult act to follow but I know Richard is the right man for the job.”
Connect Yorkshire helps to link young knowledge-based enterprises to the resources they need to succeed: investment, markets, management, partners, and support services and matches companies with investors looking for growth.
Over six years Connect has enabled more than 200 technology companies to raise over £29m in international investment.
