Author, Businessman & Broadcaster
Biography
Having qualified as a chartered electronics engineer in 1969, he expanded into marketing and sales at an early age and then into international business management.
He considers himself to be fortunate to enter the computer industry while still in his twenties at the birth of the personal computer boom. In 1969, while with Ferranti, he launched the Argus 600, the UK’s first minicomputer. At 34, John was Chief Executive of the German and French subsidiaries of the Data Recording Group, Europe’s largest computer hardware manufacturer at the time, and 3 years later, Vice President-Europe for the Telex Corporation of America.
1979 saw the start of his own companies spanning the fields of hardware and software development, systems manufacturing and consultancy with a global customer base. There were few in the computer industry at the time and he wrote many articles over the years for the technical press and broadcast on computer matters for the BBC. He was also the technology contributor for the Government’s Diplomatic Handbook, which went to British Embassies around the world.
He considers himself to be fortunate to enter the computer industry while still in his twenties at the birth of the personal computer boom. In 1969, while with Ferranti, he launched the Argus 600, the UK’s first minicomputer. At 34, John was Chief Executive of the German and French subsidiaries of the Data Recording Group, Europe’s largest computer hardware manufacturer at the time, and 3 years later, Vice President-
1979 saw the start of his own companies spanning the fields of hardware and software development, systems manufacturing and consultancy with a global customer base. There were few in the computer industry at the time and he wrote many articles over the years for the technical press and broadcast on computer matters for the BBC. He was also the technology contributor for the Government’s Diplomatic Handbook, which went to British Embassies around the world.
In 1976, John co-founded the Coronary Artery Disease Research Association (CORDA) together with Donald Longmore, a pioneering heart surgeon. CORDA sponsors research into the early detection of heart disease, the major cause of coronaries and strokes.
The work of the charity was recognised when Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra agreed to become CORDA’s Royal Patron in 2005 ...... More
More recently he established a property company in the UK and Portugal to construct a large resort comprising apartments, villas, hotel and sports complex on the Algarve. This was a complete change of direction but satisfied an interest he’d always had in property development.
He always had a love of broadcasting and presents a radio programme and makes guest appearance on TV..... More
An ambition is to write for television but he says; “We’ll just have to wait and see on that one.”
John was made a Freeman of the City of York in 1996 which he considers a great honour.
The work of the charity was recognised when Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra agreed to become CORDA’s Royal Patron in 2005 ...... More
More recently he established a property company in the UK and Portugal to construct a large resort comprising apartments, villas, hotel and sports complex on the Algarve. This was a complete change of direction but satisfied an interest he’d always had in property development.
He always had a love of broadcasting and presents a radio programme and makes guest appearance on TV..... More
An ambition is to write for television but he says; “We’ll just have to wait and see on that one.”
John was made a Freeman of the City of York in 1996 which he considers a great honour.