John Michaelis

Experience

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  Racal Network Services

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1995

  Sales Manager
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  Jasmin Plc

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1998

  Business Development Director (Main Board)

  Developed Jasmin’s business growth strategy to focus on two existing market sectors, exploit its unique capabilities and strengthen sales execution. The top and bottom line growth achieved contributed towards the successful listing of the Company’s shares on the LSE

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  Aurora Computer Services

  Jan 1998 - May 2019

  Board Advisor and Founding Shareholder

  I started Aurora as a software and services supplier in the field of facial imaging and recognition technology and continued as an active investor, advising the board on go to market and commercial strategy. I was an active member of the Shareholder Advisory Group exercising oversight on governance and corporate strategy.The business grew to become the UK market leader for face recognition technology and the leading provider of AI solutions to the air sector, which led to a successful trade sale. Show less

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  WIT Ltd

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2007

  Managing Director

  WIT Ltd was my own boutique consultancy company that provided change management services. The services comprised business plan development, sales force restructuring, sales management process development/implementation and channel program development.

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  Cisco Systems

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2009

  Sales Director

  Member of the Services Board growing business at CAGR of 33% to over $500m. Responsible for implementing sales management strategy for major deals and leading pursuit and delivery of major programmes in Latin America, CIS States, Gulf States and Africa, with focus on datacentre consolidation/migration and managed operations for service providers and banks

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  Cisco Systems

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2012

  Managing Director

  I led the team responsible for securing and delivering turnkey service and technology programs for key customers in the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the CIS States. These programs often required Cisco to establish local services entities and provide financing arrangements. Typical programs were $20m-$250m in value and comprised program management (prime contractor), business planning and change consultancy, architecture definition, installation and operational management services as well as Cisco’s usual scope of technology and engineering/support services.My team secured and delivered programs in the telecoms, financial services and public sectors in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Show less

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  WIT Consultancy

  Apr 2012 - Jan 2019

  Managing Director

  WIT Consultancy led large scale change programs for global enterprises in the technology, banking and telecommunications sectors. WIT enabled clients achieve double digit productivity improvements by increasing sales, streamlining operations and improving supply chain efficiency.As managing director I led the securing and delivery of each assignment with our team of trusted associates.

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  Proffer Global Ltd

  May 2014 - Apr 2016

  Non Executive Director

  A startup that built a disruptive and high volume B2C platform. As the sole NED I represented the seed investors, providing constructive board level challenge on strategy. I also supported the development of robust financial management and sales management processes.

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  Collaborative-ai Ltd.

  Aug 2019 - now

  Director

  Collaborative-ai is a consulting and investment business, specialising in commercialising technology; supporting deep tech early stage ventures

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  Consilience Ventures

  Mar 2020 - Dec 2023

  Senior Manager

  Consilience Ventures is an alternative start-up ecosystem that enables traditionally low-risk investors to invest in high growth tech businesses. We give entrepreneurs the ability to create and grow amazing companies that solve real and big problems by providing expertise and enabling investment.Consilience Ventures is an invitation-only community comprising investors, start-ups and advisors, whose interests are fully aligned through a unique value based reward arrangement.

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  BLUESKEYE AI

  Aug 2024 - now

  Vice President Business Services

  I am supporting one of my investments, Blueskeye AI, in an executive capacity.Since inception in 2019 Blueskeye AI have become global leaders in using face data to understand expressed human behaviour. We are now at the point where the evidence validates that our technology is as good or better than the human eye. This means our customers can glean objective second-by-second insights, into how users’ expressed emotions are changing as they consume their product or service.My role is to make it easier for our customers to use our technology and to work with our customers to optimise the outcomes they achieve. Show less