Mike Harrison – Executive Chairman
Since taking over in May 2005 Mike has revitalised Earthport, setting the strategy and establishing the role of utility for multiple international payments. To achieve this, a major rebuild of the technology and the proliferation of the banking network were key. On the way he sorted out the legacy problems and has extinguished the Company’s debt. In addition he is Managing Director of The Steering Partnership Limited. Mike was previously Managing Director of Cedar Group from 1997 to 2002. He also spent two years at Informix between 1995 and 1997, running Northern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Between 1990 and 1995 Mike was Managing Director of Oracle Corporation UK Limited - the company's largest operating unit. Mike helped redesign the UK and worldwide operations and saw turnover rise from £90 million to £210 Million. Previously Mike ran the UK and Ireland operations for Data General 1986-1990 and set up the software and services division of Burroughs between 1982 and 1986 - turning a £5m loss into a £5m profit. Mike culminated a seventeen-year career with IBM, from 1965-82, by running the IBM UK Network Services Division
James Bergman – Chief Executive Officer
James joined the Board on 19 December 2007 and became Chief Executive Officer on 19 June 2008 moving up from Sales and Marketing Director. He has been a major factor in Earthport's recent contract wins and the establishment of a solid pipeline of potential future opportunities, thus reinforcing his position within the Company. James joined the Company from ZAN Partners Limited, an independent wealth management firm, who assisted in the funding round of March 2007. His responsibilities at ZAN encompassed new business development and marketing which provided an excellent background to the Financial Markets. From August 2004 to April 2006 he was Global Account Director at EMC Computer Systems (UK) Ltd, where he successfully managed a portfolio of Strategic Enterprise Accounts within the Financial Services and Media Sectors to ensure that all elements of the business relationship were maximized with a successful end result for both the client and EMC. From June 2003 to August 2004 he was Business Development Director at Infonet UK Ltd. This role consisted of selling Infonet's core products into global multinational corporations, often responding to bid requests and interfacing with "C-Level" executives.
Peter Chappell – Executive Director
Peter Chappell joins the Board as an Executive Director. Whilst continuing as Company Secretary, he will assume particular responsibilities for Corporate Affairs and Human Resources. Prior his present role within Earthport, from 1995 to 1998 Peter was a director of Walton Consulting Limited, which was absorbed into Earthport in 1997. From 1991-96 he was Chairman of the Employment Network (UK) Limited, an innovative computerised recruitment company that evolved onto the Internet in 1993, being renamed PeopleBank. From 1989-91 Peter was a senior consultant with Trimedia Communications. Peter became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1966 and became a managing partner of Sheppards and Chase from 1968-89 where he ran institutional sales and research from 1985-89.
Lance Browne - Non-Executive Director
Lance is Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited. Standard Chartered Bank is one of the very few international banks, which has a license to clear local currencies in China. He began his career in China in 1979 in engineering and finance and has continued to further his career there ever since. Past appointments in China include Chairman of the British Chambers in Shanghai and Beijing, Chief Representative of the 48 Group and Chairman of the Foreign Bankers Association. He is an Honorary Citizen of Shanghai and was awarded a CBE for his work and accomplishments in China.
Lady Olga Maitland - Non-Executive Director
Lady Olga Maitland was CEO of the International Association of Money Transfer Networks (IAMTN) from 2005-2008. Prior to IAMTN, from 1997-2005, she was a freelance journalist. She has been President of the Defence and Security Forum since 1983 and President of the Algerian British Business Association since 2005. Between 1992 and 1997 Lady Olga was Conservative Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam and was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Northern Ireland.