Ken Olisa
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Olisa, OBE FRSA FBCS
is a British businessman born (1951) of a Nigerian father and a British
mother.
Olisa attained an MA in Natural, Social & Political and Management Sciences from Cambridge University (Fitzwilliam College).
His technology career spans over 30 years commencing with IBM
from whom he won a scholarship while at Cambridge University. At IBM he held various posts in systems engineering, sales and marketing, before joining Wang Laboratories
in 1981. Following a period as Marketing Director for Europe
, Vice President of US
Marketing and then of Worldwide Marketing, Ken was appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of Wang Europe, Africa
and the Middle East
. In this role, he was responsible for the sales, marketing, support, service and administration activities within 11 subsidiaries and 92 distributors.
After leaving Wang in 1992, Ken founded Interregnum
, the technology merchant bank
, which he led to a £100+m IPO on AIM in 2000.
Today he leads boutique technology merchant bank — Restoration Partners based in London
.
He was elected as a Fellow of the British Computer Society
in 2006. In addition to his entrepreneurial/private equity activities, Ken has considerable public company Board-level experience on both sides of the Atlantic. His connection with AIM
dates back to the market’s foundation. In 1995, he chaired Voss Net, the first UK ISP (Internet Service Provider
) to go public and one of the first companies to list on AIM. He was later Chairman of the Board of the first Israeli company to list its shares on AIM – DMATEK. He is currently a director of Thomson Reuters
; and formerly served as Director of Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
(ENRC) from 2008 to 2011, and of Open Text Corporation
from 1998 to 2008.
As a Freeman, Ken Olisa is familiar with the workings of the City of London
. Further, he is actively involved with the City of London’s governance by serving as Deputy Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
; where he was Master from October 2010 - October 2011. In 2003, Ken was named the BVCA/Real Deals Private Equity Personality of the Year and he was named NEDA/Sunday Times Non Executive Director of the Year for 2009. He was named one of the UK's ten most influential black businessmen in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Power Lists.
Ken’s pro bono activities include Chairman of Thames Reach
, a charity working to end street homelessness in London, a Director of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
, and Chairman of the Powerlist Foundation.
Ken was an inaugural member of the Postal Services Commission
from 2000 to 2004 and a Governor of the Peabody Trust
for a decade until 2007.
FBCS
FBCS is an abbreviation for Fellow of the British Computer Society . This is the most senior professional grade in the BCS. It is available to applicants with a minimum of five years of Information Technology experience in a senior IT position or who have an established eminent or authoritative...
is a British businessman born (1951) of a Nigerian father and a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mother.
Olisa attained an MA in Natural, Social & Political and Management Sciences from Cambridge University (Fitzwilliam College).
His technology career spans over 30 years commencing with IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
from whom he won a scholarship while at Cambridge University. At IBM he held various posts in systems engineering, sales and marketing, before joining Wang Laboratories
Wang Laboratories
Wang Laboratories was a computer company founded in 1951 by Dr. An Wang and Dr. G. Y. Chu. The company was successively headquartered in Cambridge , Tewksbury , and finally in Lowell, Massachusetts . At its peak in the 1980s, Wang Laboratories had annual revenues of $3 billion and employed over...
in 1981. Following a period as Marketing Director for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Vice President of US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Marketing and then of Worldwide Marketing, Ken was appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of Wang Europe, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In this role, he was responsible for the sales, marketing, support, service and administration activities within 11 subsidiaries and 92 distributors.
After leaving Wang in 1992, Ken founded Interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
, the technology merchant bank
Merchant bank
A merchant bank is a financial institution which provides capital to companies in the form of share ownership instead of loans. A merchant bank also provides advisory on corporate matters to the firms they lend to....
, which he led to a £100+m IPO on AIM in 2000.
Today he leads boutique technology merchant bank — Restoration Partners based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He was elected as a Fellow of the British Computer Society
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
in 2006. In addition to his entrepreneurial/private equity activities, Ken has considerable public company Board-level experience on both sides of the Atlantic. His connection with AIM
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
dates back to the market’s foundation. In 1995, he chaired Voss Net, the first UK ISP (Internet Service Provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
) to go public and one of the first companies to list on AIM. He was later Chairman of the Board of the first Israeli company to list its shares on AIM – DMATEK. He is currently a director of Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters Corporation is a provider of information for the world's businesses and professionals and is created by the Thomson Corporation's purchase of Reuters Group on 17 April 2008. Thomson Reuters is headquartered at 3 Times Square, New York City, USA...
; and formerly served as Director of Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation PLC is a diversified natural resources company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has activities in mining, processing, energy, logistics and marketing....
(ENRC) from 2008 to 2011, and of Open Text Corporation
Open Text Corporation
OpenText Corporation Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. As Canada's largest software company, it produces and distributes computer software applications designed to enable Enterprise content management solutions for large corporations across all industries....
from 1998 to 2008.
As a Freeman, Ken Olisa is familiar with the workings of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. Further, he is actively involved with the City of London’s governance by serving as Deputy Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists , aka the Information Technologists' Company , is the 100th Livery Company of the City of London...
; where he was Master from October 2010 - October 2011. In 2003, Ken was named the BVCA/Real Deals Private Equity Personality of the Year and he was named NEDA/Sunday Times Non Executive Director of the Year for 2009. He was named one of the UK's ten most influential black businessmen in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Power Lists.
Ken’s pro bono activities include Chairman of Thames Reach
Thames Reach
Thames Reach is a London based charity working with homeless men and women.- Services :Its services include outreach work with rough sleepers, a range of hostels and supported housing projects, and schemes which focus on supporting people who have experienced homelessness by helping them develop...
, a charity working to end street homelessness in London, a Director of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is an independent body created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors the expenses scheme for Members of the House of Commons, and is responsible for...
, and Chairman of the Powerlist Foundation.
Ken was an inaugural member of the Postal Services Commission
Postal Services Commission
The Postal Services Commission, known as Postcomm, was a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom charged with overseeing the quality and universal service of post in the United Kingdom. It was established in 2000 under the Postal Services Act 2000...
from 2000 to 2004 and a Governor of the Peabody Trust
Peabody Trust
Peabody Trust , founded in 1862, is one of London's oldest and largest housing associations with over 19,000 properties. It also a charity and urban regeneration agency...
for a decade until 2007.