Jim, a graduate of Manchester University, joined Alternative Networks in 1994, becoming a Sales Manager in 1996 and setting up the NGN Solutions division in 1997. He went on to manage the Managed Voice Solutions division in 1998 and joined the board as Sales Director in 1999, before becoming Group Sales and Marketing Director in 2004, with a wide brief and helping to build Alternative into a £150m business, listed on AIM. In 2014 Jim left Alternative, to join Restless Development, focusing on fundraising projects and is currently helping to set up an Entrepreneur Panel, where UK entrepreneurs support and fund livelihood projects, backed by fundraising initiatives, mainly in African countries.
Virtual1 Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Hagan (pictured), made the following announcement: “Today I am delighted to announce that Jim Sewell has joined the Virtual1 board as a non-executive, working alongside our other non-exec Steve Scott. I have known Jim for many years and worked closely with him when he was at Alternative Networks. His skill and experience will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand our business.”
Following the announcement, Jim Sewell said: “I am very excited at working with the Virtual1 team to help them achieve their impressive growth ambitions. I have always admired Virtual1 as a very focused and successful business and am looking forward to being involved in their continued success. I have always been impressed with the culture of the Virtual1 business, which reflects how I feel businesses should be run. There’s no doubt that exciting times are ahead, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to work with Tom and the team.”