The Thames Valley Innovation & Growth Team (IGT) has announced the appointment of Dr Ashok Vaidya as its Business Champion. This role builds on the work that Dr Vaidya has done in similar programmes over a number of years as a business mentor & specialist adviser.

Dr Vaidya will also take over the role of non-executive Chair of the not-for-profit company that manages the grant agreement with SEEDA to deliver the IGT project in the Thames Valley.

Ashok Vaidya takes up this post with immediate effect to bring a wealth of experience to the Thames Valley IGT including 30 years successful international business and technology commercialisation experience in the electronics, security and information technology sectors. He is an adviser to university and entrepreneurial spin out and commercialisation enterprises and has been a hands-on operational managing director and executive chairman of high technology early stage companies.  He has a proven track record of managing intellectual property to create tangible value through product sales and licensing, and his experience of MBOs and IPOs on main and AIM markets will be of particular value to those businesses supported by the IGT that are building to exit through a sale or flotation.

The Thames Valley IGT is led by a Board of commercially experienced business people together with representatives from key stakeholders including the University of Reading, business membership organisations, local authorities and other publicly funded business support organisations.

Warmly welcoming Dr Vaidya, Nick Horslen, outgoing Business Champion and Chair of the Company, said: "There is always a continuing desire within the business community to promote enterprise and champion the cause of growing businesses across the Thames Valley. One of the ways proving most effective is through the IGTs. I’ve been delighted to give my time to support Susan and her team and I’m pleased to be handing over the reins to Ashok after serving my three year term. Ashok’s broad business knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the Team as they support Thames Valley businesses to be successful global leaders.”

Susan Elliott, CEO of Thames Valley Innovation & Growth Ltd added: “I’d like to thank Nick Horslen for his valuable support over the last three years, in particular as the Company has worked to establish the Thames Valley IGT that now actively supports a wide range of businesses to help accelerate their growth. I’m looking forward to working with Ashok and welcome his strategic guidance to ensure we remain focused and relevant to the needs of the business community.”

Ashok Vaidya said: "I am delighted that I will be able to help one of SEEDA's core business support programmes at a time when the country needs to nurture and grow both new and established businesses. This role deepens my existing contact with the IGT and my contribution to the excellent work that they do, and I too am looking forward to being part of the team.”