Say Hello To Alan Neilson Our Chairman and Founder of VerseOne Technologies
My Role
As Executive Chairman, Alan is responsible for the formulation of VerseOne's current and long range strategies and how best to execute these to maximise the group's success through delivering innovative and value for money solutions to customers.
My Experience
Alan was the CEO and one of the founding directors of royalblue technologies plc—a wholly owned subsidiary of royalblue group plc (then Fidessa group plc, FDSA.L), a global software and services organisation with revenues of over £350m. The Group subsequently became part of ION Group in a £1.5bn acquisition in 2018. Alan was involved in all aspects of growing that company, from a small start-up in 1991, to a highly successful and globally dominant software and services organisation where he sat on the main board. During his 17 years at the Group, he gained experience of corporate finance, due diligence and acquisitions as part of the company's growth — which culminated in the IPO on the main market on the London Stock Exchange in 1997.
A passionate believer in technology being a leveller and a force for good, Alan founded VerseOne Group in 2004 with the single aim of harnessing innovative digital technologies to make a positive impact to the lives of people working within, and being served by, the NHS, Social Housing and broader public sector organisations — a firm principle that the business has been committed to ever since.
As Executive Chairman, Alan is responsible for the formulation of VerseOne's current and long range strategies and how best to execute these to maximise the group's success through delivering innovative and value for money solutions to its customers. He has a passion for Web Accessibility, and his championing of this cause has been a major driver in it being a core focus of VerseOne's Digital solutions and free events.
In addition to his involvement with VerseOne, Alan also acts a director, investor and advisor to a number of early-stage software and technology companies.
Alan is an aspiring amateur explorer and mountaineer and, in quest of these, has had the privilege of visiting some of the remotest and least developed parts of the world. He is a strong believer of making a positive and tangible difference to people’s lives, be it in a business or a personal setting. As such, he endeavours to combine his pursuit of adventure with philanthropy. He has skied unaided to both the North and South poles, crossed Greenland from North to South, climbed several of the world's highest peaks, and trekked across the Atacama Desert. During the course of these expeditions, he has raised thousands of pounds for charitable causes. Alan believes that these activities are great levellers, and can connect you with the very essence and basics of life and seeing humans at their best — offering opportunities for true collaboration as well as time for clear thinking.
