Who we are

Marcus Hanke - Chief Executive Officer

Marcus began his career at Price Waterhouse, now PricewaterhouseCoopers. He qualified as a chartered management accountant and has since worked in industry with Compass Group plc and consulting with KPMG and Deloitte. In 2003, he formed an independent performance management company which was subsequently acquired by Cognos Inc. in 2004. In 2006 Marcus joined Avisen as Managing Partner and has led the growth of the services business and the diversification into software distribution. Over the last 10 years Marcus has led several corporate Performance Management programs rolled out in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has advised some global software application vendors in this area. He specialises in corporate performance management, value-based management and the technology enablement of these processes.

Claire Milverton - Chief Financial Officer

Claire joined the board in April 2010. Prior to this, Claire was the Group Financial Controller at Xploite plc, a company acquired by Avisen in 2010.  Claire joined Xploite plc in March 2008, having previously been a Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where she had been managing both listed company audits and due diligence assignments.
In her role as both CFO and Group Financial Controller, Claire has gained significant exposure to the IT and services industry and all areas of the finance function including taking responsibility for the Avisen Group’s corporate transactions. Claire is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Marcus Yeoman - Non Executive Director

Marcus Yeoman has 20 years’ experience as a director of small companies. He is currently non-executive chairman of Storyboard Asset plc listed on PLUS, as well as holding directorships of a number of private companies which have engaged him principally to assist them with their growth strategies.
His early career started with the formation of three companies in IT infrastructure and distribution, after which he moved into small company broking and corporate work with Rathbone Stockbrokers Limited and Cheviot Capital (Nominees) Limited.  Since 2003, he has been acting as a consultant or non-executive director to smaller companies in the high growth sector.  He has also assisted a number of quoted companies with M&A work.

Mark Battles - Non-Executive Director

Mark Battles has over 20 years experience working within the technology, media and telecommunications sector operating as both CEO and CFO of many private and publicly traded businesses.  He is currently Non-Executive Director of Avisen plus a director of many private companies within the well-being, magazine and telephony sectors.

Trained with Ernst & Young as a Scottish Chartered Accountant, Mark Battles built and sold one of London first and largest digital marketing agencies in 2000 now trading under the brand name of “LBI”.  Since 2003, Mark Battles has assumed role as Chairman or non executive director across a range of international media and technology businesses assisting with their growth and exit strategies.  Prior public roles include CEO of Silvanus One plc, a PLUS traded vehicle now renamed Fast Bet plc.

Steve Berry - Non-Executive Chairman

Steve has over 30 years international business experience that includes starting and floating various companies and holding executive and non-executive directorships. He is currently Executive Chairman of Waterbridge Capital Ltd., a venture capital management company, focused on technology and security small cap growth companies. Steve's background is in finance; working previously in the global capital and securities markets for over 10 years in New York, London and Tokyo for Bankers Trust Company. This period in international banking was followed by private company venturing, a focus that is retained to the present day. Steve gained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1979 and a BSc in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1976.

Mike Sanderson - Director of Strategic Development

Mike Sanderson has responsibility for strategic development, with a mandate to drive initiatives like INSPIRE towards mainstream success. He led 1Spatial between 2001 and December 2009 with a vision to realise the value locked in the core products. Mike has previous experience in the location sector, running Genasys in the mid 1990's. With over 12 years business process experience in scientific and engineering functions within the water industry he has applied this to a variety of roles in IT. He is a visiting lecturer at Warwick University's Management School and Leeds University Business School.

Board Committees

Nomination Committee:

• Steve Berry - Chairman of the Nomination Committee
• Marcus Yeoman - Member of the Nomination Committee
• Mark Battles - Member of the Nomination Committee

The nomination committee is responsible for screening and proposing candidates for appointment to the board.

Remuneration Committee:

• Marcus Yeoman - Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
• Mark Battles - Member of the Remuneration Committee
• Steve Berry - Member of the Remuneration Committee

The remuneration committee reviews the scale and structure of the executive directors’ and senior employees’ remuneration and the terms of their service or employment contracts, including share option schemes and other bonus arrangements. The remuneration and terms and conditions of the non-executive directors are set by the entire board.

Audit Committee:

• Mark Battles - Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Marcus Yeoman - Member of the Audit Committee
• Steve Berry - Member of the Audit Committee

The audit committee determines the terms of engagement of the company’s auditors and determines, in consultation with the auditors, the scope of the audit. The audit committee receives and reviews reports from management and the company’s auditors relating to the interim and annual accounts and the accounting and internal control systems in use throughout the company. The audit committee has unrestricted access to the company’s auditors.

Avisen plc - England and Wales, No.5429800.  Avisen UK Ltd - England and Wales, No.4916520