Dariush Zand – CEO & Founder

Dariush started his career in telecommunications in 1995, working in retail, selling mobile phones. In 2004, Dariush led the commercial programme to launch 3G for Vodafone in the UK. After several jobs in the mobile telecommunication industry, in both commercial and technical roles, Dariush founded Ovivo Mobile Communications with the aim of bringing about a new business model for mobile.

“We spend more on mobile phone bills each year, than we do on health insurance, water, gas and electricity in the UK. Moreover most of the minutes and texts we pay for in our contracts go unused. For something that has become a hygiene factor in our daily lives, surely what we pay should reflect the true value and what we use?”

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David Jones – Chairman

David Jones has more than 30 years senior business experience including more than 20 years specifically in the UK and international mobile sector with Vodafone.

Since 2001 David held a number of senior roles in Vodafone’s international businesses. From 2001 until 2004 he was CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Vodafone Netherlands. He was then appointed COO and a Representative Executive Officer of Vodafone KK in Japan. David was then appointed CEO – European Affiliates responsible as a member of their boards for Vodafone’s interests in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Poland.

David then joined the Outsourcery Group, a leading provider of cloud services, unified communications and business mobile solutions as Non-Executive Chairman. In addition to his Ovivo role he is currently Chairman of Versatile Business Solutions and and a Trustee and Treasurer of the NET Patient Foundation.

James Longley – Non-Executive Director

James read Accountancy before being articled with Finnie & Co., in Leeds, UK. Post qualification he joined Andersen’s in London. Subsequently, James worked in the Merchant Banking/Venture Capital Division of Creditanstalt-Bankverein before joining Touche Ross Corporate Finance as a Senior Manager. In 1989 he co-led the ￡10.5m MBI of The Wilcox Group Ltd, a leading UK trailer manufacturer. In 1991 James founded Dearden Chapman, Chartered Accountants and Consultants where he has acted and continues to act for many small to medium clients with consultancy and non-executive director roles.

He was also co-founder and chief financial officer of BioProgress Technology International, Inc., a VMS and drug delivery system developer using proprietary films, processes and formulations. The company was a NASDAQ quoted and regulated company from 1997 to 2002, and was subsequently listed on AIM. James was a director, Chief Financial Officer and co-founder of PhotoBox Limited from 2000 to 2006, a company which merged with its French counterparts, Photoways to create Europe’s Number 1 online photo-finishing business and acquired Moonpig.com in 2011 for £120million. He is also director Plutus Resources PLC, an AIM listed company.

Tony Fish – Non-Executive Director

Tony Fish brings over twenty years of professional delivery capability with leading brands, high growth companies and in venture capital, he has board level executive experience crossing digital, web, telecoms, mobile and TV.

Tony Fish B-Eng MBA C-ENG FIET FCIM, is a consummate professional, acknowledged public speaker and avid supporter of early stage growth tech companies. He is also an accomplished author: “My Digital Footprint: a two sided business model where your privacy will be someone else’s business” Nov 2009 and has previously co-authored two books on mobile and innovation: “Mobile Web 2.0: the innovators guide to developing and marketing next generation wireless/mobile applications”, August 2006; and “OpenGardens, the innovators guide to mobile data industry”, December 2004.

Martin Smith – Non-Executive Director

Martin Smith has more than 30 years’ experience in the world of advertising and communications. A founding partner of BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty), he was at various times the agency’s MD and Deputy Chairman and also Chairman of its below-the-line group of companies. He helped it grow to become one of the most awarded and renowned agencies in the world.

After a period as CEO of Grey London, he began working as a strategic consultant with several client and agency businesses. In addition to Ovivo, he is currently Chairman of the brand communications agency, RedRoute, is on the board of Satore Entertainment and is a Member of the Institute of Cancer Research.

Martin has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University, where he was also Secretary of Footlights and was the writing partner of Douglas Adams. He has written for many TV and radio comedy shows and has also appeared at The Comedy Store and at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Soho in his own play, ‘It’s Virtually Education’.