Career history

In 2010 I realised that I needed a place to gather my thoughts, plans and projects, and that I often needed to deliver work through a corporate entity. So Isometrica was born in 2010 and through Isometrica I’ve managed to work with some really great people, help solve some truly challenging problems and all the time have fun doing so. In my Isometrica Projects folder I currently have 17 areas of activity, though many of these are running in background and I’m only really active on a couple of projects at any time....

Zetta Genomics uses big data know-how to provide scalable genome storage and advanced analytics for genomic medicine in both research and healthcare settings. Zetta is working to make its genome storage products, OpenCB and Zetta Enterprise, to become the de-facto platforms for genome data management for genomic medicine. This will allow Zetta to own a key part of the new $bn genomic data management sector within the $100bn healthcare information systems market....

Medic Creations offers secure messaging for the NHS and Jim spent time as CTO, leading the development of a new high-performance messaging architecture and helping the first deployment into an NHS trust.

Jim’s role as Project Lead was to develop and implement the plans to deliver a world-class research facility offering scientists from around the world access to Genomics England’s clinical and genomic datasets. A “World-Class Research Environment” supports researchers to generate new understanding of genomics but in addition must have the necessary tools and facilities to attract “World-Class Researchers” much in the same way that a great laboratory will attract the best talent....

From 2011 to May 2016 Jim was CEO and co-founder of Arkivum securing 5 rounds of VC investment and several years of triple-digit growth. Arkivum is an innovative, fast growing data archiving provider, specialising in delivering long-term archiving solutions with unique bit level preservation and an unrivalled 100% data integrity guarantee. Arkivum operates in markets that include healthcare, life sciences, higher education, and digital heritage where the common need is to retain and provide access to large volumes of data for multiple decades....

VoiceVault is a specialist and leader in the provision of voice-based biometric identity verification solutions and services and as Chief Operating Officer, Jim assembled a new engineering team, developing a new technology platform and leading pre-sales engagements. With operations in the United States, UK and Ireland, the company built a global customer base of public and private organisations including government agencies, banks and insurers. VoiceVault provides a more convenient, practical and secure alternative to PINs, passwords or security tokens....

In early 2006 Jim secured venture capital investment to develop ikordo an AI-based Natural language virtual assistant designed to take the strain of juggling the schedules of invitees to meetings. As CEO, Jim built the company from scratch, assembling an incredible team and securing 3 rounds of VC investment. ikordo provided a unique, highly user-centric approach to solving a complex problem. Using advanced natural language processing to communicate, ikordo worked on the organiser’s behalf to continually search for the optimum date and time....

Jim co-founded CDC Solutions in 1974 with Dave Cornwell , working initially from bedrooms that soon morphed to portacabins and garden offices. Dave’s initial idea for CDC Solutions (then known as Computerised Document Control) was to offer document management solutions using DCS Powernet, document management software licensed from Mystic Management Systems based in, well, Mystic CT. CDC proved very successful in winning new business with DCS Powernet, attracting customers including Unilever, Total Oil and the pharmaceuticals arm of Boots....

EMI Central Research Laboratories, Research Engineer, 1974 - 1981 Jim studied electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Bath and it was as a first year undergraduate that he first discovered programming, initially using punched cards to programme in Fortran but later as part of a small group of undergraduates offered access to the South West Universities Computer Network, an early UK-equivalent to the US ARPANET. Jim was sponsored through university by EMI (EMI paid him money during the academic term!...