Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/1055210
Simply Business' CEO Jason Stockwood joins UMI 3 Board Jason Stockwood joined the Board earlier in the year as a non-executive director and chairman of the Project Development Committee. As part of his appointment to UMI 3 , he reviews progress of UMI 3 's spin-outs and licence opportunities and proposals for investment by the University in new IP projects. He has also worked on the introduction of an enterprise culture to help generate greater impact from UMI 3 's work and has been involved with the University's Innovation Centre, UMIC. Jason is the Global CEO of Simply Business, one of the UK's largest business insurance providers and a pioneering fast growth insurtech firm that has disrupted the industry through harnessing data and technology. Since joining in 2010, Jason is responsible for scaling the business to cover more than 425,000 customers, driving its global expansion, with its US office having opened last year as well as successfully leading the company through investment and acquisition. Prior to Simply Business, Jason held a number of senior positions across disruptive online businesses from the global dating website, Match.com, where he was International Managing Director, to his role in travel as managing director at Travelocity Business. He has also held board positions with Skyscanner and The Drinkaware Trust. Simply Business was voted 'The Best Company to Work For' in The Sunday Times in both 2015 and 2016 under Jason's leadership, which also saw him voted CEO of the Year in 2016 by the same publication. In 2017 Simply Business was awarded its B-Corp accreditation in recognition of its supportive and innovative approach to ensure the business is making a positive contribution to wider society and the environment. Jason comments: "It's been an honour to join the Board of UMI 3 , a world-leading hub for technology and innovation that is committed to supporting the growth of ambitious spin-outs. "I am fascinated about the wealth of new opportunities at our fingertips when we unleash the full potential of our talent and technology. I have been working closely with the next generation of innovators, helping review the progress of spin-outs and licences as well as new proposals for investment by the University in original IP projects. "We are entering a world where every company will on some level be a technology business. The impact of digital disruption is immeasurable and UMI 3 has a vital role to play in nurturing ground-breaking ideas and providing spin-outs with the support and access to funding that they need in order to scale." Clive Rowland, UMI 3 CEO, comments: "We are in the process of developing our company to promote further the University's goals for enterprise and social impact through technology licensing and spinning out new companies. "Finding the 'right' balance between being a service provider and an investment-minded business is a constant challenge. Who better to help us with this development than Jason? His personal business success and well respected people-focussed approach to leadership is a wonderful asset for us. His origin in the North of England is an added bonus as we seek to make an increased commitment to the Northern Powerhouse through our work and our new technology transfer collaboration with the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield."