John Forrest

John started his professional career at Stanford University in California after completing his doctorate at Oxford University in the UK and then returned to lecture and research at the University of London. He formed a research group which focused on new techniques for communications and radar, including advanced phased array antennas for satellites. Much of the research was supported by agencies around the world, including the US Air Force and Navy, the UK defense and communications sector, and industrial companies such as Philips and General Electric. He left the academic world in 1984 to join Marconi Defence Systems as vice-president of technology, with a remit for much of the advanced technology R&D in GEC. This was then followed by an appointment to head up the engineering and operations activities of the commercial broadcasting sector in the UK, with the key responsibility for the transmission of radio, television and satellite services. From, this he founded the major UK communications company NTL, as a buy-out from the UK government.

Setting the Standard

The growth of NTL was an exciting period and John pushed the company strongly into digital technology for broadcasting, being a founder member of the European digital video broadcasting group (DVB) which established the now international standards for digital broadcasting. He also promoted the standards worldwide to achieve their current dominant position – a massive benefit to the consumer. The French government awarded him the honour of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for this work.

NTL grew strongly and was bought by the US company CableTel, who retained the name NTL because of the strong brand that had been established and John’s focus on the relationship with customers. John then moved into the investment and merchant banking community as a board member of the international venture capital group, 3i. He was keen to use his knowledge to help the whole process of investing in technology related businesses.

A Wireless Base

A common theme in John’s career has been “wireless”, right back to the early days of making transistor radios and finding innovative solutions in electronics. Over the last ten years, John has worked with many companies in the “high tech” sector, as an advisor, board member or chairman. He has helped a number in their success of transition to public offerings on the AIM and NASDAQ markets.