DIGITAL ISLE OF MAN WELCOMES NEW NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

We'd like to welcome Jason Bissell, Steve Douglas, and Bernd Petak to the Digital Isle of Man Board, as well as welcoming back Greg Ellison! Their valuable expertise will help to drive us forward in shaping the digital landscape on the Isle of Man. 

Find out more about the Digital Isle of Man Non-Executive Board here, and read about our new members below.

JASON BISSELL 

A recognised leader in the data and AI industry.  With over 25 years of operational leadership experience working with Governments and industry to define data strategies to support business and AI use cases.

Prior to moving to the Isle of Man, Jason spent 12 years in Singapore as CEO/SVP founding and leading the GTM teams for market defining data and AI companies such as Databricks, Talend, Birst and QlikTech.  Establishing and growing teams in Japan, China, Australia, India and across Southeast Asia gave Jason the opportunity to experience the transformational power of data and AI.

Prior to his time in Asia, Jason led the founding UK team for QlikTech and worked with the global team to pioneer the analytic data and application marketplace.  Jason spent 7 years with Business Objects (SAP) leading OEM business and establishing the mid-market GTM. 

As an investor Jason has a specific interest in the human relationship and interaction with data and AI and how cultural and human performance can be safely enhanced with these platforms based on AI safety first principles.

Jason now works with companies and governments to develop AI strategies to safely use data for social and economic good.

STEVE DOUGLAS

Steve is Managing Director of Synapse360, a Cloud Managed Service Provider (MSP). After moving to the Island from North America and attending King Williams College, he studied at both Huddersfield and the Open Universities. Steve has a background of solving complex business challenges and providing enterprises with a competitive advantage through the strategic use of technology. For the last decade he has held board level roles providing leadership across technical, commercial and selling disciplines. Steve believes every person has at least one superpower they should discover and nurture in their careers, and says his are problem solving and communication.

GREG ELLISON

Greg is a seasoned senior executive with 25 years’ experience in the Financial Services sector in the UK and overseas. Greg is the founder of AI Strategy Ninja, an advisory and training business that helps organisations create competitive advantage using artificial intelligence.

Previously, Greg was CEO of Capital International Group and founded Capital International Bank, the island’s first ever digital corporate bank.

Earlier in his career, Greg was the Managing Director for Barclays Wealth and led over 1,000 staff across the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. He then spent five years with Boston Group as CEO, where he successfully spearheaded their development from a small trust company into a leading Multi-Family Office in the Isle of Man, Malta and United Arab Emirates.

Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies, an MBA from Henley Business School, is a Fellow and Chartered Director at the Institute of Directors and completed the Corporate Valuations course at the Said Business School. Recently, he completed the ‘AI: Implications in Business Strategy’ course at MIT. Greg has twice been recognised as one of the ‘Top 50 Most Influential’ in financial services by ePrivateClient.

BERND PETAK

Bernd Petak is an Isle of Man-based technology executive, investor and corporate director. He is a former software engineer, ex-strategy & operations consulting partner with Deloitte and multi-time company founder, CEO, COO and CFO. Bernd is investment partner and co-founder at Northmark Ventures, a micro-venture capital firm focused on advanced technology, software as a service and fintech businesses with strong product-market fit. Bernd also acts as managing director for Make IT Global, an Isle of Man technology advisory, engineering and operations firm focused on the UK and European markets.

Bernd currently serves as non-exec director and board chair for Intiveo.com as well as sitting as a non-exec director for Proskida.com. Bernd was past board chair for Beanworks, exited in 2021 to Quadient and acted as strategic advisor to Wealthbar, exited in 2019 to CI Financial.