After Dinner Speakers: Jim Maxmin, Gyles Brandreth, William Cohen
He has been the Chairman of a private investment company specialising in e-commerce since 1994. Dr Maxmin is the non-executive chairman of two internet companies and sits on the board of two others. He is the founder of netfriday.com and was the strategic advisor on e-commerce to one of the top ten financial institutions in the United States. Dr Maxmin has also been: the CEO of Laura Ashley Plc; the Chairman and CEO of Thorn Home Electronics International (and a main board member of Thorn EMI Plc); and joint Chairman and CEO of Volvo Concessionaires UK. He has held non-executive directorships at BAA plc, Geest Plc, Dawson International Plc, Scottish Provident Insurance, Progressive Insurance and Streamline.Com. Dr Maxmin holds an undergraduate degree from Grinnell CV College Iowa. He completed post graduate research at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and earned a PhD in Philosophy and Logic from Kings College, London. Dr Maxmin is registered with the Financial Services Authority for MAST Global Limited.