New Year Cheer For Wired Sussex

Alan Bealby becomes chair and four new members join the board

Wired Sussex today announces that Alan Bealby is taking over from Peter Copeland as its chairman. In addition to this, the Sussex-based new media business development agency is proud to announce four new board members: Andrew Foyle, CEO of Imparo, Carl Jones, executive producer of Wide Games, Alex Morrison, managing director of Cognitive Applications and Ward Sparrow, director of corporate services, Sussex Enterprise.

As chairman, Alan's remit is to build on Wired Sussex's continuing success by championing the needs of new media businesses across the region, and playing a key role in securing funds to help meet these needs. His aim is for Wired Sussex to complement and help shape the Government's 2005 vision of a 'Wired Britain' and his goal is for the organisation to become the leading new media support agency in the UK.

Alan already has significant experience of the issues and challenges facing the new media sector, having spent three years as a Wired Sussex board member. Prior to securing his new role, he spent 10 years as BT's director of operations and latterly director of customer service for Broadband Services. Before this, he was responsible for planning and implementing the digital modernisation of BT's UK network.

He is a prominent figure in the Sussex business community and is a trustee of the Brighton and Hove Community Partnership, as well as being actively involved on the Learning and Skills Council and the East Brighton Education Action Zone. In addition to this, he is a fellow of the Institute Electrical Engineers (IEE), a council member of The Campaign to Promote Engineering and a board member of The Communications Network.

Commenting on his appointment, Alan said: "Having spent three productive years on the board of the development agency, I am delighted to be asked to take on the chair of Wired Sussex. There's a great amount of latent energy within the new media industry in Sussex and Emily and her team have established a strong foundation on which to expand this sector."

Peter Copeland was a founder of the Wired Sussex board in 1996, which started promoting the region as a centre of new media excellence. Since then he has overseen the development of Wired Sussex, which has been instrumental in helping local firms win significant commercial interest and investment, thereby creating jobs and revenue for the region.

Explaining his decision to stand down, Peter said: "Chairing Wired Sussex has been a happy and rewarding experience. However, after six years and a huge expansion of activities, I believe it is time to hand the task over and I wish Alan, my board colleagues and the executive team continued success in the future."