BRIGHTSOLID WORKING WITH THE SALTIRE FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE SCOTTISH BUSINESS GROWTH

brightsolid, the online publishing and technology group, has today reinforced its commitment to accelerating the growth of its business in Scotland, announcing the appointment of Saltire Fellow Neil Campbell as Head of Product and Marketing in its online technology business. The hire is part of its ongoing commitment to recruit the best of Scotland's entrepreneurs as it focuses on growth. It is further supporting the Saltire Foundation by hosting a Dundee-based business event, focusing on the state of the newspaper industry.

Neil Campbell joins Ian Webster, recruited in 2010, as brightsolid's second Saltire Foundation Fellow, part of the Scottish Government backed scheme that seeks to develop high flying executives by combining business school education with industry placements in the US and Scotland.

brightsolid online technology is a leading UK independent provider of online IT business services, and specialises in managing clients' information availability and online presence through hosting, internet access, applications and business continuity products and services.

Chris van der Kuyl, CEO brightsolid, comments: "The Saltire Foundation was set up to instil individuals with the business skills and entrepreneurial drive to transform Scottish companies into global businesses of scale - all attributes that are critical to the future success of brightsolid. We are always looking for the highest calibre of staff to contribute to our rapidly expanding business and we are the only company in Scotland to have hired two recruits from the Saltire Fellowship, which is testament to the talent it harnesses."

Sandy Kennedy, CEO at The Saltire Foundation, comments: "I am delighted that brightsolid, one of Scotland's high growth and innovative companieshas shown such commitment to The Saltire Foundation both through hosting today's event and hiring a second recruit from the Fellowship. There is a real need to raise aspirations within Scottish businesses to deliver on a global stage. The Fellowship programme is focused on giving its alumni the skills and ambition to do just this."

Neil Campbell has a strong background in the technology sector, having worked with Sun Microsystems and Accenture in London, Colorado and California before being awarded a position on the Saltire Foundation's Fellowship programme. Most recently Campbell led Marketing and Business Development at Actual Analytics, a recent spin-out from the University of Edinburgh.

Campbell, Head of Product and Marketing, brightsolid online technology adds: "The year-long Saltire Fellowship programme was an outstanding opportunity to combine a world-class academic environment with hands-on, international business experience in the US. brightsolid's online technology business has huge growth potential and I'm looking forward to working with the team as we aim to become a major player in the IT sector."

This development has been featured in  The Courier and The Scotsman.