Brightsolid splits into two companies

Big news from Dundee!

Brightsolid, parent company of FindmyPast and Genes Reunited, and partners in ScotlandsPeople (with the National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon), the British Newspaper Archive (with the British Library), and Lives of the First World War (with the Imperial War Museum), is being split into two businesses - Brightsolid Online Publishing, dealing with its genealogical interests, and Brightsolid Online Technologies, dealing with its various IT interests.

As part of the changes, current heid yin Chris van der Kuyl is stepping into a new role of Strategic Advisor to the DC Thompson board (DC Thompson is the main Dundee based media group behind Brightsolid), and in his stead comes a new CEO for Brightsolid Online Publishing - and therefore a new boss for FMP and Genes Reunited - in the form of Annelies van den Belt. She was previously with SUP Media, the leading digital publisher in Russia, with previous roles also at ITV, Telegraph Media Group and News International. Heading up Brightsolid Online Technologies as CEO is Richard Higgs.

Ms van den Belt said: “The opportunity at brightsolid to build a truly global digital family history business is an exciting one. brightsolid has the potential through its current assets and footprint in the English speaking markets to become a leading global player. Furthermore, being part of the DC Thomson Group is an exciting professional proposition and I look forward to working with the Board and to sharing my digital knowledge and experience going forward in developing and creating further digital products.”

The full announcement is at www.brightsolid.com/brightsolid-group/latest-news/recent-news/brightsolid-realigns-and-appoints-new-ceo-for-online-publishing.html

(With thanks to Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter)

UPDATE: The BBC also has the story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-23893114

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!