Viglen facts for kids
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| Ltd | |
| Industry | Computing |
| Founded | United Kingdom (1975) |
| Headquarters | Hertfordshire |
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Key people
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Claude Littner, Chairman Lord Sugar, Former Chairman and major shareholder Bordan Tkachuk, Former Chief Executive |
Viglen Ltd is a company that provides IT products and services. This includes things like computer storage systems, powerful computers called servers, and equipment for data and voice communication.
Contents
History of Viglen
Viglen was started in 1975 by Vigen Boyadjian. In the 1980s, the company sold its products directly to customers. They often used big advertisements in popular computer magazines. They were especially popular with people who owned Acorn computers.
Lord Sugar and Amstrad
In June 1994, Alan Sugar's company, Amstrad, bought Viglen. Alan Sugar later became known as Lord Sugar. Viglen became a public company in 1997. This meant its shares could be bought and sold by anyone.
In 2007, Amstrad was sold to BSkyB, a company owned by Rupert Murdoch. After this sale, Viglen became Lord Sugar's main computer business.
Viglen's Leadership and Focus
For a while, Bordan Tkachuk was the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Viglen. He was a longtime friend and business partner of Lord Sugar. You might have seen him on the TV show The Apprentice.
From 1994 to 1998, Viglen sponsored the football team Charlton Athletic F.C.. This sponsorship ended when the team moved up to the FA Premier League.
In December 2005, Viglen moved its main office from London to Colney Street near St Albans. Their manufacturing plant, where they make their products, is also in this building. Around 2007, Viglen focused a lot on selling computers to schools and public organizations. They also worked in other IT areas, like managing computer systems for other businesses.
Changes in Ownership
In July 2009, Lord Sugar stepped down as the chairman of Viglen. He handed over control to Claude Littner, another longtime business partner. Then, in January 2014, Lord Sugar sold his share in Viglen to the Westcoast Group. Westcoast Group then combined Viglen with another of its companies, XMA.
Viglen and The Apprentice
When Lord Sugar owned Viglen, its headquarters was used as a filming location for the BBC show The Apprentice. Many scenes, including the famous "job interviews," were filmed there. The "walk of shame" scene, where a contestant leaves the building and gets into a taxi, was also filmed at Viglen Headquarters. However, the boardroom scenes were filmed in a TV studio.
Bordan Tkachuk's Interview Moment
On December 15, 2010, during a mock interview on The Apprentice, CEO Bordan Tkachuk made a mistake. He said that "ISP" stood for "Internet Service Protocol." The correct meaning is "Internet Service Provider." This led to a lot of discussion and criticism.
He said:
"I know what ISP is. It's an Internet Service Protocol. And that's what you're providing. It's not a telecoms operating licence. It's a protocol that allows telecoms over bandwidths.
"I've been running Alan Sugar's companies for the last 25 years, and that's why I know a little bit about technology."
—Bordan Tkachuk
Images for kids
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A Viglen IX9000 Modular Chassis
