Experienced entrepreneur Frazer Durris has joined BusinessCloud as non-executive chairman.
Durris, who previously founded and exited Lancashire-based energy specialist Businesswise Solutions, is the owner of Trigpoint Ventures, a family office with a growing portfolio of interests.
Durris has been advising BusinessCloud’s co-owners Jonathan Symcox and Chris Maguire on an unofficial basis for a year but has agreed to take on a more formal role as non-executive chairman.
Symcox said: “We’re absolutely delighted to secure someone of the calibre of Frazer as our non-executive chairman as BusinessCloud gears up for our next stage of growth.
“2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of BusinessCloud – and five years since Chris and I bought the business – and we felt it was important we brought in some external expertise to help us scale.
“We wanted someone from outside the industry but who had a proven track record of growing a business and Frazer ticks all those boxes.
“BusinessCloud is already the go-to media brand for people looking for tech insight with bite.
“2025 is already a record year but we’re got even more exciting plans for BusinessCloud in 2026. Watch this space.”
Maguire added: “I’ve known Frazer for more than 10 years and watched in admiration as he and Dean Cockett founded Businesswise Solutions in 2010 and grew it into a major player in the energy sector.
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“As Businesswise Solutions grew, Frazer and Dean always invested the money back into the business and opened up a state-of-art Energy Centre in 2018.
“Frazer spent 13 years as CEO before finishing up as executive chairman after Businesswise Solutions was acquired by AIM–listed group Inspired Energy plc in 2021.
“Frazer’s appointment is part of an ongoing shift change for BusinessCloud. Having established ourselves as a fast-growing independent media organisation, we’re putting the structure in place that will enable to scale.
“With Frazer’s guidance, we’ll continue to focus on scaling our audience, commercial growth and partnerships.”
Durris said: “BusinessCloud is a hugely respected name in the media landscape and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the business in an unofficial role over the last 12 months.
“Highlights have included moving into their first office, making their first hire and launching Northern Leaders.
“Jon and Chris have got ambitious growth plans so it seemed like the perfect time to formalise our arrangement by becoming non-executive chairman.”
BusinessCloud is set to double its website audience in 2025 to nearly one million visitors.
Earlier this year Patrick Killeen joined Rochdale-based BusinessCloud as a reporter.