The people behind Novella's success

Ventura T. Rufino, Ph.D.

Dr. Rufino founded Novella SatComs in 1997 with Bill Dransfield, and is its main shareholder and Managing Director / CEO.

He graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Porto University, Portugal, in 1972 , where he became a lecturer and obtained a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bradford University in 1984.

Following his successful academic career Dr Rufino has held senior positions at Communications System Research / Ferranti, SES Astra and ComScience. He has extensive practical experience of RF and microwave systems applied to satellite earth station design, satellite system design and a comprehensive knowledge of the satellite communications industry.

During the early and mid 1990s Dr Rufino led an RF design team who pioneered satellite earth station equipment using the now common and widely accepted L-band interface.

William Dransfield, B.Sc., B.A.

Bill Dransfield is a founder and shareholder of Novella SatComs Ltd. and its Chief Engineer.

He was awarded a B.Sc. in Electrical and Communications Engineering by Leeds Polytechnic in 1980, and a B.A. in Mathematics by the Open University in 1990.

Having worked as an engineer at GCHQ, as a Senior Design Engineer at Communications System Research / Ferranti and Chief Engineer at ComScience Bill was a key member of the RF design team led by Dr Rufino who pioneered the development of equipment using the L-band interface.

Bill’s vast experience, in the design of RF and Microwave systems from DC to 18GHz, the design of satellite links and installation and commissioning of earth stations has earned him a well deserved reputation for devising innovative solutions.

Christopher Maslen, FCA.

Chris Maslen has been a partner in several major firms of Chartered Accountants with international connections and has served as a director of several companies in the financial services sector. He has very extensive experience of business counselling. In recent years he has advised several businesses in the high technology sector at all levels from new business to quoted international group.

In April 1999 Chris established his own independent Chartered Accountancy practice, specialising in taxation advice.

He has been part of Novella SatComs since its foundation and was appointed a Non Executive Director in 2000.

Colin Glass B.Sc. (Econ) FCA.

Colin Glass has great experience in guiding and managing small to medium enterprises (SMEs). He has specialised in the business advisory aspect of accountancy alongside his activity as a partner in the accountancy practice that he helped to found in 1975.

Colin serves or has served as a Non-Executive director on the boards of numerous companies, from those being groomed for trade sale or flotation to those which have successfully achieved quotations on the AIM market. In recent years he has won awards as Business Adviser of the Year (2007) and Non-Executive Director of the Year (2008)

Colin was engaged by Novella SatComs shortly after it was founded and was appointed a Non-Executive Director in 2000.