Nicky Alberry, one of the Swindon area's best-known and respected business figures, has been appointed chairman of fast-growing Swindon-based IT and communications group Excalibur Communications.
Nicky, 
pictured, is a director of Business West, the organisation behind the Swindon Initiative, and the chair of Influence, which acts as Swindon’s business voice.
In her role at Excalibur she will review its business structure, processes, strategies and expansion plans with chief executive James Phipps to ensure it continues to develop.
Nicky started her career in July 1979 with HSBC where she worked extensively with the bank’s business client base in Devon, Cornwall and Gloucestershire.
In 1991 she was seconded to Great Western Enterprise, the enterprise agency for Swindon which later became part of Business West. Twenty-three years later she is still involved as chairman of GWE Holdings Limited, one of the two shareholders of Business West.
She also chairs Influence, Swindon’s Strategic Economic Partnership and is vice-chair of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
She also sits on the economy programme board and the employment and skills board of Swindon Borough Council as well as being a board member of the One Swindon Partnership, representing Swindon’s business community.
James Phipps has worked alongside Nicky on the Influence board as well as at the LEP. He said this, combined with her broad knowledge base and experience in the business community, made her the ideal candidate for the role.
James said: “Her work ethic, experience and community involvement is the ideal fit for Excalibur. We are very much on the same page in our approach to running a business and I’m looking forward to what the future holds with Nicky on board.”
Nicky’s role as chairman will include maximising opportunities for Excalibur with its partners Vodafone, Microsoft and BlackBerry.
Nicky added: “I’m very much looking forward to joining the Excalibur team. James has created a well-respected, reputable brand in Swindon and the surrounding area. I want to help the board move the company further forward to become the leading communications provider in the South West.”
Excalibur plans to open offices in Bristol and Cardiff this year.
