Helen Kelisky takes on new role with Linlithgow technology firm Calnex

Helen Kelisky, who is currently managing director of Google Cloud in the UK and Ireland, becomes a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect.

Calnex said she brought more than 30 years’ of technology sales leadership experience and a track record of driving top line growth, leading national and international businesses.

Kelisky has been recognised in the 100 Most Influential Women in UK Tech listings and currently sits on the board of Women in Telecommunications and Technology, a non-profit networking group focused on education and enhancing women’s careers.

Following 13 years on the Calnex board, Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge is to retire as a non-executive director with effect from February 28.

She was an early-stage investor in the company and was pivotal in bringing the Discovery Investment Fund syndicate as an investor when the group raised seed investment in 2007.

Stephen Davidson, Calnex chairman, said: “We are excited to welcome Helen to the board. Her experience across the cloud and data centre world will be of immense value to Calnex as we exploit the growth in the testing market, with the need for greater efficiency and performance in data centre operations.

"On behalf of founder and chief executive Tommy Cook and the rest of the Board, I would like to thank Ann for the valuable role she has played in Calnex’s growth journey, helping to establish a solid platform to support the group’s financial and strategic ambitions.”

Calnex Solutions designs, produces and markets test instrumentation and solutions for network synchronization and network emulation.

Founded in 2006, it is headquartered in Linlithgow with bases in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Stevenage and California, supported by sales teams in China and India.

In 2015, Calnex was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade and in 2020 was named Exporter of the Year at the China-Britain Business Council awards.