Executive Team

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 October 2011 08:21

Jon Sopher, Executive Chairman, eXception Group

Jon is a Chartered Accountant (BA, ACA, MSTP and executive member of STP), who joined the eXception Board in January 2010.  Highly experienced in a wide range of executive and non-executive roles, Jon has over 15 years experience of working with businesses undergoing rapid change.  Initially working at PWC as part of the corporate recovery team, Jon held a variety of senior management roles in industry before joining a company he had supported whilst at PWC. Since 2002, Jon has worked as an independent executive working with customers of both banks and venture capital firms to achieve successful stakeholder realisations for high potential enterprises

Mark O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, eXception Group & Managing Director, eXception EMS/VAR

Mark started his career in IT Consultancy, before a ten year corporate career in B2B services, including being part of the executive team at Rentokil-Initial PLC’s leading UK division from 1993-2000, during which time profits grew five fold in the mature industrial services sector.  In 2000 Mark was appointed by Dunedin Venture Capital to lead a change programme for a print business, where following a substantial restructure, he led the sale of the business in 2005 for ten times its 2002 valuation.  Since 2006 Mark has performed a series of high level interim and consultancy roles before joining eXception in April 2010

Gordon Holden, Chief Technology Officer & Managing Director, eXception PCB

Gordon is a highly respected technology Thought Leader within the PCB industry and has been with eXception (and its predecessor businesses) since 1996.  Originally qualified with a HNC/BSC in Production Engineering/Metallurgy from Preston Polytechnic, Gordon has had a successful career in Senior Engineering and Management roles within the Printed Circuit sector, where he has a proven track record in leading successful business performance transformation programmes.  Gordon was runner up in the Orange Entrepreneur Award in 2007 and also lead the UK PCB facility to gain 3 prestigious awards in "Best Factory" in 2006 

Noel Murphy, Finance Director, eXception Group

Noel joined eXception in 2007, and has since developed the Finance function to where we now adhere to ‘plc’ type finance disciplines to underpin control and performance.  Noel holds a BCommerce (Hons) from University College Dublin, and has been a qualified accountant (ACMA) since 1993.  Prior to joining eXception, Noel held a variety of senior finance positions in global blue-chip companies, including financial services, automotive, construction and electronics

Steve Healings - Supply Chain Director, eXception Group

Steve is a Chartered Engineer and member of IET, CILT and CIPS.  Steve has over 20 years experience in supply chain, operations and project management within the high-tech sector.  This included responsibility for major cost reduction programs, outsourcing projects and delivering complex supply chain solutions to blue chip customers.  Steve has been with eXception since 2007 on an interim basis and joined full time in September 2011