Cambridge spin-out features new chairman in its space

Featurespace, an analytics spin-out of Cambridge University, has attracted Gordon Hurst as new non-executive chairman. Hurst joins the company from Capita Group, where his career spanned 26 years.

Prior to joining the spin-out, Hurst had held the position of group finance director at Capita since 1996. The group is the UK’s largest professional services outsourcing company with revenue of more than £3.85bn ($6bn) in 2013 and some 65,000 employees.

Featurespace offers adaptive behavioural analytics services. Its technology, dubbed Aritcm, is able to calculate the actions of individuals and groups in real-time. It can prevent fraud and be used as a risk management solution, as well as offer customer insight.

The spin-out is hoping Hurst will see it grow to a global player as he helped Capita increase from a small company with 33 employees in 1988 to holding the leading position of 2014.

Gordon Hurst, non-executive chairman at Featurespace, said: “Having contributed towards the growth of Capita over the years as an executive, I am looking forward to chairing the Featurespace board and supporting the ambitious plans for this fundamental technology.”