Compliance Toolkit

Story: Time collapse support site forced offline

• 
• 

Now let me guesss... However Lord Ashdown is no longer a Director of the company

First published on Thursday 21 October 1999:
Time for Paddy to take unpaid role

FORMER Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has joined fast-growing computer firm Time as a director.

Mr Ashdown, who is MP for Yeovil, will not be paid for his part-time involvement with the Simonstone group.

He will be responsible for looking into new business opportunities for the company in the area of e-commerce - trading over the internet.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to pursue my long standing and close interest in new technologies and especially in the potential for e-commerce," said Mr Ashdown.

"I have always been opposed to MPs having outside sources of income so I shall not, personally, be receiving any remuneration for the post."

Two years ago, Mr Ashdown was guest of honour at the firm's 10th anniversary celebrations.

Time was founded in 1987 by consultant paediatrician Dr Tariq Mohammed, who used a computer to calculate feed dosages for his patients.

He decided to see if there was a market for selling PCs by mail order, advertising one for sale in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. He later set up a shop in Preston New Road, Blackburn, before the firm moved to Devonport Road and then Simonstone.

He and his brother Tahir Mohsan, now managing director of the group, have amassed a personal fortune estimated at tens of millions from the company's success.

Earlier this year, the firm announced it was creating 500 new jobs at Simonstone. It now employs more than 2,000 people and has 160 showrooms nationwide.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Full Talkback thread