Friend, the Birmingham and London-based chartered accountants and business advisers, have appointed Charlie Tillinghast to their advisory board.
He was formerly President of msnbc.com, the former joint venture between Microsoft and NBC, and has recently relocated from Seattle to the UK.
A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Business School, Charlie Tillinghast is the CEO of Friend Media Technology Systems whose proprietary technology provides security services for the digital content of sports organisations and broadcasters globally.
Charlie Tillinghast said: “Friend has considerable direct experience in servicing the needs of growing media and technology companies.
“I’m delighted to be joining the organisation and believe that my international experience will add a further dimension to the firm’s service offerings.
Denise Friend commented: “The firm has seen a major expansion in its client base of media and technology companies which we attribute to the unique position we have as a result of the development of our own technology business.
“There is a world of difference between the skills one acquires from direct involvement in building a technology business and those which you come by in advising client businesses; this is especially so in the evolving world of media and technology where a start-up can be followed by rapid global growth.
“We are delighted that Charlie has become part of our team.”