John Varney

Chief Executive Officer, Peerouette.

John Varney is Chief Executive Officer of Peerouette, an early stage technology start-up, aiming to redefine the architecture of the web to enable everyone to create social networks and use those networks to drive the distribution of media and services. 

He also heads up Maximum Clarity Ltd, which offers organisations an insight into the possibilities offered by technology in the areas of business development and internal processes and services, particularly by engaging with Web 2.0.

A 30-year veteran of the broadcast industry, he spent the last 5 years as Chief Technology Officer for the BBC, responsible for the overall technology vision and strategy for the whole of the BBC worldwide.

He led the Technology Group, a global operation identifying the technology requirements for the corporation now and in the future with accountability for both delivering best technology practice across the BBC and reducing the cost of production processes, along with creating and delivering the technical innovations that make the BBC’s the most creative organisation in the world.

John began his Broadcasting career in 1977, working as an operational engineer behind the scenes in commercial broadcasting in his native country of Scotland. He worked there in a number of engineering posts and technology positions until 1995 when he joined Granada Media, the UK’s largest commercial TV production company as Technology Controller.

He was part of the leadership team in Corporate M&A that led the programme to ensure the smooth delivery of an IPO and flotation of Granada Media from the parent organisation, after which he was appointed Director of Technology. While with Granada, he also acted as adviser to Channel 7 in Australia and the Australian Government. He is a fellow of the Royal Television Society and the Royal Society of the Arts.