Viglen

Viglen Ltd provides IT products and services, including storage systems, servers, workstations and data/voice communications equipment and services.

History

The British company was formed in 1975 by Vigen Boyadjian and was acquired by Alan Sugar (later Lord Sugar)'s company Amstrad in 1994. During the 1980s the company specialised in direct sales through multi-page advertisements in leading computer magazines, catering particularly, but not exclusively, to owners of Acorn computers.

In 1997, it was listed as a public limited company and Amstrad plc shares were split into Viglen and Betacom shares, Betacom being renamed to Amstrad PLC. Following the sale of Amstrad PLC to Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB, Viglen is now Lord Sugar's sole IT establishment. Viglen is run by CEO Bordan Tkachuk, a longtime associate of Lord Sugar, who can be seen making special guest appearances on The Apprentice.

From 1994 to 1998, the company sponsored Charlton Athletic F.C., expiring when they won promotion to the FA Premier League.