The chief executive of BCO Technologies is Dr Scott Blackstone (45),who holds 4.7 per cent of the company, amounting to a value of £1,175,000. From New York state, he specialises in silicon microelectronics fabrication.

He is primarily responsible for the development of BCO substrate and is a founder director of BCO along with Mr Jim Corkery and Mr Michael O'Connor. Mr O'Connor chose not to continue with the company last August and returned to the US. He holds about £400,000 worth of shares.

Mr Corkery (59) is from Boston. Both he and Dr Blackstone were attracted to Queens University, Belfast as a centre of excellence in silicon wafer technology. He is also a founder director of BCO and has had responsibility for marketing since 1991. He is now the sales and marketing director, and has 2.6 per cent of the company's shares, valued at £650,000.

Mr Dermott Simpson (41), is the chairman and finance director of BCO. An accountant from Ballymena, Co Antrim, he is a former chairman of the fashion design company, Paul Costelloe International. He is a non-material shareholder.