James Spenceley


James Spenceley is an Australian investor entrepreneur and company director. He is the founder of Vocus Communications and an active Venture Capital investor. He is also the Chairman of Airtasker and Chairman of Silver Heritage Group.
Spenceley is most widely known for his role as the founder and former CEO of Australia's 4th largest fixed line telecommunications company Vocus Communications.
Spenceley started Vocus in September 2007. He sold his house to initially fund the business. The company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2010. When he stepped down as CEO of Vocus in March 2016 the company had revenues of greater than $1.8 billion and a market capitalisation of $5 billion.
In 2016 Spenceley was listed at number 51 of Financial Review Rich List of 100 wealthiest Australian's under 40 with a net worth of $51 million.
Spenceley purchased the Wollongong Hawks NBL basketball team in July 2014 right before the start of the 2014/2015 season. In October 2014, he laid out his plan to win a Grand Final within 3 years. The team finished last in the 2014/2015 season, 4th in the 2015/2016 season and was runner up in the 2016/2017 season losing in the Grand Final to the Perth Wildcats. In February 2018, Spenceley announced he had sold his share in the Illawarra Hawks.
He is an active Venture Capital investor, with investments in the marketplace business Airtasker where he is now Chairman of the board, Spaceship Financial Services, meal kit delivery service Marley Spoon, MoneyMe the online consumer lender which listed on the ASX in December 2019 and indoor vertical farming startup Sustenir.
In 2017 and 2018 he was a national judge for the Australian Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Awards