Murray Wells becomes $6m man

Glasses Direct founder Jamie Murray Wells confirmed this week that he had secured a $6m (£3m) cash injection into the business to accelerate UK growth from two venture-capital investors.

Murray Wells told Optician that he had secured $4m from Index Ventures, which previously backed the internet telephone site Skype and Betfair, the online gambling group and $2m from Highland Capital Partners, a $1.8bn company with listing on the NASDAQ. 'Both investors have a history of backing disruptive e-commerce business propositions that provide consumer value as well providing scope for expansion,' he explained.

'Glasses Direct has been very disruptive to the UK optical sector and this will continue to be the case with significant developments planned over the next 12 months which will make the company a household brand name.'