Leading Global Immersive Visualisation specialist Virtalis has announced the appointment of Andrew Connell, as Chief Product and Strategy Officer, returning to the business after six years.
Andrew Connell, founder of Virtalis, built the company into a world-leading provider of transformative visualisation solutions. Under his leadership, Virtalis became synonymous with pioneering advancements in Immersive Virtual Reality (VR), delivering cutting-edge solutions that brought complex datasets to life for some of the world’s largest enterprises, prestigious educational institutions, and government bodies. After selling the business to pursue new ventures, Andrew has returned to Virtalis at a pivotal moment—an era marked by exciting new partnerships and the launch of several large-scale projects.
For over 15 years, Andrew spearheaded the design and deployment of advanced visualisation systems, making Virtalis a trusted name in the industry. He played a key role in delivering innovative solutions such as VR Power Walls, XR Powerwalls, and immersive VR Caves, transforming how organisations across sectors like defence, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and education interact with their data. His work empowered organisations to visualise their complex data in 3D, enabling better decision-making, improved collaboration, and the seamless integration of Immersive Technology into their workflows.
Reflecting on his return, Andrew Connell shares, “There has never been a more exciting time for what can be achieved in VR. It feels like the perfect opportunity to step back into Virtalis and help it navigate the incredible potential that AI and high-end advanced visualisation tools are opening up for a range of industries. The Virtalis team includes some of the brightest minds in the field, and I am eager to re-engage with our long-established partners as well as an array of new clients, delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive real business value.”
Andrew's extensive experience has positioned him as a trusted advisor and leader in the Immersive Visualisation and Virtual Reality space. Recently, he has focused on advising VC funds on strategic investments in the growing Virtual Reality industry, identifying high-potential companies and innovations that are shaping the future of immersive experiences. Additionally, he has been involved in developing immersive training programs for industries requiring highly specialised skills, leveraging Virtalis' immersive systems to revolutionise training methods. His passion for innovation extends to his work at Media City, where he volunteers as a mentor for young tech entrepreneurs, guiding the next generation of talent as they launch their businesses.
Andrew’s return to Virtalis aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering advanced immersive visualisation solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s data-driven enterprises. From Immersive VR Walls to 3D visualisation systems, Virtalis continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, combining AI, Virtual Reality, and XR technologies to create immersive environments that revolutionise the way complex information is interpreted.
His renewed leadership comes at a time when organisations are increasingly looking for powerful visualisation tools to address their most pressing challenges. Whether in the realm of VR for engineering, immersive education, or simulation for defence and transport industries, Virtalis is uniquely positioned to offer world-class solutions that make an impact.
With Andrew Connell back at the helm, Virtalis is set to lead the next wave of immersive innovation, combining its established expertise in immersive spaces with the new opportunities emerging from AI, immersive technologies, and advanced 3D visualisation. The future of Immersive Virtual Reality has never looked brighter.
Andy Hill, CEO and Board Member of Virtalis comments:
“We are absolutely delighted to bring Andrew back into Virtalis – He is one of the global pioneers in VR and Immersive visualisation, has unrivalled experience of developing and implementing solutions for large enterprises and is at the forefront of what can be achieved with all forms of advanced visualisation. Welcoming Andrew back into the business further reinforces Virtalis commitment as global thought leaders and solutions creators, at a time of significant expansion, with more and more global enterprises now exploring how to better leverage and drive value from their large and complex datasets. Andrew will work hand in hand with myself in further developing our client led solutions and products, working with clients to take them on a journey that will deliver significant efficiencies and materialise tangible results.”