Friend will head up all sales outside the United States, and has been appointed as executive vice president sales and marketing Europe and rest of the world.

"When Rick [Dool, Vio chief executive] contacted me and brought me up to speed with what had happened at Vio since I dropped out of the marketplace it was an easy choice to make," said Friend. "My job is to make Vio grow everywhere apart from the USA... increasingly our customers work on a global level."

Friend began discussions with the firm last month after his non-compete contract with Wam!Net owner Savvis had expired. Friend, who was previously Wam!Net vice president for global sales and marketing, left the firm last year after the acquisition by Savvis was completed.

At the time he said: "My responsibility was to make it a commercially viable business for a third party to buy. In effect my work is done."

Vio group marketing director Miranda Clegg said: "We needed someone who knew the market, the customers and the territory. It's funny working with someone you competed with for so many years."

Story by Barney Cox.