Julian Field ’84, Building Tomorrow Today
Julian has always loved technology, which is why he was involved in creating FITV, the student-run and operated TV station at Florida Tech. These days, he lends his expertise to many start-up companies. He is a senior advisor working with businesses on their ecommerce strategy and implementation. Currently, Julian is founding chairman of a start-up that is developing solar-powered vehicles and director of an education services business. “My time at Florida Tech when I helped create FITV really planted the seed for my future career. It cultivated my love for technology and my entrepreneurship,” he said.
Field was born in Argentina, raised in Venezuela, and studied in the United States, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Florida Tech. In 1989, he went on to earn an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. He currently lives in the United Kingdom.
Julian was CEO at Furniture123.co.uk, Europe’s first online furniture retailer, which he founded in 1999 and built into a multi-million- dollar operation. He sold it to Buy It Direct, Ltd. in 2012.
Previously, Julian was managing director at Tomlinson Furniture Ltd., a manufacturer and wholesaler of furniture supplying an international network of retailers and distributors. He was also European marketing director at Courtaulds from 1989 to 1995 where he was responsible for marketing and export sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for Courtaulds’s $230 million aerospace paints and sealants business. He began his diverse career as a senior field engineer with Schlumberger, a leader in oil and gas, with international assignments in Algeria, Nigeria, and Gabon from 1985 through 1988.
In addition to sailing (he crossed the Atlantic in 2005), Julian’s passions include tutoring entrepreneurs and evolving technology. He is a member of Florida Tech’s International Advisory Board, helping to mentor and tutor future alumni around the world.
Field was featured in Florida Tech’s 60th Anniversary special edition book, “60 for 60: Celebrating Sixty Years of Alumni at Florida Institute of Technology.” Copies are available for purchase here.
