Simon James Porritt (born 1981 in Adelaide, Australia) is a former founder and CEO of SIMJEN,[1][2] an Australian marketing company based in Brisbane, Queensland that was put into liquidation on 27 March 2013.[3] He has also appeared as an actor under the name Simon James.

Simon Porritt
Known forformer founder and CEO of SIMJEN

Acting career

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As Simon James, Porritt began working in local Australian television series, including The New Adventures of Skippy (1990),[4] The Wayne Manifesto (1996-1997)[5] and Mirror Mirror II (1998).[6]

SIMJEN

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In 2009, Simon Porritt founded SIMJEN, a creative business marketing and development company in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[7]

In 2011, Porritt converted an early Brisbane power station into office space to host SIMJEN Headquarters.[8] In the same year, SIMJEN began sponsoring a Porsche 911 GT3 in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship, with New Zealander Jonny Reid as its driver.[9][10]

The sponsorship of the team was cancelled in 2012 and this caused Alex Davison's attempt on the 2012 Porsche City Index Carrera Cup "a serious blow after it parted ways with Simon Porrit".[11]

SIMJEN was put into voluntary liquidation as of 27 March 2013.[3] Previously, in 2011, SIMJEN was awarded the BRW Fast Starter as one of Australia's 100 new fastest-growing companies with more than 100 staff[7] and in 2012, Simon Porrit was interviewed by the Financial Review's BRW Magazine.

Controversy

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Simon Porritt's company, SIMJEN, gathered a lot of controversy within the Internet industry and was considered by many as an 'unscrupulous internet enterprise'.[12] Previous members of staff, customers and internet commentators have created a popular internet forum where they express their grievances about SIMJEN and Simon Porrit online.[12]

According to sources, SIMJEN had neglected to inform customers of their impending liquidation and removed all hosting accounts, leaving thousands of SIMJEN's customers in the lurch.[13]

On 29 November 2013, A Current Affair aired a story of customers claiming to have been conned by Mr Porritt.

Skippy-J AKA Dr Big Daddy Skips

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Simon Porritt also records music under the pseudonym Skippy-J AKA Dr Big Daddy Skips.[14] He has recorded songs with titles such as 'The Drug Song', 'Threesome' and 'Who Am He'. Simon Porritt makes the unsubstantiated claim that he is "one of Australia's television icons"[15] and has now "busted into the music scene with a funky electro/hip-hop album that's getting heaps of airplay on both commercial and community radio stations. All of Skippy-J AKA Dr Big Daddy Skips are classic bangers! "[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Anyone Recommend Simjen? – Web development". Whirlpool.net.au. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. ^ "About our CEO". SIMJEN Pty Ltd. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b Commission, c=au;o=Australian Government;ou=Australian Government Australian Securities & Investments. "Notice Details". publishednotices.asic.gov.au. Retrieved 11 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Simon Porrit in Adventures of Skippy, The (1991–1992)". Stargalaxy. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  5. ^ "The Wayne Manifesto (TV series)". Rare Film Finder. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Mirror Mirror". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Can't keep 'em down" (PDF). Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ^ "The grand opening of Simjen HQ". City News. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Carrera Cup launches new website and SIMJEN partnership". Porsche Carrera Cup Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Jonny Reid's Silver Bullet". Speedcafe. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Davison's Carrera Cup team part ways with major sponsor". Speedcafe. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Anyone Recommend Simjen? – Web development". Whirlpool.net.au. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. ^ Calligeros, Marissa (8 May 2013). "Lauded web company closes its doors". The Age. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Skippy-J on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Skippy-J | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 16 September 2020.