A billion-dollar data and software company that moved staff to Bermuda as digital nomads last year has ambitions to boost its presence to 1,000 employees in five years.

Afiniti, which has a focus on artificial intelligence, has brought about 65 staff to the island and said it expected to increase more than 100 by the early part of this year.

The company is incorporated in Bermuda and has moved its headquarters to the island.

It has a worldwide staff of about 1,800.

Afiniti is led by technology entrepreneur Zia Chishti, and develops AI software that is used in call centres to boost efficiency and outcomes for businesses.

Afiniti's directors and advisers include David Cameron, a former British Conservative prime minister; Jose Maria Aznar, a former president of Spain; John Snow, a former US treasury secretary; and Dame Jennifer Smith, a former Progressive Labour Party premier.

Mr Chishti has moved to the island full-time.

He said: “We have directors' meetings here, and increasing percentages of the management team are coming here.

“We are now up to about 65 full-time staff in Bermuda. By early 2021 it will be well over 100. The plan is to be at circa 1,000 in Bermuda in five years.

"We are probably 1 per cent of Bermuda's GDP and if we do our part then we should be around 10 per cent of the GDP – just our one company – within five years."

Business, Page 8