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Spectrum complete International Sales Director search for Thomson Elite
Date: Wednesday 9th April 2008
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced it has successfully completed the search for an International Sales Director for Thomson Elite.
Thomson Elite is a leading provider of integrated information solutions for professional service firms worldwide. Thomson Elite is part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), a premier provider of financial and practice management solutions.
Spectrum was engaged by Elite’s SVP, Chief Marketing Officer International Mr. Kim Massana, to introduce a shortlist of professional Sales Directors who understood the Professional Services industry, were exceptional people managers, had built international businesses, and could help him bring the product and services team together. Spectrum was well placed to meet this challenge, having already hired a Project Services Director and Senior Product Manager at Elite, and thus understanding not only the culture and environment in depth – but also some of the challenges facing the company following the new product releases, management changes, as well as increased market competition.
Spectrum managed Elite’s requirement to drive an external and internal search and selection campaign concurrently, and managed both sets of candidates equally, whilst working closely with Human Resources directorate throughout the process.
Elite is in a strong position in the market and one of the top vendors in their space. However, Elite is not very well known outside of this market and therefore positioning them correctly was vital in attracting top talent. When speaking to the direct competition, Spectrum needed to be sensitive and very respectful of both our client’s and the targeted candidates’ confidence in sharing market sensitive information.
Spectrum was able to introduce a shortlist that included two individuals employed by direct competitors, as well as senior Sales Directors from the leading software vendors who had experience of selling to the Professional Services industry, and had a portfolio that included Financial ERP software. Spectrum’s thorough research provided Elite with the knowledge that the global community of potential candidates had been diligently targeted.
The candidate shortlist was reduced to two preferred candidates, who each met Thomson Elite’s VP International and a conference call with Elite’s Senior VP and General Manager in Los Angeles. Both candidates also completed a psychometric profiling exercise.
The successful candidate, Simon Atkinson, commenced employment with Thomson Elite in April 2008. For five years previously, Simon was Country Manager for Verity Software, during which time he sold extensively to leading law firms and the financial services sector. Simon impressed Elite with his consistent track record of leading high-achieving sales teams, his personal sales success and people management skills, and his perspective on the strategic challenges presented by the industry.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About Thomson Elite
Thomson Elite is a leading provider of integrated information solutions to professional services firms worldwide. Thomson Elite is a business within The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and is a premier provider of financial and practice management systems to the legal industry and to other professional services markets, including accounting, marketing services, and management and IT consulting. www.thomsonelite.com
Spectrum present ‘Best Management Team’ award at Media Momentum 2008
Date: Thursday 13th March 2008
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sector announced today that it sponsored Media Momentum 2008, where it also presented the award for ‘Best Management Team’ to The Search Works.
Media Momentum is the annual awards event for the 50 fastest growing digital media organisations in the UK. The event is run by GP Bullhound, the research centric investment bank, and other event sponsors included 3i, Olswang, SkyDigitalMedia and New Media Age.
Cathy Kay, a Senior Partner at Spectrum, presented the award on the night to Gavin Ailes and Sally Wright from The Search Works.
Cathy Kay commented: The Search Works team have grown their company from £5m to £40m and this can only be achieved if you have the right people in place. I was very pleased to meet Gavin and Sally and to congratulate them on their achievements.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About GP Bullhound
Established in 1999, GP Bullhound is a research centric investment bank focused on providing advice on mergers & acquisition and institutional capital raising in the technology sector. GP Bullhound also provides strategic research to private and public companies and their institutional owners. www.gpbullhound.com
Spectrum complete VP Marketing & Sales search for Liquavista
Date: Monday 17th March 2008
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed the search for a Vice President, Marketing & Sales at Liquavista.
Liquavista uses advances in materials and technology to create Electrowetting displays that offer significant advantages over existing and emerging display technologies. Producing bright, colorful images, which show video content at very low power, Liquavista’s products offer excellent indoor and outdoor viewability and are ideally suited for a wide variety of portable and mobile applications such as MP3 players, watches, cameras, phones, DVD players and automotive applications. Liquavista’s early applications, which enable bright vibrant colors in simple displays, are expected to enter the market in 2008.
Spectrum was engaged by Liquavista’s CEO Mark Gostick to conduct this search as the organisation wanted to ramp-up its marketing and sales capability significantly to ensure that users of Liquavista’s displays will be effectively served and supported when bringing products based on its displays to market.
Spectrum presented nine candidates at longlist stage, all of whom were interviewed by Liquavista’s CEO and CFO at their Cambridge, UK offices. Two of the nine progressed to further selection rounds which included meeting the lead VC, Amadeus Capital.
Simon Jones was subsequently appointed, and commenced employment March 2008.
Simon brings more than twenty years of new technology commercialization experience to the Liquavista management team, ten years of which have been in senior management positions. He started his career in semiconductor applications and marketing at Texas Instruments and later moved on to develop business lines in product design services and IP licensing at Symbionics and subsequently Cadence Design Systems. Before joining Liquavista, he was VP Business Development at Plastic Logic where he was instrumental in winning the company’s first customer contracts and raising $100m to manufacture flexible active-matrix displays using printed electronics.
"Liquavista's displays bring new design freedoms to a wide range of portable applications from watches to mobile multimedia devices.” Simon commented. “With volume production planned for this year, it is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the company"
Mark Gostick, Liquavista’s CEO commented: ““I am delighted that Simon will be leading this process, his in-depth experience of consumer electronics and emerging display technologies is an ideal fit for Liquavista and for our customers.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About Liquavista
Liquavista was founded in 2006 by a team which originates from the world famous Philip Research Labs in Eindhoven. The company is now backed by Philips, New Venture Partners, GIMV and Amadeus Capital. It is based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, with offices in the UK and Hong Kong.
Liquavista uses advances in materials and technology to create Electrowetting displays that offer significant advantages over existing and emerging display technologies. Producing bright, colorful images, which show video content at very low power, Liquavista’s products offer excellent indoor and outdoor viewability and are ideally suited for a wide variety of portable and mobile applications such as MP3 players, watches, cameras, phones, DVD players and automotive applications. Liquavista’s early applications, which enable bright vibrant colors in simple displays, are expected to enter the market in 2008. www.liquavista.com
Spectrum complete VP Marketing, and MD Emerging Markets searches for iO Global
Date: Monday 11th February 2008
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed searches for both a Vice President, Marketing and a Managing Director, Emerging Markets at iO global.
iO global provides the software and services to enable Network Operators, Media Brands and Advertisers to collaborate in a trading model to personalize and monetize their interactions with individuals on the run. iO’s mobile experience solutions turn the mobile device into the individual’s “remote control” for using digital content and services anytime, anyplace, anywhere. iO global was created in May 2005 by British Telecommunications and New Venture Partners after 5 years of development in BT’s Research Laboratories.
Spectrum was engaged by iO global’s CEO Martin Knestrick to conduct these searches as the organisation wanted to hire new senior team members to play a pivotal role in the continued expansion of the business over the coming months.
Spectrum presented fifteen candidates at longlist stage, of whom four were interviewed by iO global’s CEO in London. Two of the four progressed to further selection rounds which included meeting the lead VC, New Venture Partners.
Peter Northing was subsequently appointed as Vice President, Marketing and Matt West appointed as Managing Director, Emerging Markets. Both executives commenced employment February 2008.
Prior to joining iO global, Peter Northing was Director of Products and Services for 3, where for 3 years he led the teams responsible for music, TV, internet, user generated content, games, football and mobile advertising. He was also responsible for product delivery, product development and the user experience on Planet 3, the 3 portal.
Matt West joined iO global after almost three years at Alcatel-Lucent where he was responsible for managing and developing global relationships and agreements with media and content companies. Now, Matt will concentrate on developing partnerships with network operators in Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe to continue iO’s recent growth in these markets.
Commenting on the two appointments, Martin Knestrick, CEO, iO global, said: “Both Peter and Matt will be great assets to the iO global team. They already have established excellent reputations in the industry and bring a wealth of experience to the business. At iO global, we are focused on sustaining an innovative, world-leading business, and with the combination of a great entrepreneurial team and the continued development of our products and partnerships, the next twelve months are certainly going to be an exciting time for us.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About iO global
iO™ global provides the software and services to enable Network Operators, Media Brands and
Advertisers to collaborate in a trading model to personalize and monetize their interactions with
individuals on the run. iO’s mobile experience solutions™ turn the mobile device into the individual’s “remote control” for using digital content and services anytime, anyplace, anywhere. iO™ global was created in May 2005 by British Telecommunications and New Venture Partners after 5 years of development in BT’s Research Laboratories. www.io-me.com
Spectrum shortlisted for 'Best Service Provider' award at Investor Allstars 2007
Date: Monday 3rd September 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sector announced today that it has been short listed for the ‘Best Service Provider’ Award at Investor AllStars 2007.
Investor AllStars is one of the most important and well attended events in the venture capital community’s calendar, and is jointly run by GP Bullhound, the research centric investment bank, and Business XL.
The ‘Best Service Provider’ award is open to specialist advisory firms across all disciplines that serve the venture capital industry. This includes legal advisors, placement agents, venture debt providers, head-hunters and due diligence providers.
Daniel Osmer, Spectrum’s Managing Partner commented: "We are delighted to have been short listed for this award alongside such illustrious company as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Brown Rudnick, Kreos Capital and O’Melveny & Myers. As the only executive search firm to be short listed, we feel that this nomination recognises Spectrum’s real commitment to working with entrepreneurs and their investors”.
The 2007 awards evening takes place on Wednesday 26th September at the Park Lane Hilton in London, at which the winners of all the award categories including Venture Capital Fund of the Year, Exit of the Year, and VC Personality of the Year will be announced.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About Investor AllStars
Investor AllStars is now in it’s fifth year and is one of the most important event’s in the venture community’s calendar, as it raises the profile of the VC industry, draws attention to key successes and personalities in the industry, and fosters co-operation between VCs, corporate venture funds, private investor networks, venture capital trusts and regional funds. The event is run jointly by GP Bullhound, the research centric investment bank, and Business XL.
www.investorallstars.co.uk
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Spectrum complete Head of Sales search for Block Solutions
Date: Monday 6th August 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed the search for a Head of Sales for Block Solutions
Block Solutions is an early-stage, founder owned and managed UK provider of bespoke network and security solutions to public and private sector enterprises in the UK, with particular expertise in WLAN and security. It provides both a broad range of technologies and an extremely high-level of enterprise networking expertise in delivering solutions comprising consultancy, equipment and managed services.
Spectrum was engaged by Block Solutions’ Managing Director Jonathan Pickering to find a Head of Sales to lead the sales growth of the organisation amongst the UK enterprise community, and to develop Block Solutions beyond its core set of health sector customers.
Spectrum presented five candidates at shortlist stage, all of whom were interviewed by Block Solutions’ MD at Spectrum’s London offices. Three of the five progressed to a second interview on-site at Block Solutions HQ, during which time they met Co-Founder Marc Chang and other key personnel within the business.
Scott Adamson was subsequently appointed as Head of Sales, and commenced employment 6th August 2007.
Scott joined Block Solutions from CEL Logistics. Previously, as Sales Director and part of the core management team, he built Allnet, Cable & Wireless’ standalone LAN Services business unit. Scott had begun his career with Panasonic, for whom he worked for over 12 years.
Daniel Osmer, Spectrum’s Managing Partner commented “Block Solutions founders Jonathan Pickering and Marc Chang have done a superb job in creating and growing their business successfully in what is a highly competitive market. We were delighted to be selected to lead this search, which has resulted in the appointment of Scott Adamson as Head of Sales. I am sure that working together Jonathan, Marc and Scott will be successful in building a highly professional sales organisation and in so doing, take Block Solutions to the next level of evolution as a business”.
Jonathan Pickering, Block Solutions’ Co-Founder and Managing Director commented: “Following an unsuccessful campaign to recruit an experienced Head of Sales using other less specialised recruitment methods, we selected Spectrum to help us for a number of reasons: they displayed an intimate knowledge of the market, they spent time and effort understanding our business and the role during the early stages of engagement, and finally because they had confidence in their ability to find the right match for Block within a fixed period of time. The short-list which was presented was of the highest standard and consequently all the interviews were good use of my time.”
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About Block Solutions
Block Solutions delivers network and security solutions that extend the capability, productivity and efficiency of today’s businesses, employing a customer focussed approach with an emphasis on delivery, responsiveness and communication. www.block-solutions.net
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Spectrum present ‘Best Management Team’ award at Media Momentum 2007
Date: Tuesday 27th March 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sector announced today that it was sponsoring the award for 'Best Management Team' at Media Momentum 2007.
Media Momentum is the annual awards event for the 50 fastest growing digital media organisations in the UK. The event is run by GP Bullhound, the research centric investment bank, and other event sponsors included Barclays, Olswang and SkyMedia.
Daniel Osmer, Spectrum's Managing Partner joined the Media Momentum 2007 judges panel. Cathy Kay, a Senior Partner at Spectrum, presented the award on the night.
Daniel Osmer commented: "It was great to see so many successful, fast growth digital media companies here in the UK, being led by high quality management teams, and we are delighted to have been able to support this initiative led by GP Bullhound".
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About GP Bullhound
Established in 1999, GP Bullhound is a research centric investment bank focused on providing advice on mergers & acquisition and institutional capital raising in the technology sector. GP Bullhound also provides strategic research to private and public companies and their institutional owners.
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Spectrum complete VP marketing search at WDSGlobal
Date: Monday 8th January 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed the search for a Vice-President, Marketing at WDSGlobal.
WDS Global is a privately-owned UK headquartered organisation which specialises in Wireless Infomatics: the collection, validation and sharing of information to help users enjoy mobile devices and services.
Spectrum was engaged by WDSGlobal CEO David Ffoulkes-Jones to conduct a search for a VP Marketing to lead WDS’ international brand, marcoms and PR activity.
Spectrum presented five candidates as shortlist stage, of which two progressed to a final round of interviews with WDS’ CEO and various Board representatives.
As a result, Tim DeLuca Smith joined WDSGlobal from Smarttrust, an international software company specializing in the delivery of mobile device management solutions for operators a close competitor, where he was Director of Marketing. Previously, Tim worked agency side during his 10 year career with MUSTARD PR and Countrywide Porter Novelli.
David Ffoulkes Jones, CEO at WDSGlobal commented “we are very happy with Tim….. we have rebranded the company – new logo and new messaging - and whilst Tim was not involved in the initial part of this has been very much at the heart of getting it finished. We have achieved the transition in getting a focus on products underpinned by GlobalMine™, our unique management system for processing and managing the information through all of our products. In addition to this, we have started to promote a market which we have termed Wireless Informatics. Again Tim has been pretty instrumental in getting this up and running and is also speaking at a number of events about the subject. www.wirelessinformaticsforum.com He is also developing a magazine to go with the market which people are subscribing to. This has been a tremendous success, well ahead of where we thought we would be at this stage with over 3000 people subscribing to the magazine”.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About WDSGlobal
Since 1995, WDSGlobal has been focused on helping mobile operators, handset manufacturers and content providers meet their customers' expectations for service and quality. From handset validation and readiness testing to mobile device management and end-user support, WDSGlobal today offers the mobile industry's most complete solution for the management of subscribers, devices and services.
With nearly 1000 employees globally and dedicated support centres in the UK, USA, South Africa and Australia, no one gets a better view of the complete mobile user experience. Every day, WDSGlobal collects, validates and shares data about devices, services and user behaviour, using it to feed GlobalMine™ - the industry's most comprehensive knowledge base and foundation for the company's portfolio of carrier-grade products and services.
Knowledge Products: Helps end-users, operators, manufacturers and content providers resolve compatibility and configuration issues on demand. Support Services: WDSGlobal is the industry's leading provider of specialized support for mobile users with highly specialized troubleshooting teams and four international support centres. Device Management: Over-the-air device configuration and firmware updates. Analysis & Consulting: Help the mobile industry base strategic decisions on real-word data and consulting expertise.
The company currently counts over 100 customers, including most of the world's largest handset manufacturer and mobile operator brands, and is headquartered in Poole, UK.
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Spectrum complete CTO search at Real Time Content (RTC)
Date: Monday 12th November 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed the search for a Chief Technology Officer at RealTime Content.
RealTime Content (RTC) is an 'adaptive media' new venture, jointly owned by British Telecommunications plc (BT) and the trans-Atlantic technology venture capital firm, New Venture Partners (NVP). RTC's technology had been developed over a number of years within BT's R&D organisation at Adastral Park in the UK, and received its first round of investment from NVP in the summer of 2006.
Spectrum was engaged by RTC CEO Najam Kidwai to source a Chief Technology Officer to lead the technology roadmap and full market launch of the RTC product suite.
The 1st short listed candidate hailed from an interactive television technology background with Sky and HomeChoice and performed well at interview, but it was the second short listed candidate, Ian Cameron, who was eventually appointed.
A Warwick MBA, Ian began his career at BT after which he operated in more entrepreneurial environments: including CityReach as CTO and Vemotion, an internet video venture. Ian was headhunted from the pan European telco Interoute, where he had successfully grown a very substantial internet services business line.
Najam Kidwai, RealTime Content's CEO commented "Simply put, Spectrum were fantastic, they understood our requirements, provided a shortlist within two weeks and we had our CTO within a month of interviewing, I recommend Spectrum very highly”.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About RealTime Content
RTC is a privately held company based in England, and is jointly funded by BT and New Venture Partners. RTC’s ‘Adaptive Media’ Platform enables it to intelligently ‘customize’ video and audio within a piece of content to fit the needs of the audience, publisher and content owner. www.realtimecontent.com
About New Venture Partners
Formed in December 2001, New Venture Partners is a pioneering venture capital investment firm focused on corporate technology spin-outs. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, New Venture Partners bridges the divide between technology corporations and traditional venture capital to commercialize innovations systematically and provide companies with an alternative path to market. It has been the founding investors in such companies as Azure, Ltd. (announced purchase by Subex Systems Ltd.), Celiant (purchased by Andrew), Elemedia (purchased by Lucent), Flarion Technologies (purchased by Qualcomm), Ibiquity Digital, InPhase Technologies, Internet Photonics (purchased by Ciena), Liquavista, Lucent Pubic Safety Systems (purchased by Intrado), SyChip (purchased by Murata Corporation), Vallent, and Vidus, Ltd. (purchased by @Road). New Venture Partners now has over $650 million under management. www.nvpllc.com
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Cathy Kay and John Schonert join Spectrum as Senior Partners
Date: Monday 2nd October 2006
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sector announced today that highly experienced executive recruiters, Cathy Kay and John Schonert, had joined the firm as Senior Partners. Cathy Kay previously successfully ran her own executive search practice, FK Exec, for over five years, specialising in sales leadership appointments with IT software vendors and professional and managed services organisations. Previously, she was a Board Member at Corporate Executive Search plc; the AIM listed executive search practice, then the largest technology search organisation in Europe.
John Schonert joined the firm from search specialist Woodger & Associates, where he built core relationships with a number of corporate clients, including Sony Ericsson and Samsung. Previously, John led strategic business development at Corporate Executive Search plc.
Cathy and John each bring over 20 years executive search experience to Spectrum.
Daniel Osmer, Spectrum's Managing Partner commented "I have know and worked with both Cathy and John over the last ten years, and am delighted to welcome them both to the firm, and very much look forward to working with them both again to deliver exceptional executive search to our clients”.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
Spectrum complete CEO search at Real Time Content (RTC)
Date: Monday 24th September 2007
Spectrum, the specialist executive search firm for the international communications, media and technology sectors today announced that it has successfully completed the search for a Chief Executive Officer at RealTime Content.
RealTime Content (RTC) is an 'adaptive media' new venture, jointly owned by British Telecommunications plc (BT) and the trans-Atlantic technology venture capital firm, New Venture Partners (NVP). RTC's technology had been developed over a number of years within BT's R&D organisation at Adastral Park in the UK, and received its first round of investment from NVP in the summer of 2006.
Spectrum was engaged by RTC Chairman Harry Berry to source a Chief Executive Officer to lead this pre-revenue organisation to full commercialisation as a standalone entity outside the BT Group.
Spectrum presented four candidates at shortlist stage, one of which was a US national based in the Czech Republic, the others being based in the UK. After 1st round interviews in the UK, the preferred candidate, Najam Kidwai, was flown to the US to meet with NVP in New Jersey.
Najam Kidwai was subsequently appointed as CEO and has since engaged Spectrum to search for a CTO, which resulted in the recruitment of Ian Cameron from Interoute, where he had successfully built and grown a high-revenue pan European internet services business line.
Najam Kidwai joined RTC from CC Media Network, an internet video venture which he grew from $8 million to $30m+ revenue in 2.5 years as CEO. Najam remains a General Partner at Edge Venture Capital. His prior experience included successfully building a number of technology start-ups as CEO in the UK and the USA.
Harry Berry, Partner, New Venture Partners: “Spectrum found us a CEO and CTO. We were delighted with both the speed and quality of the search process which will enable the business to gain momentum rapidly, in what is a rapidly evolving segment of the market”.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is an executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA. Partnering with a range of client organisations, from pre-funded start-ups through to listed multinational corporations, Spectrum proactively find and select the senior talent required to drive business growth. Visit us online at www.spectrum-ehcs.com
About RealTime Content
RTC is a privately held company based in England, and is jointly funded by BT and New Venture Partners. RTC’s ‘Adaptive Media’ Platform enables it to intelligently ‘customize’ video and audio within a piece of content to fit the needs of the audience, publisher and content owner. www.realtimecontent.com
About New Venture Partner
Formed in December 2001, New Venture Partners is a pioneering venture capital investment firm focused on corporate technology spin-outs. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, New Venture Partners bridges the divide between technology corporations and traditional venture capital to commercialize innovations systematically and provide companies with an alternative path to market. It has been the founding investors in such companies as Azure, Ltd. (announced purchase by Subex Systems Ltd.), Celiant (purchased by Andrew), Elemedia (purchased by Lucent), Flarion Technologies (purchased by Qualcomm), Ibiquity Digital, InPhase Technologies, Internet Photonics (purchased by Ciena), Liquavista, Lucent Pubic Safety Systems (purchased by Intrado), SyChip (purchased by Murata Corporation), Vallent, and Vidus, Ltd. (purchased by @Road). New Venture Partners now has over $650 million under management. www.nvpllc.com
Further Information
Please contact Ms Ngaire Coulthart, Head of Marketing at Spectrum at ngaire.coulthart@spectrum-ehcs.com
