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FOUR NEW
EXECUTIVES-IN-RESIDENCE JOIN FAST-EXPANDING ARIADNE CAPITAL TEAM
London (October 7,
2002)
– Ariadne Capital Ltd, the pan-European venture group, announced the
addition of four new members to their existing team of three
Executives-in–Residence (EIRs). Joining Ariadne Capital as EIRs are
Roger Ashby, Francesca Lahiguera, Duncan Norris, and Erik
Wenngren, bringing with them expertise in Start-up Technology and
Intellectual Property, Executive Search and Interim
Management, Corporate Venturing and IT services, and Capital Markets
respectively.
Ariadne Capital focuses
on solving the three main problems in the market today, namely to
identify and secure exits for investors, to help secure early sales and
reference clients for start-up private companies, and to optimize the
efforts of the corporate venturing activities of larger corporations.
“Network and Execution
is what we bring to the game. Some call it our ‘unfair advantage.’
What’s clear is that we are a more cost-effective and successful option
than hiring an investment bank with no relationships with the buyers of
technology companies, or hiring a sales director with little experience
in international markets, or keeping a large venturing group going
without clear metrics for success,” said Julie Meyer, CEO of Ariadne
Capital.
“By connecting
entrepreneurs with the Board-level executives they are targeting as
investors or customers, we have succeeded in creating value for the 40
companies we have worked with since we started two years ago,” said COO Bundeep Singh Rangar. “Our track record is the reason why we attract
about 100 companies each month seeking access to capital, talent and
customers.”
“Ariadne Capital makes things happen,” says Martin Velasco,
international entrepreneur.
“Europe needs Ariadne Capital,” says Candace Johnson, who recently was
awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Communications
Awards in London on September 30th, 2002.
“What makes Ariadne Capital work is their ability to bring
deal-structuring, start-up operational experience and understanding of
technology together in a cost-effective manner,” said Gerhard Huber,
serial entrepreneur.
The new EIRs joining
Ariadne Capital are as follows:
Francesca Lahiguera –
EIR, Executive Search and Interim Management
Francesca specialises in the technology sector, with over four years of
experience assisting clients such as Xerox, Easynet, Vivendi, Business
Objects and Peoplesound.com with their talent development needs. She
began her career in executive search as a member of the IT practice at
Heidrick and Struggles.
Prior to her career in executive search, Francesca spent 12 years in
software sales and marketing with Interleaf, Informix and Sun
Microsystems based in Boston, Munich and Paris, respectively.
Francesca is currently based in Paris and serves on the board of the
Paris Professional Women’s Network.
Duncan Norris – EIR,
Corporate Venturing / IT Services
Duncan
Norris’ 15 years of experience includes technical sales support before
moving into consulting where he worked for some of the world’s largest
and most complex corporations, newly created start-ups and SMEs across
four continents and in virtually every business sector.
This diversity includes a super-computer manufacturer in
the US, a large telecommunications corporation in Australia, a cement
producer in Indonesia, several financial services companies in the UK as
well as start-ups involved in software development and lifestyle and
diet management. He has been involved in both the development and
implementation of corporate, customer, operational and technology
strategy, and co-founded a European digital strategy practice while
working as a consultant. In addition, he has also founded a business
development agency start-up and has been a line executive, most recently
as Chief Executive Officer of Royal and Sun Alliance’s Corporate
Venturing division, Global Ventures.
He is a member of the Government’s e-Business Advisory
Group to the Cabinet, an advisor to the Office of the e-Envoy and
participates and speaks at Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
e-Business Council seminars. He is also a guest lecturer at London
Business School on Corporate Strategy and its evolution in an
increasingly electronic and innovative world.
Erik Wenngren – EIR, Capital Markets
Erik Wenngren brings to Ariadne Capital more than 15
years of experience in Securities and Capital Markets worldwide. He
most recently was Global Head of Equities for Danske Securities,
reporting directly to Danske Bank’s Executive Board.
At Danske Securities,
Erik was responsible for the bank’s entire equity operations, consisting
of some 200 staff in six countries. Furthermore he was responsible for
the strategic planning, budgeting, recruitment and daily management of
Equity Sales, Trading, Research and Syndication. Prior to that, Erik
was co-head of European Equity Capital Markets for Paribas, and
co-responsible for Paribas’ overall business in the Nordic region
including equity brokerage and investment banking.
Roger Ashby - EIR,
Start-Up Technology and Intellectual Property
Roger Ashby
is a
serial entrepreneur with broad experience in starting technology
businesses, particularly businesses arising from university research.
Roger is the individual who foresaw and proposed the need for seed
funding, resulting in the creation of
the £40
million University Challenge Fund which was launched in 1998 and was
allocated to 14 universities.
Roger began his career
in
the petrochemical industry as a project manager
responsible for turnkey construction contracts. He was later appointed
Development Director of Renwicks Plc, a diversified engineering group
and, in 1992, joined with past colleagues from the oil industry to form
Dove Energy Limited, a company that used new low cost technology to
acquire declining oil reserves and recover additional outputs.
In 1995,
Roger became an adviser to the Gatsby Trust for a 3-year assignment to
suggest how Universities could exploit their intellectual property. He
helped start companies in various disciplines, the most successful of
which, Kymata Ltd (an optoelectronic components manufacturer), reached a
valuation of $600 million after 3 years was sold to Alcatel. In 1997,
Roger was awarded the prize for Managing Director of the Best New
Business by KPMG.
Roger is
currently Director of one spinout company and is responsible for fund
raising and university liaison. Having recently completed £10 million
second round financing for another firm, he is continuing to advise
several early stage companies on commercial strategy and fund raising.
He is a Member of International Licensing Executives Society, University
Companies Association and American University Technology Managers.
Ariadne Capital also
recently announced the joining of Lionel Anthony, founder of
Cinven and veteran of the European venture capital industry,
as Non-Executive Director.
- END -
Notes to Editors:
1.
Ariadne
Capital is a European venture capital group, which invests in early
stage private and advises later stage private and public companies,
undergoing significant growth or change. The sectors that it focuses
on include Enabling Technologies, Life Services, Communications and
Software. Information about its portfolio can be found at
www.ariadnecapital.com
Ariadne
Capital provides its portfolio companies, as well as its strategic
partners, access to its network of industry executives and investors,
hands-on management and Board level assistance to implement strategic,
operational and financial plans. Ariadne Capital helps its companies
access capital, secure executives, leverage innovation and generate
sales.
2. In
addition to the above EIRs, Ariadne Capital’s existing EIR team members
are:
Dick
Collard – EIR, Software
Dick has
been in the forefront of technology European operations for almost 30
years, recently concentrating on delivery of applications and tools to
European telecommunications and financial services industries. He set
up Template Software UK in 1995, and was later promoted to VP of
European Operations in 1996, prior to the company's IPO on NASDAQ in
1997. Under his guidance Template's European operations grew from 3
people in 1995 to close to 200 people with annual revenues in excess of
$25 million, over 50% of worldwide revenue.
Dick was
previously with Instrumatic, a Pan-European supplier of high technology
hardware and software solutions to industry, where he was UK founder and
MD, then later Executive Vice President for the parent company.
Henry
Nash – EIR, IT Software and Services
Henry
brings more than 20 years of senior management in VC-backed firms to the
Ariadne Capital. He joined Ariadne Capital from Credit Suisse First
Boston, where he was Director of IT Strategy. In 1994, he co-founded
OnLive! Technologies in Cupertino, CA, where he served initially as
Chief Architect, and later as Director of European Sales. Onlive!
produced breakthrough 3D and Audio chat facilities for the Internet.
As the
co-founder of International Business Software in 1989, Henry developed
the award winning DataClub product and subsequently held the position of
Director of European Sales. Following the company’s acquisition by
Novell, he held the position of Director of Systems Software, Desktop
Systems group at the world's leading networking company. In 1986, Henry
was the Vice President of Engineering and a member of the founding team
at Insignia Solutions. The company won Queens Awards for both Technology
and Export Achievements for its revolutionary product SoftPC. Henry
started his career with technical positions at Logica (UK) Ltd. and
Computervision Corp. He has currently joined Nanomuscle and three
time business partner Rod Macgregor who is CEO at Nanomuscle as their
CTO. Ariadne Capital is the European business advisor to Nanomuscle.
David Johnson – EIR,
Sales Development in Technology Firms
David Johnson brings
some twenty years of experience gained in the US and Europe in sales,
marketing and business development to Ariadne Capital. He has helped a
range of high-tech firms build their sales in Europe by expanding their
markets served, product and services offered, and winning new clients.
As a European Director
for a Fortune 1000 company, David grew EMEA software and consulting
commercial activities for 7 profitable years, helping the Parent
organisation grow the European operation from 0 to 350 staff to EMEA
turnover of £100 million in 7 years. He has also used his business
development experience as Business Development Director to assist a
diverse range of firms to enter Europe, win clients, and forge
commercial partnerships.
Most recently, David
assisted a small Asian software company to develop a cost-effective
European marketing organisation and secure initial sales with leading
wireless, insurance and private equity end-users. At Ariadne Capital, he
assists clients with the identification of appropriate sales channels,
the development of sales and marketing strategies, and the strengthening
of sales forces.
For
more information contact:
Julie Meyer,
CEO, Ariadne Capital
+44 (0)20 7653 0236
julie@ariadnecapital.com
Bundeep Singh Rangar,
COO, Ariadne Capital
+44 (0)20 7653 0215
bundeep@ariadnecapital.com
Kate Opekar, Marketing Communications Manager, Ariadne Capital
+44 (0)20 7653 0325
kate@ariadnecapital.com
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