CEO-in-Residence
For a number of years, Austin Ventures has identified investment themes in industry segments experiencing dynamic growth due to strong markets or markets experiencing disruption, thereby creating significant opportunities for entrepreneurial companies. In early 2003, AV initiated our CEO-in-Residence program, where we partner with proven, entrepreneurial CEOs to pursue value-creation opportunities in segments of mutual interest.
Rather than reacting to opportunities that come to us, we proactively seek to buy and build companies in markets where our CEO partners have deep experience. We have found it to be mutually rewarding to partner with talented CEOs before we have refined the investment thesis or found an initial target entry point and to shape our investment efforts around the skill set and focus of those executives. We work closely with our CEO partners by assisting with deal flow, supporting the recruitment of their team, driving due diligence efforts, refining investment and business strategy, and providing extensive transaction expertise.
Several AV Partners are continually developing investment themes and simultaneously seeking out uniquely talented executive entrepreneurs with whom to partner in this program. Jeff Browning, our Recruiting Partner, leads our effort from a recruiting process perspective. We are continually looking for CEOs to work with us in several areas:
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All of our CEO-I-Rs have been successful in both large and small company environments. They have a blend of deep operating experience and entrepreneurial leadership and spirit. We have been highly successful in our unique approach of partnering with these CEOs. Please meet our CEO-I-R partners:
Sherman Atkinson
Former COO of Intermix Media, Inc. (AMEX: MIX), a publicly traded, new media company that owned MySpace.com, Sherman partnered with Austin Ventures in late 2007 to pursue opportunities in digital media and information services. Before joining Intermix Media, Mr. Atkinson served as Chief Operating Officer of Buy.com, the Internet Superstore and President of its technology spin-out, BuyServices, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Buy.com.
Back to CEO-I-R ListJim Casella
Former COO of IDG and CEO of Reed Business Information-US, a division of Reed Elsevier (NYSE: ENL), one of the "big five" of worldwide information services, Jim Casella recently began working with Austin Ventures to identify opportunities to "buy and build" in the high growth business-to-business media and publishing industries.
Back to CEO-I-R ListJeffrey Dachis
Former co-founder, CEO, President and Chairman of Razorfish, Mr. Dachis recently began working with Austin Ventures to form a new company which will focus on creating an industry leading strategic consulting practice and an enterprise class Social Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) suite. AV has committed up to $50 Million in capital to support management’s strategy to build and grow organically and through acquisition. Mr. Dachis will serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the new firm.
Back to CEO-I-R ListElisabeth DeMarse
Former senior executive at Bloomberg and CEO of BankRate (NASDAQ: RATE), Elisabeth partnered with us in late 2005 to pursue opportunities in digital media, which led to the acquisition of All Star Directories and CreditCards.com in October of 2006. Elisabeth is a board member and shareholder of All Star Directories, a leading publisher of online career school directories. In addition, Elisabeth became CEO of CreditCards.com, the country’s leading comparison shopping site for credit cards, upon our closing of the acquisition.
Back to CEO-I-R ListBill Razzouk
Former COO of Federal Express (NYSE: FDX) and CEO of PlanetRx, Bill joined the CEO-in-Residence program in 2003. In 2004 Bill sourced our investment in ReTrans, a leading intermodal freight management company, where he is a Board member and shareholder. In March 2005 he became CEO of Newgistics, our largest supply chain services investment and the leader in returns management for remote retail and consumer electronics companies.
Back to CEO-I-R ListBrian Sharples
Former CEO of Intelliquest (FTSE: WPP.L), a publicly traded, highly successful information services company in the AVIII portfolio, Brian joined us in early 2004 to pursue opportunities in information services. Our partnership led to the formation and growth of HomeAway Vacation Rentals, where he currently serves as CEO. HomeAway is now the leading vacation rental subscription listing site and has over 130,000 properties listed throughout the world.
Back to CEO-I-R ListRon Sorrow
Ron Sorrow, former CEO of CSX Intermodal, Inc., the nation’s largest integrated rail, ocean and truck transportation services and logistics network, partnered with Austin Ventures in June 2008 to form AVRON Partners. He will source acquisitions and operating management opportunities in the supply chain services and distribution logistics sectors. Most recently, Mr. Sorrow was Co-Founder and CEO of RoadLink USA, a nationwide consolidation of regional specialty motor carriers focused on multi-mode transportation logistics.
Back to CEO-I-R ListBob Stull
Former President and CEO of Roadway Express (NASDAQ: YRCW), a leading less-than-truckload carrier and one of the largest transportation companies in the U.S., Bob has been working with Austin Ventures since late 2006 to identify opportunities and make acquisitions in the leading supply chain and logistics space.
Back to CEO-I-R ListDean Wiltse
Former CEO of Greenfield Online (NASDAQ: SRVY), a company whose innovation helped revolutionize the marketing research industry by spurring the shift to online formats, Dean partnered with Austin Ventures in October 2005 to pursue opportunities in the marketing research space. Our partnership culminated with the launch of PDC Corp. formed by the acquisition and merger of WebSurveyor and Perseus, two of the leaders in providing tools and services to corporations for managing employee and customer feedback.
Back to CEO-I-R ListIf you are a talented executive who would like to learn more about our program and approach to partnering with like executives, be actively considered for such a role, or have a brief discussion with the partners at AV about a unique business idea, we encourage you to reach out directly to Jeff Browning.