Directors
Adrian Giles, executive chairman
Adrian Giles is an entrepreneur specialising in the Internet and information technology industry. In 1997, Adrian co-founded Australia's first Search Engine Optimisation company, Sinewave Interactive, with fellow entrepreneur Andrew Barlow. In 1998 Adrian and Andrew co-founded Hitwise. Hitwise grew over 10 years to become one of the most recognised global internet measurement brands with over 300 staff operating successfully in the USA, UK, Australia, NZ, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
By monitoring more than 25 Million Internet users via more than 40 ISP relationships worldwide, Hitwise provided competitive ratings of the most popular businesses across more than 160 industries and in 6 key markets. Whilst positioning the company for a NASDAQ listing in early 2007 Hitwise was sold to Experian (LSE: EXPN) for USD$240m.
Throughout its growth Hitwise was ranked by Deloitte’s as one of the fastest growing IT companies in the Asia Pacific region for five consecutive years. Hitwise was also a winner of the Victorian Small Business Awards; was awarded the ‘Most Innovative Digital Business’ in the UK for 2004; and was awarded a finalist as ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2005 American Business Awards in New York. Adrian was also a finalist in the 2003 Australian ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ awards. Adrian is also the Managing Director of Yarra Ventures an advisory and private investment fund he formed after the sale of Hitwise.
Andrew Barlow, Chief Executive Officer
Mr Barlow is an experienced entrepreneur who acts as an investor and mentor to early-stage technology companies with unique IP, highly scalable business models and strong executive teams. Mr Barlow is well-known as a co-founder of Hitwise with Adrian Giles. Mr Barlow was Chairman and Managing Director of Hitwise from 1997 – 2000, and Director of R&D from 2000 – 2002. Hitwise was ranked one of the Top 10 fastest growing companies by Deloittes for 5 years running, before being sold to Experian Group (LSX.EXPN) in May 2007 for US$240m.
Mr Barlow is also a co-founder of Adslot, a revenue optimisation platform for online media publishers. Adslot was acquired by Webfirm Group in February 2010. Mr Barlow is also a former Chairman of Webfirm Group Limited (October 2007 – October 2009).
Mr Barlow is the Founder of Venturian (2004), a privately-owned and run venture capital investment group. Venturian is an investor in a number of other technology ventures, including Nitro PDF (the second biggest distributor of PDF editing software in the world), QDC IP Technologies (which personalises video advertising on the fly and builds automated ad creation tools) and QMCodes (which makes print media interactive via mobile devices).
Mr Barlow has significant expertise in online media and business building with a strong understanding of the UK and North America markets.
Dr. Anthony Du Preez, Executive Director
Anthony Du Preez is the co-founder of both Tradeslot and Adslot. He has spent the last 10 years designing and building auction based markets for a range of industries including logistics, supply chain, port capacity, forestry timber, energy, and carbon permits. Anthony has developed a unique combinatorial auction technology that can process premium ‘conditional bids’.
This proven technology enables the establishment of efficient auction based markets in complex sales environments that have traditionally been served by face-to-face sales and one-on-one negotiations. This unique and patented technology has significant application for selling premium display/video ad space in the media sector.
Previously, Anthony worked as business development executive for Honeywell Aerospace division in the North American and European markets. Anthony has a Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours), and a MBA from the Melbourne School. Anthony also completed an advanced management post graduate certificate at Berkley University in San Francisco.
Chris Morris, director
Mr Chris Morris joined the Webfirm Group board in September 2010. Mr Morris is among Australia's most accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders, having founded Computershare Limited (ASX:CPU) in 1978 - one of Australia's most successful global technology companies. Mr Morris was Chief Executive Officer of Computershare from 1990 to 2006, Executive Chairman from 2006 to 2010, and is presently non-executive Chairman.
Mr Morris has extensive knowledge of the securities industry from both a national and international perspective, and has diverse experience in building and managing large global enterprise. Chris brings exceptional understanding of the needs of growing companies, their investors and stakeholders, and in addition has wide ranging knowledge and experience growing Australian IT companies to be global. Chris is also non-executive Chairman of Empire Beer Group Limited (ASX:EEE), and controls a number of private companies including Colonial Leisure Group Pty Ltd.
Tiffany Fuller, director
Ms Fuller is a qualified Chartered Accountant who has a 20 year career across Chartered Accounting, Corporate Finance, Investment Banking and Private Equity. Ms Fuller joined Rothschild Australia in 1997 in the Investment Banking Group after 8 years at Arthur Andersen in Audit, Corporate Finance and Management Consulting in Australia, UK and the United States.
At Rothschild, Ms Fuller advised various public and private clients, was responsible for managing a Microcap Fund on behalf of a number of Australia's large superannuation funds, and was a founding director of the Rothschild e-Fund, a technology focused venture capital fund. In her roles Tiffany has worked closely with emerging technology companies at Board level and as corporate adviser.
Tiffany is Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. Tiffany is also a Non-Executive Director of Car Parking Technologies Limited.