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, Executive Director
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.
David Burden, Chief Executive Officer
Mr David Burden is an entrepreneur and one of the true pioneers of interactive marketing and services within Australia. David founded Australia's largest and best-recognised interactive and mobile services company Legion Interactive in 1994. As CEO from 1994 to 2006, David spearheaded the evolution and growth of the product, the growth of the sales and marketing and Research & IT Development teams, and guided the business through its MBO from the French Lagardere Group in 2001, the acquisition of BlueSkyFrog (Australia's first mobile ringtone company) and MediaZoo and the subsequent push of the business into the mobile space commencing in 1998.
During his time at Legion, David was a worthy Industry Activist with leading roles on the Premium Rate Advisory Council (PRAC), the Telephone Information Services Standards (TISSC) and the Vice Chairman of Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA). David was also founding Chairman of ADMA's Mobile Marketing Council which was primarily responsible for the introduction of regulation and consumer protection for mobile services.
Dr. Adrian Vanzyl, director
Dr. Vanzyl has spent his career in Silicon Valley and Australia, working as a technology executive with software, advertising-driven search, ad network and security-focused Internet companies. His experience includes working as a Principal at the technology/investment bank Gramercy Ventures (where he focused on cross border technology deals particularly between the US and Asia), as VP of Business Development for Eurekster (the leading provider of vertical, community and social network based search).
Prior to this he was CTO and Entrepreneur in Residence at Blumberg Capital in San Francisco. Whilst at Blumberg he ran two of their portfolio companies, and as the CEO of Seclarity, a security hardware and software firm, successfully raised funding from Intel Capital, Valley Ventures and Blumberg Capital. Adrian was Group Business Development Manager for Microsoft's bCentral small business portal, where his group managed business both in the US and internationally (where he helped launch in 22 countries in two years). He joined Microsoft as a result of his role as VP International at LinkExchange (the largest global ad network at the time).
Adrian worked for two years as CTO of LookSmart, where he was responsible for managing the core search engine technology as well as building the company's US-based team of engineers. Before moving to the US, he worked as CTO at Sausage Software (creators of the HotDog web publishing tool), Australia's first listed Internet software company. He was a member of the three-person board of directors that successfully took the company public on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Adrian has an MD degree (MB BS degrees with Honours) from Monash University Australia.
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.
Gavan Flower, Company Secretary
A Chartered Accountant with over 16 years experience in senior financial roles in both public and private multinational companies, including ASX 200 Spotless Group Limited and biotechnology company Cytopia Limited.