It takes fresh talent to grow a strong business. That's why new hires, especially in key executive or development positions, are so important.
We track many of those hires, promotions and departures in the Austin Inno Beat newsletter, along with insights on how players' moves impact a startup's fortunes or an entire industry. Sign up for the Beat to get it daily.
Now, let's dig into the April 2017 hirings, promotions and departures.
- Umbel, an Austin-based sports and entertainment data analytics startup, appointed former Bazaarvoice CMO and marketing veteran Lisa Pearson as its new CEO. Pearson, who has led Umbel since being named as president a year ago, will take over as Higinio “H.O.” Maycotte, Umbel's founder and former CEO, becomes executive chairman of Umbel's board of directors and CEO of Pilosa, a stealth mode data-focused business spun out of Umbel.
- RF Code, an Austin data center management company, promoted Jonathan Luce to VP of worldwide sales. Luce had been director of sales and strategic accounts for RF Code for the past 8 years. RF Code also hired Rebecca Kan as VP of marketing and Christine Burke as senior VP of worldwide sales. Kan was previously managing director of Bulldog Solutions, according to her online profile. Burke was previously regional VP of sales at Anaplan.
- Newgistics, an Austin-based retail tech company, hired Stuart Spiegel as chief marketing officer. His resume includes work at Converse, QVC and ghd (“Good Hair Day”). Most recently, he was principal at the digital and business consultancy, Spiegel Partners LLC.
- Phunware, an Austin-based mobile development company, named Brendhan Botkin as its controller. Botkin was most recently CFO at Acuity Healthcare Solutions. Before that he was CFO at Austin-based Circular Energy, according to his online profile.
- WP Engine, an Austin-based WordPress solutions company, appointed Annette Alexander to the newly-created role of chief people officer. She was previously VP of human resources at Austin-based RetailMeNot. She has also worke at PayPal, Danaher, Barclays and Dell.
- SkylesBayne, a commercial real estate firm, hired Michele Skelding, who left her role as senior VP of global technology and innovation with the Austin Chamber of Commerce last December, as its new president and CEO.
- Serenova, an Austin-based contact center-as-a-service provider, hired Stuart Clark as the company's chief information security officer. Clark was previously CISO at Neverfail.
- FloSports, an Austin-based digital sports content company, hired Paul Hurdlow as senior VP and general counsel. Hurdlow comes from DLA Piper, where he held senior roles with the firm. He was also previously FloSports’ lead outside counsel for the past eight years.
- Austin-based Rock Candy Media promoted three senior team members to partner. Sam Kimelman is now managing partner and VP of creative; Scott Mise is partner and lead web developer; and Kyle Gregory, in Los Angeles, is partner, creative director and manager of RCM West.
- Bazaarvoice, Inc., an Austin-based software company, appointed Allison M. Wing to its board of directors. Wing is the CMO and EVP of digital channels at Maurices Incorporated. Before that, she was the founder and CEO of giggle, Inc.
