Damian Manning
Co-Founder
Damian Manning is a technologist and serial entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of commercial innovation and a dedication to creating groundbreaking online experiences for consumers.
Before co-founding Echospin, Damian served as Managing Partner for Digital Strategy Partners, a firm specializing in media technology services for clients including Yahoo!, Citigroup, The New York Times, MediaNet Digital and Viacom. Prior to founding Digital Strategy Partners, Damian was Vice President, Digital Media, for MTV Networks. There he was responsible for leading the global digital media strategy of the MTV Networks online properties, including more than 60 brands and affiliates around the world. It was during his tenure at MTV that Damian secured the first of many patents for his achievements over the years.
Damian began his career in 1995 at the dawn of the Internet Age, on the front lines at IDT as Senior Technologist. His contributions helped the organization grow from hundreds to millions of customers, and from a private to a publicly traded company. He participated in the negotiation of the first Netscape browser distribution deal, the architecting of the Net2Phone VoIP software, and developed the company's award-winning Internet access package. After IDT, Damian went on to assist ICES in building one of the very first global business-to-business eCommerce platforms, where he served as Director, Research & Development. He also co-founded e-Save Networks, where he held the position of Director, Technology.
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Jon Lowy
Co-Founder
Jon Lowy previously worked for Deutsche Bank, serving as Chief Architect, CIB eBusiness. Jon worked closely with CIB's executive board, IT management, and business line managers to design and implement the Bank's Internet technology roadmap, as well as perform due diligence for major Internet investments. Major global initiatives included the DB.com Client Portal, Single Sign-On, Global Hosting, e-consolidation, and CRM (Client Relationship Management).
Prior to Deutsche Bank, Jon worked at Gateway for three years, as Chief eCommerce Architect. There, Jon recruited and managed technology staff world-wide, transforming the company's Internet systems from an experiment in the global marketing department to an award-winning set of profitable consumer and b2b web properties.
Before Gateway, Jon worked for IDT. He started as a technical support agent, wore many hats, and soon moved into the product development group where he contributed to technology projects and business development.
Jon is a co-author of
Three Clicks Away: Advice from the Trenches of eCommerce (John Wiley and Sons, 2001).
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Steve Millard
Founder & President, Because Group
Steve Millard's unique perspective and understanding of the content industries has been the foundation that has created the Because Group opportunity. Steve brings 12 years industry specific experience as a Senior Director of Marketing and Label Head of Sony Music. Steve has extensive experience in content marketing, licensing and distribution. Steve's understanding of the issues faced by the entertainment industry in moving to digital distribution and his passion for the industry has accumulated over his 25 year participation in the industry he loves.
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Rupert Perry CBE
Executive Chairman, Because Group
Rupert Perry was former Label President for Capitol EMI in the USA, President EMI Records UK, President EMI Europe and Senior VP of EMI Worldwide. He was awarded a CBE for services to the British music industry.
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Bob Jamieson
Non Executive Director, Because Group
Bob Jamieson is a thirty-year veteran of the music industry, and has held executive-level positions with Sony, CBS, and BMG, most recently as former Chairman of the RCA Music Group for BMG.
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Jim Caparro
Non Executive Director, Because Group
Jim Caparro is the Founder and Chairman/CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group (a division of Universal Music Group) and former President and CEO of Polygram Inc.
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Richard Rowe
Non Executive Director, Because Group
Richard Rowe was formerly the founding president of Sony/ATV Music Publishing a tenure he held from 1993 through to 2004. He worked for Sony Music (previously CBS) UK in a number of Senior Management roles for 25 years. Richard negotiated the acquisition/merger with ATV Music Publishing that included the Beatles catalogue.
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Ryan Dudley
Non Executive Director & Secretary, Because Group
Ryan Dudley is an International Tax Law expert at Friedmans LLP Manhattan New York. His knowledge of tax law covers a wide range of issues including inbound and outbound acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations cross border finance, offshore holding and operating structures, hybrid entities and intellectual property holding structures and tax treaties.
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