Brian Demers
Electrical Engineering graduate from Brown University, with MSc from Northeastern University. Worked 9 years at NMS Communications.
| Headline: | Entrepreneur |
| Skills: | Business, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Public speaking |
| Groups: | Ignite Clean Energy (ICE), Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC ) |
| Interested in: | Brainstorming, Finding business partners, Finding cofounders, Finding team mates, Meeting new people, Professional opportunities, Promoting my startups, Recruiting for my startup |
| Schools: | Brown University, Northeastern University |
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | NMS Communications, Framingham, MA |
| Position: | Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Applications Business Unit |
| Time period: | December 1999 - November 2006 |
| Description: | Leading provider of technologies and solutions for mobile applications and infrastructure.
Handpicked by CEO to evaluate firm’s core competencies and identify opportunities to drive firm to next level of strategic growth. Launched Mobile Applications Business Unit from scratch to develop new products for wireless operators and to drive the company up the value chain, delivering first system-level product direct to a wireless operator. Drove revenues from $0 to $15M over a three-year period, building an infrastructure for sales, support and product development. Scope also included strategy, acquisitions and technology partnerships. Managed a staff of 70 and an operating budget of $15M. Key accomplishments included: Sales and Business Development • Managed a “SWAT team” of five European business and technical experts over 18 months during a highly competitive bidding process. Signed key channel partner (LogicaCMG), paving the way for significant revenue opportunities within Vodafone. • Business unit chosen as one of two approved suppliers out of 50 firms, to provide ringback tone systems for Vodafone worldwide, launching the business unit into a new untapped market. Win led to eight Vodafone operating company wins within first year, with an initial contract value of $2M and significant longer-term revenue opportunities. • Signed second key channel partner (Ericsson) and gained approved supplier status for global delivery of ringback tone systems based on the Vodafone win. This led to an additional 11 operator wins (Asia, Europe and Americas), with an initial value of $3M. Mergers and Acquisitions • Drove the due diligence process collaborating with corporate development and investment bankers to evaluate the financial viability of acquisitions. Presented opportunities to BoD for approval. • Completed three technology acquisitions, valued at $40M, over a five-year period, including web services, messaging and a mobile software platform. • Led integration team bridging the people, processes and technology into the business unit, maintaining morale, meeting key deliverables and improving customer satisfaction through product extensions. Leadership and Staff Development • Built world class leadership team by successfully partnering with recruiters and by strategically targeting acquisitions with high potential leadership talent. • Recognized by CEO at a worldwide company meeting as the firm’s best leader and manager of high performance cross-functional teams. • Coached and mentored team members for successful advancement into higher level roles throughout the organization (Sales, Marketing). Six employees promoted to key corporate roles over four years. |
| Employer: | NMS Communications, Framingham, MA |
| Position: | Director of Product Management, Media Products |
| Time period: | December 1996 - November 2000 |
| Description: | Tapped by leadership team of acquiring firm, post acquisition of Via DSP, to drive the product management and development efforts of NMS’ Media Products. Managed a team of 30 developers (U.S. and Europe) designing core telephony products for NMS.
• Led the successful integration of ViaDSP product team and offerings into NMS product line. Identified and delivered key new product offerings (speech recognition and conferencing) through market research and discussions with existing customers . |
| Employer: | Via DSP, Concord, MA |
| Position: | Co-founder, Board Member and Vice President of Engineering |
| Time period: | December 1995 - November 1997 |
| Description: | Launched firm with DSPSE co-founder to spin out business unit and capitalize on an early VoIP market opportunity. Grew team from two to 16 employees in 18 months. Firm eventually acquired by NMS Communications in an all stock deal valued at $8 million.
• Managed 12 developers, propelling revenues from $0 to $1.5M in 18 months with no outside funding. Early career included roles in Product Management and Development at various technology firms. |
EDUCATION
| University: | Brown University |
| Degree: | Electrical Engineering, BSc |
| University: | Northeastern University |
| Degree: | Electrical Engineering, MSc |
INFORMATION
| Hobbies: | Youth sports coach, Avid athlete/sports enthusiast.
Brown Alumni Interviewer. |
| Memberships: | Member, IEEE; Brown University Alumni Club of Boston. |
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