David H. Ratner, Ph.D., President and CEO
David Ratner has been a pioneer in the messaging and communications industry for 15 years, across all aspects of the business, from writing code to running major organizations. Ratner served as a special adviser to the Board and CEO of Openwave Systems (now Unwired Planet), where he helped create Openwave Messaging, Inc., as a separate and independent company.
Previously, Ratner served as the COO at SEVEN Networks, a cloud synchronization and mobile messaging company, where he rationalized the organization and products, drove the company to profitability, and worked with every aspect of the business. Before SEVEN, Ratner was the SVP of Wireless Products and Solutions at Carrier Access, and ultimately, helped in its sale to Turin Networks. Prior to Carrier Access, Ratner held multiple engineering and business roles at Openwave Systems and Software.com, including Vice President of Messaging and Communication, Vice President of Digital Identity, and Chief Messaging Strategist.
Ratner has successfully demonstrated strategic thinking on a global basis while maintaining a tactical approach to execution, and has spoken in multiple international and domestic forums. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ratner received a B.A. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Computer Science from Cornell University, graduating magna cum laude, and with Distinction in All Subjects.
Mark Kent, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Mark Kent brings over 30 years of financial experience to the position of Interim CFO of Openwave Messaging. He has a strong track record of executive financial management leadership in multiple sectors, including enterprise software, intellectual property, manufacturing and semiconductors. Kent specializes on companies with high-growth needs and in turn around situations.
Over the past 14 years, he has served as chief financial officer to several venture-backed and publicly traded high technology companies, including three years as a CFO-in-residence with a top-tier venture firm, Oak Investment Partners. Several of the companies have had successful IPOs and acquisitions, including Ramtron, RPX Corporation, Insitu, Sigma Designs, Transmeta, Talisma, Knowledge Networks, Securant, and Crossworlds Software. Prior to his career as a CFO, Kent was Treasurer of LSI Logic Corporation. He spent his early finance career as a commercial banker focused on emerging growth technology companies.
Kent received his B.S. degree in Finance from Colorado State University.
Tracy Allard, Vice President Worldwide Sales
Tracy Allard is a proven sales leader with 25 years of experience spanning both Telco and industrial markets. As Vice President of Worldwide Sales, she is responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies that support the company’s goals and objectives. Allard specializes in sales operations, contract and commercial negotiations, and building and managing strong sales organizations with demonstrated track records of delivering against target plans. She has deep international experience having successfully led teams in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Allard comes to Openwave Messaging from Symphony Teleca, formerly SurfKitchen, where she served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales, successfully guiding the company’s sales of client and server software products to mobile network operators worldwide through its acquisition by Teleca in early 2011. Prior to Symphony Teleca, Allard held a senior sales position at 724 Solutions Inc., a Santa Barbara, CA-based technology and solutions provider to the mobile network operator market. She also held senior international sales management positions with Openwave Systems, Boingo Wireless, and Caterpillar, Inc.
Allard attended the University of New Hampshire and is a graduate of over a dozen professional sales courses and seminars.
Farooq Ali, SVP Products
Farooq Ali is a technology evangelist with over 20 years of hands-on technical experience and business development expertise. As SVP of Products, Ali is responsible for overseeing the product lifecycle from research and development, to product management and marketing. He specializes in strategy and research for emerging technologies, as well as product planning and execution.
Before joining Openwave Messaging, Ali was Executive Advisor for JBBMobile Inc, providing counsel on strategy, execution, and operations. Before that, he served as Vice President of Product Management for SEVEN Networks where he was responsible for product management and development of client mobile apps for Android and Windows Mobile, and oversaw the development of cloud services for messaging, sync, and push technologies. Ali has held positions in product management and technology development for a wide range of companies including, 724 Solutions, Software.com, and Netscape Communications.
Throughout his career, Ali has focused his attention on the mobile, software, and communications industries. He holds an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire.
Peter Biber, VP Services & Support
Peter Biber is Vice President of Global Services and Support at Openwave Messaging. He is responsible for the Global Professional Services organization, as well as the Global Customer Support organization. Biber has over 20 years of experience in support, support engineering working directly with customers, and P&L ownership of a large global business. Biber has driven large initiatives to help move customers from reactive one-on-one support to utilizing knowledge to deferring incoming workload, as well as creating strategic initiatives around evolving the customer support experience with technology.
Prior to joining Openwave Messaging, Biber was with Oracle Corporation for 11 years working in customer support and Service Delivery Management. Biber also has extensive experience in M&A, business strategy and organizational evolution. He has run organizations in regions throughout the world including APAC, Japan, and the Americas. In these roles, he has gained keen insight into the importance of understanding regional differences in order to successfully support a complex global customer base.
Peter completed Secondary school at Scotch College in Australia, then attended Latrobe University doing a masters in Computer Science and Communications Engineering.
Ian Gillott, Chief Information Officer
Ian Gillott has over 30 years of management experience, including positions in senior IT management for companies including Santos, Deloitte, Mincom, and Ausenco. Before joining Openwave Mobility, Ian served as Global Director of Business Systems and Information Technology for Ausenco, where he synthesized the IT operations of five different companies into one cohesive organization. Prior to Ausenco, Ian was CIO and Director of Defense Solutions for Mincom, a global engineering asset management software company. At Santos, Ian acted as Manager of Innovation and Business Improvement, where he managed the development of the company’s strategic IT direction with regard to future services and the external environment. Ian has held several other management positions in IT and information services. Ian also served in the Australian Army for 20 years, climbing the ranks from an Army Apprentice to the Senior Operations Officer of a multinational peacekeeping force on Bougainville (PNG). He received his MBA from the University of New England.