Resume / Curriculum Vitae - Ian Wood

Ian possesses an in-depth understanding and vision for mobile, Internet and media technologies. He has worked in these industries for over 14 years in the US, Europe and Asia. He is capable of identifying important technology trends and deriving unique opportunities from them. Importantly, his technology focus does not preclude him from understanding the importance of the customer experience or the economic realities that impact businesses delivering successful solutions.

Present

Consultant, Ian Wood Technology Advisory (Los Angeles)

Ian currently consults on a number of mobile application projects in Los Angeles and internationally. He specializes in product design and management for mobile entertainment and utility products. Specifically, Ian is focused on mobilizing social networking and mobile advertising. General themes focus on expanding Internet brands into mobile and improving the user experience of mobile applications.

Past

Technology Director, Disney Mobile, Walt Disney Internet Group (Los Angeles) 2005 – 2007

Ian’s primary role at Disney is to conceive and design innovative technology solutions that enable the delivery of unique wireless experiences to their customers. Ian designed significant portions of the technology architecture for Disney Mobile and facilitated its delivery in time for it’s launch in June of 2006. He then developed strategic concepts and designs for several new products including a family prepaid service, a mid-tier multimedia handset, a new handset activation service, and a myriad of enhanced data and call control services. Initially brought in as a consultant in October 2005, Ian converted to a full time director in 2006. Disney Mobile won the 2007 Andrew Seybold Choice Award for the Most Innovative New Service by a Wireless Operator or MVNO.

Private Consultancy / Business Development (UK / USA) 2003 – 2006
After handing over the reigns of his start-up Empower to new management, Ian worked as an independent consultant for three years focusing mostly in four main areas:

The design and delivery of a highly customized and innovative family mobile service for The Walt Disney Company.
The creation of mobile content marketing, discovery and delivery strategies for UK based media and publishing companies.
The design and delivery of an interactive mobile video dating product for 3 in the UK. The Dateline Mobile product won Best Lifestyle/Community Application Award at MIPCOM in 2005.
The development of a mobile sector investment strategy for a newly formed venture capital fund. Palace Ventures, Ltd. is an FSA (UK) regulated investment fund that focuses on early stage wireless technology companies which deliver specific vertical-oriented industry solutions.

CTO & Founder, Empower Interactive Group (UK) 1999 – 2003

In 1999, Ian founded Empower Interactive, a mobile solutions company employing over 150 people and delivering advanced messaging solutions to tier 1 mobile operator clients worldwide. Ian was the principal visionary behind the product strategy and focus of Empower. He has 3 patents (WO 03/069924, WO 03/027872, WO 03/001819) in his name for conceiving and architecting sophisticated messaging solutions for mobile networks. These solutions are currently deployed in large scale mobile operators that process thousands of messages per second using Empower products. Empower has been ranked a UK Top 100 Technology Growth Company in The Sunday Times for three years (2003-2005) and a Tornado Insider Top 100 European Company in 2005. In 2006, Empower was bought by eServGlobal, a London Stock Exchange listed (symbol: ESG) provider of global carrier solutions.

Technical Director, IMG/TWI (UK) 1997 – 2000

Ian has worked with top sporting brands such as Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Wimbledon, British Open, and the PGA European Tour to deliver industry leading immersive web experiences. With an emphasis on real-time sports results, he helped architect and deliver solutions that bring the Internet as close as possible to the sporting action. Ian leveraged TWI’s media production capabilities to help break new ground in delivering broadcast content and multimedia to the Internet in the late 90’s.

(Work history prior to 1997 available upon request.)

Education, etc.

New York University, Computer Science, 1992*
US & UK citizenship

External References

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