George was CEO of Jingle Networks from January 2006 through June 2008. Under his leadership the company grew from a 12-person no-revenue startup to 60 employees and the clear industry leader in ad-supported directory assistance and voice-search. Based in Menlo Park, CA while most of Jingle evolved in Boston, George transitioned to a board-only role in June 2008.
Prior to Jingle Networks George was President and CEO of Wine.com, the Internet’s largest wine retailer. During his tenure there he successfully executed a sales turnaround and put the company on a 40% growth track including major partnership deals with Amazon and HSN. Before Wine.com, George was CEO of PlaceWare and subsequently negotiated PlaceWare’s acquisition by Microsoft for $200 million (4x revenues) in May 2003. PlaceWare is now Microsoft Office LiveMeeting.
Earlier, George was CEO of Flycast Communications, the Internet’s first direct-response advertising network, taking it from startup to a $500 million IPO in 1999 and then negotiating its sale for $2.3 billion in early 2000.
Prior to these Internet successes, he was CEO of North America for Information Resources Inc., the nation’s largest consumer marketing information company, which he helped grow from startup to $300 million in revenues. George also served as CEO of the AC. Nielsen Company in 1994. He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and engineering and a master’s degree in management from Purdue University, as well as two patents: one in the field of high-intensity lighting and the other in Web site optimization. |