iSentia Pty Ltd, the leading media intelligence provider in the Asia-Pacific region last week announced that it will be moving to an Initial Public Offering listing on the Australian Stock Exchange on 5 June. This provides investors with a unique opportunity to become involved with an organisation that is at the cutting edge of a business critical information service – where social media and business intelligence meet, with world-leading services across established software as a service platform.
Highly respected media executive Mr Doug Flynn has been appointed as Chairman. He will lead an experienced and innovation focused board, as iSentia begins the next phase of its corporate growth.
Mr Flynn has served in a number of executive roles across the media and other industries, including serving as Managing Director of News International Plc in the UK, Chief Executive of Aegis Group, and Director of Qin Jia Yuan Media Services Ltd, the leading private television company in China. He is currently a non-executive Director of Seven West Media Ltd, NextDC, and Chairman of Konekt Limited.
Mr Flynn said, “I am looking forward to joining an organisation with such a strong track record of return on equity, and working with my fellow directors and the iSentia Executive team to continue the growth of the company across new media platforms and services in the Asia-Pacific region, as we focus on providing continued growth in shareholder return.”
Along with Mr Flynn, there are three more new board appointees:
Ms Fiona Pak Poy – Innovation Australia Board member and Director of Adelaide Research and Innovation, Fiona brings significant experience gained particularly with engineering and technology companies. She previously served as Director and General Partner of Innovation Capital, an Australian/US venture capital fund that invests in Australian technology companies. Through Innovation Capital, Fiona served on the Boards of investee companies including Audinate, Call Journey, Opto Globo and as an Alternate Director of QRxPharma. Fiona has an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Adelaide and a MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr Pat O’Sullivan – Chairman of HealthEngine.com.au, Director of Carsales.com.au, iinet.com.au and Little Company of Mary Healthcare, Pat has over 30 years of international commercial and business management experience. Previously, Pat was Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director of Nine Entertainment, as well as Chairman of NineMSN. Previous to this, Pat was the CFO of Optus, and has also held a number of positions at Goodman Fielder, Burns, Philp & Company, and PwC. Pat is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Dr Geoff Raby – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Geoff Raby & Associates, a Beijing-based business advisory firm, Geoff is also Chairman of ASX-listed SmartTrans Ltd, as well being an Independent Director on the boards of Fortescue Metals Group, OceanaGold and Yancoal Australia. He is also Co-Chair of Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s China Business Practice, Senior Advisor to Kreab Gavin Anderson, and Vice Chairman of Macquarie Group China. Geoff was the Australian Ambassador to China from February 2007 to August 2011 and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from November 2002 to November 2006. Between 1993 and 1995, Geoff was head of the Trade Policy Issues Division of the OECD, Paris. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons), a Master of Economics and PhD degrees from La Trobe University
iSentia Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director John Croll said, “I am delighted to welcome four growth-focused and highly experienced Directors onto the iSentia Board as we enter the next phase of development across Asia Pacific markets and new media platforms as a public company. Their global experience in information and technology industries will ensure that the hard work already done to become a leading business intelligence provider in our region will be built on for a strong and vibrant future for the company.”
