New Zealand-based software company GeoOp has appointed Ben Foote as Chief Executive Officer, an experienced Kiwi based in Sydney.
Effective the end of Q1 2015, Foote has over fourteen years experience in the technology sector and brings to the role marketing and general management capability.
"After an extensive local and international search which attracted a significant number of high calibre applicants, the Board is excited to have appointed a tremendous individual in Ben," says Mark Weldon, Chair of GeoOp.
“Ben’s commercial experience, strategic management background and proven performance while at Singtel Optus and CareerOne, with demonstrated success in product vision and execution, means that he is ideally equipped to lead the next stage of GeoOp’s product strategy and execution.
"Our business is well poised to take it to the next level – and Ben is the right leader to do that.”
According to Foote, the SaaS market for SMEs is experiencing dynamic growth, with GeoOp "extremely well" positioned to grow quickly.
"I’m looking forward to leading the team with a major focus on aligning product and sales to what has been identified as a sizable global opportunity," he says.
“It’s a great opportunity to lead a New Zealand business that is experiencing strong growth overseas.
"With over 50% of customers coming out of Australia and 10% from North America, the opportunities to grow through international markets, including a heightened push into Australia, are very exciting.
“I have a track record of innovating across business units to drive growth, and I am excited about doing this in a company where innovation is a core part of its DNA.”
After completing Law and Commerce degrees at Canterbury University in New Zealand, Foote started his career at New Zealand internet provider ‘ihug’ before moving to Sydney in 2000 to help set up and grow the Australian arm of ihug.
After completing an MBA at the Barcelona Business School he was employed by Singtel Optus where he was the Product Marketing Manager of Prepaid Mobile, later General Manager of Strategy and Insights and then Managing Director of a fully owned Singtel Optus subsidiary, PPS.
In 2011 Foote moved to News Corporation and Monster Worldwide joint venture CareerOne, holding the role of Director Marketing & Communications before becoming Chief Operating Officer.
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