Chair
for Erlang Solutions
Erlang Solutions (“ESL”) is a global technology company working with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500, including WhatsApp, Klarna, Pivotal, Motorola, Ericsson, Toyota Connected, Orange and aeternity the blockchain company to mention a few.
ESL’s talented team of experts are passionate about Erlang & Elixir and work towards one common goal - to use the right tool for the job which enables them to resolve issues around concurrency, fault-tolerance and scalability. Utilising a wide range of products, on-site/remote consulting, support to architecture/code reviews and training - their technical know-how is the backbone to their client’s business operations.
The challenge
Erlang Solutions Ltd were looking to appoint a new Chair to strengthen the board and support their current executive team with their continued growth strategy.
The Chair should ideally have worked for a high growth and entrepreneurial company in the technology, FinTech or software sectors. They should bring a great global growth brand and have been instrumental in implementing strategies for growth, understand the fast-moving nature of the digital sector and come from a highly commercial background.
Our approach
The Chair had to offer strategic leadership at Board level with strong and effective communication and guidance. The role was London based with a time commitment of four board meetings per annum.
Moon Executive Search has been working in the national technology market sector for over twenty years and are embedded in, and understand this sector well including the growing FinTech arena.
Our network encompasses a range from second-generation entrepreneurial tech start-ups, medium-sized organisations, and global tech companies. This means that we are in constant contact with experienced Non-Executives and Chair candidates who can bring the experience required to the role. Furthermore, our network also includes those capable of offering experience of global market share growth and transformation.
We conducted a national search of candidates including those who were not necessarily actively pursuing a Non-Exec or chair appointment and worked with a pre-approved list of organisations and target markets to approach (including any off-limit organisations), all this conducted under a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
The outcome
This was a rigorous and far reaching joint advertising and search campaign, with a structured campaign of first interviews with Moon and then a number of final stages with SWIG where candidates met all parties from their fellow Non Exec board members to critical meetings with both the MD, John Peters, and FD, Dave Bullen.
We are delighted to announce that not only was Christine Allison appointed as Chair, but such was the impact of the Non-Exec candidates, SWIG has also appointed Rebecca Pritchardand Chris Buttersas two Non-Exec Directors on the Board.
The solution
Erlang Solutions Ltd chose David Parry Jones Regional Vice President of Twilio for EMEA and APAC for their Chair role. David was previously Vice President and General Manager for Northern Europe for VM Ware. David joined an existing Board of Directors and Non-Exec’s including Founder Francesco Cesarini and, CEO Stuart Whitfield.
“It was a pleasure to work with Vanessa and her team. They took time to understand the complexities of our business and our aspirational growth plans and our desire to attract in a global ‘name’ as our new Chair. Vanessa presented us with a great and strong short list of industry leaders, and we were very pleased to appoint David.”
“This was a fascinating campaign, identifying a candidate who could chair this growing global business and bring in stature and gravitas to help steer the business to new heights.”
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