Eggplant Leadership Team
Dr. John Bates, CEO
John is a visionary technologist and highly accomplished business leader. He pioneered the space of streaming analytics as Co-founder, President and CTO of Apama (acquired by Progress Software in 2005 and now part of Software AG). He drove the evolution of platforms for digital business while serving as EVP of Corporate Strategy and CTO at Progress Software (NASDAQ:PRGS), and as CTO of Big Data, Head of Industry Solutions and CMO at Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX:SOW). More recently, he drove the commercial development of platforms to support internet of things applications, serving as CEO at Plat.One (acquired by SAP in 2016). John holds a doctorate in computer science from Cambridge University, U.K., and is the author of the book “Thingalytics: Smart Big Data Analytics for the Internet of Things.”
Chris Verdin, CFO
Chris is a proven CFO with extensive experience in financial planning, corporate governance, fundraising, MBOs, M&A, and patent litigation. Prior to Eggplant, he served as CFO of Packet Exchange, a global networking company, and Future Route, a machine learning specialist. Chris is a qualified chartered accountant and held roles with KPMG and major banks before focusing on the technology sector.
Antony Edwards, CTO
Antony is a proven product and technology leader with extensive experience in enterprise software and mobile computing. Prior to Eggplant, Antony served as CTO of The Global Draw Group—a leading supplier of networked gaming products, which includes subsidiaries Barcrest and Games Media. Antony also served as a member of the Executive Team and EVP of Ecosystem and Technical Services at mobile operating system specialist Symbian. While at Symbian, Antony was a founder of the Symbian open-source foundation. Prior to this, Antony held a position with IBM Research in New York, where he made several contributions to the development of the Linux kernel, with a particular focus on security.
Richard Ward, President, Americas
Richard has a strong track record of delivering customer value and success in both EMEA and the Americas. Richard joined Eggplant in 2009 and successfully transformed and ran the European commercial operation before relocating to the U.S. in 2014 to spearhead the Americas team. He is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is responsible for all Americas operations.
Andy Menzies, EVP, EMEA Sales & Global Alliances
Andy has an extensive track record in the enterprise software market and has held a range of senior leadership positions. Key experience includes his role as VP of Worldwide Sales at Apama and at StreamBase, where he was Head of Global Sales and was responsible for the sales strategy, presales, and professional services teams. He then became the U.K. VP of TIBCO Software where he helped successfully turn around the performance of its U.K. operations. During his career he has also worked with a range of venture-backed, Accel portfolio companies, and held senior sales roles at global enterprise software companies SAP, Business Objects, and Siebel.
Dr. Gareth Smith, VP Products & Solutions
Gareth is a proven leader of product marketing, product management solutions, and presales teams, most recently for Software AG’s Digital Business Platform. Prior experience includes Progress Software where he held several positions including Director of Product Management and Principal Software Architect. He was also part of the founding team of Apama where he was Director of Presales & Principal Architect prior to its acquisition by Progress Software. Smith has a doctorate in computer science, with a focus on collaborative user interface design, and spent over a decade in academia.
Meet the Eggplant Board of Directors
Jon Richards, Chairman
Jon has a distinguished record as Chairman in a series of major businesses. As well as serving as Eggplant’s Chairman, Jon is Chairman of Inspiretec Group Ltd, a provider of software to the travel business, and is a Non-Executive Director of Sabio Ltd, a contact center solution provider. Over the last 20 years, Jon has served as Chairman and Non-Executive Director of 13 other businesses that have been exited in transactions with a total value of over £300 million. Prior to this, Jon was Group CEO of Anite Group Plc.
Dr. John Bates, CEO
John is a visionary technologist and highly accomplished business leader. He pioneered the space of streaming analytics as Co-founder, President and CTO of Apama (acquired by Progress Software in 2005 and now part of Software AG). He drove the evolution of platforms for digital business while serving as EVP of Corporate Strategy and CTO at Progress Software (NASDAQ:PRGS), and as CTO of Big Data, Head of Industry Solutions and CMO at Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX:SOW). More recently, he drove the commercial development of platforms to support internet of things applications, serving as CEO at Plat.One (acquired by SAP in 2016). John holds a doctorate in computer science from Cambridge University, U.K., and is the author of the book “Thingalytics: Smart Big Data Analytics for the Internet of Things.”
Michael Wand, Non-Executive Director
Michael is a Managing Director and Head of the Europe Technology advising group at Carlyle—and sits on the board at Eggplant. Prior to joining Carlyle in 2001, Michael worked for approximately 10 years in investment banking, the last 7 years in the technology sector. His previous investments include The Foundry, KCS.net, ADA Cosmetics, Personal & Informatik AG, UC4 Software, FRS Global, Apama, Inc., and SmartTrust AB. Michael received his MBA from Mannheim University in Germany and the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a B.A. degree in economics and business administration from Mannheim University in Germany.
Charlotte Lawrence, Non-Executive Director
Charlotte is an Associate Director in the European Technology fund at Carlyle, advising on European buyout and growth investments—and sits on the board at Eggplant. She joined Carlyle in early 2010, and has been actively involved in investments in FRS Global, The Foundry, Graze, Itconic, and Eggplant. Prior to joining Carlyle, she worked in the Investment Banking Divisions at Merrill Lynch and UBS in London. Charlotte received her MPhysPhil in physics and philosophy from Oxford University.
George Mackintosh, Non-Executive Director
George was co-Founder of Eggplant with Jon Richards and was CEO through its formative years, before his move in 2017 to Non-Executive Director. Prior to Eggplant, George served as CEO of The CityMeeting Group, a collaboration services business, acquired by MeetingZone in 2007. Prior to this, George was CEO of GeoConference, a 3i-backed multimedia conferencing services specialist, sold to Global Crossing (Now Level 3 Networks) in 2000.