Brian MacDonald

Current

Member, Board of Directors at Santa Cruz Film Festival
VP, Sales and Distribution at HearPlanet

Past

VP, Worldwide Sales and Distribution at mywaves inc.
Self-employed at private real estate investor
VP, Carrier Sales at Danger

VP, IP Services at Global Telesystems, Ltd.
VP, Marketing and Business Development at iPass, Inc.
Managing Director, International Development at Netcom Online Communication Services, Inc.
Managing Director, Consulting Group at Lotus Development
CEO/Managing Director at DMS Ltd., London, UK
Principal Consultant at BMS Ltd., London, UK
Program Manager at Betac Corp.

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Education

Georgetown University
Oxford University, Balliol College
University of California, Santa Barbara

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Recommended

3 people have recommended Brian

Connections

308 connections

Industry

Wireless

Websites

My Company

Brian MacDonald’s Summary

Experienced executive with over 20 years of international experience in sales, marketing and general management. Have had a significant role in growing several startups to successful exits (IPOs and acquisitions).

Brian MacDonald’s Specialties:

Carrier and OEM sales, distribution partnerships, mobile advertising sales, mobile content partnerships. Sector expertise in wireless carriers, handset OEMs, digital media and mobile advertising. Particular experience in the North American and European markets. Experienced at establishing and developing highly successful international sales operations.

Brian MacDonald’s Experience

Member, Board of Directors

Santa Cruz Film Festival

(Entertainment industry)

March 2009 — Present (5 months)
VP, Sales and Distribution

HearPlanet

(Wireless industry)

February 2009 — Present (6 months)

HearPlanet turns your cell phone into a talking travel guide.

After launching its first version on the iPhone In January of 2009, HearPlanet achieved 500,000 downloads in less than four months. Currently offering location-based content on 250,000 sites worldwide, HearPlanet uses the phone’s GPS to tell people what’s right around them, and offers modes for search and featured content. Apple recently requested a demo version of HearPlanet for use in their marketing and promotion initiatives.
VP, Worldwide Sales and Distribution

mywaves inc.

(Privately Held; Online Media industry)

August 2006 — February 2009 (2 years 7 months)

Mywaves wass a Menlo Ventures-funded startup staffed by senior executives from Yahoo, Napster, PayPal and Danger. The company's mission was to bring web video entertainment to mobile phones worldwide.

We launched a beta version of our service in December of 2006, and by Q4 2008 had signed up more than 30 million users in 200 countries.

I managed the team responsible for sales and distribution of the mywaves service. My role was to drive company revenues, primarily through mobile advertising and premium content sales. Advertising successes included campaigns for Coca Cola, Electronic Arts, Microsoft and Chevrolet.

I was also responsible for establishing distribution relationships with major handset OEMs and carrier partners. Distribution partners included Vodafone, Verizon/Alltel, Nokia and Sony-Ericsson.
Self-employed

private real estate investor

(Real Estate industry)

2003 — 2006 (3 years)

After several fortunate liquidity events, I took some time off to help out in the local schools and coach my sons' baseball, surfing and mountain bike teams.

In my spare time, I bought and renovated a number of houses and duplexes along the Central California coast. I continue to hold and manage these properties.
VP, Carrier Sales

Danger

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Computer Software industry)

2000 — 2003 (3 years)

Responsible for establishing relationships with wireless operators to sell the Danger Sidekick, an integrated mobile phone and wireless data device. This was a complex sales cycle, requiring carrier signoff on the Danger hardware, software, services and platform OS.

Ran the worldwide carrier sales team. Successes included T-Mobile (US), One (Austria), KPN (Netherlands) and Fido/Rogers (Canada).

In February 2008, Microsoft bought Danger for approximately $500M.
VP, IP Services

Global Telesystems, Ltd.

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Telecommunications industry)

1999 — 2000 (1 year)

Developed new value-added IP products (primarily hosting and ASP services) for this European telecommunications provider. Responsible for business planning, service development, sales channel training and revenues from these services.

Successfully launched and sold about $40M of services during this period.
VP, Marketing and Business Development

iPass, Inc.

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

1996 — 1999 (3 years)

iPass provides a global remote access service for corporations. Responsible for the full range of marketing activities at iPass, including developing corporate identity, product definition and development, PR and all outbound programs.

Established bundling and co-marketing relationships with Lucent and Cisco.

Successfully closed major buy/sell access agreements with Equant/France Telecom, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom and other carriers around the world. Negotiated and launched bundling and distribution agreements with Lucent and Cisco.
Managing Director, International Development

Netcom Online Communication Services, Inc.

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; NETC; Internet industry)

1995 — 1996 (1 year)

Netcom was one of the first large Internet service providers (ISPs) in the world. I was responsible for rolling out our US-based business model to additional countries. Successfully launched new ISPs in the UK and Brazil during my time there.

Netcom is now a part of Earthlink.
Managing Director, Consulting Group

Lotus Development

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; IBM; Computer Software industry)

1994 — 1996 (2 years)

Ran the Consulting Services operations for Lotus in two separate geographies: first in London, then in the Western US.

I was responsible for selling and delivering large-scale (multi-million dollar) Notes development projects for major corporations. Significant clients included AT&T, Compaq, HP and US West.

I arrived at Lotus after they bought my London-based software company, DMS.
CEO/Managing Director

DMS Ltd., London, UK

(Computer Software industry)

1992 — 1994 (2 years)

Grew this company from several developers to an organization of 50+ people. DMS provided strategic technology consulting and high-end systems development, with a focus on real-time trading applications for large European banks. Client list included Salomon Brothers, Barclays Bank and NatWest Bank.

Sold the company to Lotus/IBM in 1994.
Principal Consultant

BMS Ltd., London, UK

(Management Consulting industry)

1990 — 1992 (2 years)

Served as a strategy consultant to major European corporations, including British Telecom, Marks & Spencer, Barclays bank and France Telecom. Assignments included market launch planning, technology strategy and product definition.

BMS is now a part of the Capgemini Group.
Program Manager

Betac Corp.

(Defense & Space industry)

1985 — 1990 (5 years)

Provided special programs/special operations support to the US government. Supported organizations included DARPA, SOCOM, JCS, the DIA and other entities. Cleared to TS/SCI/SA levels.

Betac is now a part of Lockheed-Martin Corporation.

Brian MacDonald’s Education

Georgetown University

MA , Political Theory , 1985 — 1989
Oxford University, Balliol College

Fellowship , Philosophy , 1988 — 1988
University of California, Santa Barbara

BA , Economics, Political Science (double BA)

Activities and Societies:

Phi Delta Theta fraternity