Jonathan Spira

Current

Chief Financial Officer at Blinkx

Past

President at J. Phineas International Corp.
Chief Financial Officer at Kapow Technologies
Chief Financial Officer at PacketHop, Inc.

Chief Financial Officer at Atrenta, Inc.
Board Director at eSubscriber, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer at ePeople, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer at Autonomy Corporation plc
Director, Business Planning and Finance at Walt Disney Company
Director, Strategic Planning & Market Finance at PepsiCo Corporation
Sr. Financial Analyst at Nestlé Food Company
Consultant, Merger and Acquisition Group at KPMG Peat Marwick

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Education

Cornell University - S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management
Kenyon College
Kenyon College

beverly hills high school

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1 more...

Recommended

8 people have recommended Jonathan

Connections

423 connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

Jonathan Spira’s Summary

Experienced Operations and Financial Executive. Former CFO of Kapow Technologies, PacketHop, Atrenta, ePeople and Autonomy. Also held positions with Walt Disney, PepsiCo and Peat Marwick.

In my capacity as Chief Financial Officer for technology companies, I have secured over $85 million in equity and debt financing and led a highly successful IPO.

Jonathan Spira’s Specialties:

- strategic planning, budgets & forecasts
- fundraising (equity & debt)
- revenue recognition
- GAAP accounting & regulatory standards compliance
- audit readiness
- key financial & non-financial metrics development
- capitalization & equity plan structure
- cash management
- intellectual property licensing, contracts & negotiations
- board & investor relations
- corporate governance best practices
- international operations expansion
- financial, operations & legal controls

Jonathan Spira’s Experience

Chief Financial Officer

Blinkx

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; BLNX; Internet industry)

September 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)

blinkx is the world’s largest and most advanced video search engine. blinkx has built a reputation as the Remote Control for the Video Web. Now, with an index of over 26 million hours of searchable video and more than 350 media partnerships, including national broadcasters, commercial media giants, and private video libraries, it has cemented its position as the premier destination for online TV.
President

J. Phineas International Corp.

(Management Consulting industry)

October 2001 — September 2008 (7 years )

J Phineas International provides experienced executive management on a part-time basis to help its clients optimize operating results, prepare for and execute through key milestones or manage explosive growth.
Chief Financial Officer

Kapow Technologies

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

November 2006 — August 2007 (10 months)

Kapow Technologies is a leader in Web Integration software; Operations in US, UK, Denmark and Germany.
- Closed Series B Financing; secured debt financing
Chief Financial Officer

PacketHop, Inc.

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Wireless industry)

January 2005 — November 2006 (1 year 11 months)

Wireless Mesh Networking solutions and applications for public safety, security and commercial video surveillance industries

Developed and implemented business model and all key financial, administrative and operations systems. Managed finance, accounting, legal, human resources, and operations. Closed Series C equity financing and established new bank debt facilities. Led executive team in development of Strategic Plan, AOP and implemented rolling forecasting. Created comprehensive set of standardized licensing and distribution agreements. Developed sales compensation plans, and contracting policies.
Chief Financial Officer

Atrenta, Inc.

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

March 2003 — September 2004 (1 year 7 months)

Electronic Design Automation software; operations in US, India, UK and France.

Formalized and developed all key financial, administrative and operations systems enabling company to double its bookings volume year over year. Managed finance, accounting, legal, human resources and operations. Closed two rounds (Series B & C) of equity funding and secured new debt facilities with commercial bank. Drafted and implemented comprehensive set of standardized licensing, distribution and OEM agreements. Developed sales compensation plans, sales and contracting policies. Implemented new Accounting and maintenance renewal/billing/revenue management systems.
Board Director

eSubscriber, Inc.

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry)

September 1999 — November 2001 (2 years 3 months)

online subscriber management and fulfillment solution for satellite TV providers
Chief Financial Officer

ePeople, Inc.

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)

January 2000 — March 2001 (1 year 3 months)

CRM, helpdesk automation
Developed strategic vision and business discipline in leading-edge software developer. Managed finance, administration and operations: financial and strategic planning, accounting, real estate and facilities, human resources, legal and business affairs and information technology. Reviewed, analyzed and approved all new business and technology investments and strategies. Primary liaison to venture investors and banking community. Negotiated and closed complex agreements. Implemented Oracle accounting system, business planning and forecasting processes. Established financial controls and operating systems.
- Developed and executed contingency operating plan that successfully reduced operating costs by 50%, yielding $10 million in savings.
- Negotiated and closed largest transaction in company history: $11 million.
Chief Financial Officer

Autonomy Corporation plc

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)

November 1997 — April 2000 (2 years 6 months)

Enterprise Knowledge Management

Spearheaded highly successful IPO in 1998 (EASDAQ:AUTN), which Red Herring referred to as "one of Europe's most successful public offerings of 1998”. Advised company on NASDAQ/NMS follow-on offering in April 2000 (NASDAQ:AUTN). Responsible for international investor and financial buy- and sell-side analysts relations; Prepared financial presentations and briefings for all investor and analyst communications and presented results to analysts, press and institutional investors at quarterly international road shows; Managed investment banking, legal, audit and tax advisory relationships; Established multi-currency treasury and banking facilities; Established operations in seven new international regions. Evaluated all new business opportunities including acquisitions of Norwegian and Benelux subsidiaries. Developed terms and negotiated agreements with major customers, third party distributors and OEM partners.
Director, Business Planning and Finance

Walt Disney Company

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; DIS; Entertainment industry)

June 1995 — November 1997 (2 years 6 months)

Director, Business Planning and Finance - US Software/Disney Interactive (1997)
Director, International Production - Disney Interactive (1996-1997)
Director, Strategic Planning - Edutainment/Disney Interactive (1996)
Director, Strategic Planning & Market Finance

PepsiCo Corporation

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; PEP; Food & Beverages industry)

June 1993 — June 1995 (2 years 1 month)

Director Strategic Planning & Finance for California Pizza Kitchen (division of PepsiCo)
Sr. Financial Analyst

Nestlé Food Company

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; NESN; Food & Beverages industry)

June 1992 — June 1993 (1 year 1 month)
Consultant, Merger and Acquisition Group

KPMG Peat Marwick

(Partnership; 10,001 or more employees; Financial Services industry)

January 1986 — January 1987 (1 year 1 month)

Consultant in Los Angeles KPMG office - Merger and Acquisition Group

Jonathan Spira’s Education

Cornell University - S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management

MBA , 1989 — 1991

Activities and Societies:

Co-founder: Johnson School Volunteers, Recipient: Cornell University Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award
Kenyon College

BA , Economics , 1981 — 1984
Kenyon College

1981 — 1984
beverly hills high school

1974 — 1978

Additional Information

Jonathan Spira’s Websites:

Jonathan Spira’s Interests:

vintage automobiles, Skiing, Basketball, Lacrosse

Jonathan Spira’s Groups:

Financial Executives International, Hillsborough Concours d' Elegance (Car Show chair 2003, 2004, 2005 & Car Advisory Committee chair 2002, 2005, 2006), AYSO (Coach and intermediate referee), Coyotes Lacrosse Club (Coach), Cornell Johnson School