Vincent Tao

Current

• CEO at PPLive
• Senior Director, Microsoft Online Services at Microsoft

Past

• Board Director at Leador Spatial Information Technology
• Senior Director at Microsoft China
• Founder and CEO at GeoTango (acquired by Microsoft)

• Research Chair Professor and Founding Director of GeoICT Lab at York University
• U.N. Advisor and Consultant at United Nations
• Associate Professor at The University of Calgary
• Board Advisor at Gemsys Ltd
• Venture Officer at Government of Alberta
• Chief Technologist at Wuhan Guard High-Tech Inc.

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Education

• York University
• The University of Calgary
• Wuhan University

• Wuhan University

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Recommended

1 person has recommended Vincent

Connections

400 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Vincent Tao’s Summary

- Passionate entrepreneur and respected visionary. Nominated as ‘Canada Top 40 Under 40 Award’ in 2005 (National award for the most accomplished individual who is under 40 years old).
- Uniquely combined competency and record experience in business + technology.
- Hands-on executive management in high-tech industry, corporate strategy, business development, marketing, and M&A.
- Track record on building a successful organization and led GeoTango from a start-up to one of top innovators in on-line mapping (GeoTango was rated as the one of top 10 fastest growing Internet companies in 2005) and eventually to the Microsoft acquisition.
- Extensive knowledge/experience in international business management, global market expansion. As a Microsoft executive, established Microsoft China business in on-line local search and mapping, and mobile services from the ground-up.
- Deep knowledge and exceptional research development experience. World renowned pioneer in location based services and internet media technology. Authored numerous influential technical papers. Owner and inventor of dozens of technology licenses and patents.
- Frequently invited speakers at major conferences. Numerous mentions in media including TV interviews: CNN, Discovery Channel, CTV, BBC, ABC news, Space Channel; Radio interviews: CBC, Radio Canada, CFTB etc; magazines like Economist, GeoWorld, GIM; Newspaper: National Post, Globe and Mail, Northern Silicon Valley, etc; and blog posts, O’Reilly radar, blogspot, eWeek, etc.
- Accomplished individual honored with 26 awards or distinctions for achievements and innovations.

Vincent Tao’s Specialties:

Executive Leadership with Vision and Execution, Hands-on International Experiences (China/US/Canada), World-class Technology Innovator in consumer internet and mobile experiences.

Vincent Tao’s Experience

• CEO

  PPLive

  (Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

  May 2009 — Present (7 months)

  The largest online video media and technology company based in Shanghai China, with over 120 million user base and 35 million active users per month. It offers a full range of online video services including WebTV, video streaming, downloading, search and storage using unique p2p-IDC scalable infrastrucuture. PPLive owns the largest p2p networking resources in the world.
  Responsible for overall P&L, strategic directions, corporation management and operations.

• Senior Director, Microsoft Online Services

  Microsoft

  (Public Company; MSFT; Computer Software industry)

  December 2005 — Present (4 years )

  Global business and product strategy in Microsoft Online Serices (MSN Media, Local Search and Mapping, Mobile Services and Virtual Earth).
  Led a number of initiatives in software plus services for mapping and 3D Web, Location based services (LBS), Internet Yellow Page, social networking, digital media and on-line advertising and commerce.
  Led and initiated key strategic partnership and M&A deals Internationally.
  Oversaw the international market expansion, business development, engineering management in the Asian region including China, Taiwan, Japan, korea etc.

• Board Director

  Leador Spatial Information Technology

  (Information Technology and Services industry)

  June 2003 — 2009 (6 years )

  Co-funded the technology for the company on mobile street mapping. Leador is now the leader in China in street image mapping and services.
  www.leador.com.cn

• Senior Director

  Microsoft China

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MSFT; Computer Software industry)

  January 2008 — August 2008 (8 months)

  As an executive sponsor to the Microsoft’s int'l expansion program, built from the ground-up the Microsoft China business for on-line local search, mapping, Internet YP, and mobile search services; established the enteprise B2B marketing and sales business; oversaw the product strategies, biz development and go-to-market planning and execution. Launched the Virtual Earth services for both China and Taiwan, and secured major strategic partnership deals in Asian regions including China Telecom (China), China Central TV (CCTV) and Chong Hua Telecom (Taiwan).

• Founder and CEO

  GeoTango (acquired by Microsoft)

  (Information Technology and Services industry)

  2002 — December 2005 (3 years )

  Full P&L responsibility for GeoTango (www.geotango.com), a 3D Web company who pioneered the leading commercial 3D Earth visualization software, 'GlobeView' and the world's first image-based 3D modeling software from single satellite or aerial imagery, 'SilverEye'. The software has been sold to 18 countries and widely used by U.N., government agencies and large enterprises.
  'The most innovative geospatial mapping software of the year 2005' quoted by GeoInformatics Magazine.
  Named as one of the fastest growing software companies in 2005.
  GeoTango was acquired by Microsoft in 2005.

• Research Chair Professor and Founding Director of GeoICT Lab

  York University

  (Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  2001 — 2005 (4 years )

  Honored Canada Research Chair Professorship, the most prestigious rank in Canadian academia.
  Founded the largest research Lab in geospatial information and communication technology in North America.
  Led a team of researchers in technology development and research innovations, resulted in many technical inventions, patents, papers and technology licenses.
  Strong track record in research technology transfer (several technology transfer licenses to the private industry).
  Honored 'University and Industry Synergy Award of 2004' by National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

• U.N. Advisor and Consultant

  United Nations

  (Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; International Affairs industry)

  August 1998 — December 2005 (7 years 5 months)

  Canadian government appointed U.N. Advisor
  Advisory services for UN headquaters in global technology policy, strategy and development.

• Associate Professor

  The University of Calgary

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  January 1998 — November 2001 (3 years 11 months)

  Research in mobile mapping, web mapping/GIS and image-based feature extraction.
  Successfully transferred two technology inventions to the private industry, GeoEye (web-based on-line mapping system), 1999 and GeoATOMS (web-based nuclear power management system), 2000.
  Teaching in wide topics of geospatial information technology and GIS, PhotogrammetryHonored with Young Innovator Award, presented jointly by University of Calgary, Calgary Herald, Canadian Hunter Corp. and Petro-Canada Inc. 2000.

• Board Advisor

  Gemsys Ltd

  (Biotechnology industry)

  March 1999 — March 2000 (1 year 1 month)

• Venture Officer

  Government of Alberta

  (Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Government Administration industry)

  January 1997 — May 1998 (1 year 5 months)

  Manage the joint venture program for the Government of Alberta.
  Invest financially in high-return high-tech business joint venture projects jointly developed by the private industry and the Alberta Research Council.
  As a chief geomatics engineer, involved in the development of the world's first Imaging/Lidar airborne mapping system for 3D urban mapping. The technology of this joint venture project was acquired by PricisionMapping, a VC backed start-up company in early 1998.

• Chief Technologist

  Wuhan Guard High-Tech Inc.

  (Computer & Network Security industry)

  January 1994 — February 1995 (1 year 2 months)

  Responsible for product strategies and product development management

Vincent Tao’s Education

• York University

  Selected courses in business administration 2005 — 2005

• The University of Calgary

  PhD , Geospatial Information Engineering , 1995 — 1997

  Honored with numerous Awards:
  Robert E. Altenhofen Memorial Award, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), 1996.
  ISPRS Best Young Author Prize, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), 1996.
  SPIE Nikon International Award, International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 1996.
  Lockheed Martin Award on Image Processing, Lockheed Martin Corp., 1996.
  PhD Dissertation Nominated for the CAGS/UMI Distinguished Dissertation Award, Canadian University Association, 1997
  Jim Davery Award for Best Doctoral Paper, The Canadian Transportation Research Forum, 1997.
  Best Paper Award, The International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 1997
  NSERC Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship Award, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 1997
  Dean’s Special Doctoral Fellowship Award, Univ of Calgary, 1996
  Dean’s Special Award, Univ. of Calgary, 1995

• Wuhan University

  MSc , Computer Vision and Imaging Processing , 1990 — 1993

  The first place winner of Top Ten Best Young Researchers.

• Wuhan University

  BSc , Geospatial Engineering and Remote Sensing , 1986 — 1990

  Top graduate from the class (among 300 students).

Additional Information

Vincent Tao’s Interests:

"The Art of War" by Sunzi has been my business bible. Interested in reading, arts, golfing and skiing.

Vincent Tao’s Groups:

Executive Board Member, International Society for Digital Earth
Past Chair, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) WG on Multi-platform mapping and sensor networks
Past Chair, Softcopy photogrammetry committee at The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society
Past President, The International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Science (CPGIS), 2000-2001
Executive Board Director, Alberta Geomatics Group (AGG) 1998-2001
Advisory Board, Canadian Consortium for Lidar Environmental Applications Research (C-CLEAR)
Board Member, Canadian GeoConnection Program Technology Application Panel
Technology Advisor, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (formerly Atomic Energy Control Board), Ottawa, Canada
Technology Advisor, U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
Appointed Resource Person, United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD), Tokyo, Japan

•    BIA/Kelsey
•    Invest in China
•    Location Intelligence Conference
•    Mobile Marketing & Advertising
•    Microsoft Alumni (& Employees)
•    Microsoft - Current and Former Employees
•    Location-Based Services (LBS) Zone
•    GeoWeb Discussion
•    3D GeoInformation Professionals
•    Microsoft Employees in China
•    Microsoft Alumni in China

Vincent Tao’s Honors:

Canada Who is Who, 2006, 2007

Canada Top 40 Under 40 Nomination, 2005 (National level award for the most accomplished individual that is under 40 years old)

Talbert Abrams Grand Prize, The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society (ASPRS), 2004.

Ontario Premier Excellence Award, 2003, Ontario Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity & Innovation

NSERC University and Industry Synergy Award, 2002, NSERC

Young Innovator Award, presented jointly by University of Calgary, Calgary Herald, Canadian Hunter Corp. and Petro-Canada Inc. 2000.

Young Innovation Award, Canadian Foundation For Innovation, 1998.

Vincent Tao’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch