Paul Onnen

Past

• EVP Technology/CTO at Expedia, Inc.
• Director, Advisory Services at Cisco Systems
• SVP/Chief Technology Officer at WebMD Health

• EVP/Chief Technology and Information Officer at Nordstrom.com
• President/Chief Technology Officer at Punch Networks
• VP of Research and Development at J. River, Inc.

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Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• St. Olaf College

Recommended

3 people have recommended Paul

Connections

285 connections

Industry

Internet

Paul Onnen’s Summary

Senior Technology Executive (CTO/CIO) with over 21 years of experience directing, developing, and executing innovative software, hardware, and web-based products/services for leading organizations including Expedia, WebMD, Nordstrom.com, and Intel. Recognized expertise in traditional software/hardware development functions, as well as emerging Internet technologies and computer privacy/security issues. Able to bring world-class strategic leadership to a company’s global technology operations and achieve highly challenging business and profitability objectives.

* Named CTO of the Year in the Retail Sector by InfoWorld, in addition to acknowledgement as one of the Top 25 Most Influential CTOs in the country by CTO Magazine.
* Led effort to re-architect and successfully launch a new version of the Expedia.com platform, the largest such project in the company's history.
* Directed successful full-scale redesign and launch of Nordstrom.com’s e-commerce site and B2B system, resulting in numerous awards and record sales revenues.
* Capable of building and overseeing leading-edge research and development functions, including off-shore development centers
* Extensive network of contacts within the high technology and VC communities, combined with experience leading mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances, and capital formation initiatives.
* Superior communication skills including specific training in public speaking and media relations.
* Holder of six technology patents and six additional patent applications.

Paul Onnen’s Specialties:

Technology strategy, management, budgeting, organizational design, product innovation, architecture, product development

Paul Onnen’s Experience

• EVP Technology/CTO

  Expedia, Inc.

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; expe; Internet industry)

  May 2005 — September 2007 (2 years 5 months)

  CTO for Expedia, Inc, the world’s largest on-line travel agency (OLTA). In charge of all technology, software development, and IT operations for all Expedia properties, including Expedia.*, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, NewTrade, et al..
  
  Reporting directly to CEO, provide strategic leadership to 1000 engineering and IT employees in six locations globally. Develop company-wide technology vision, strategic roadmap, and goal alignment with the businesses. Responsibilities also include platform and IT strategy, architecture, and formation of a PMO. Corporate officer, serve on corporate executive committee. Provide due diligence support for major acquisitions. Manage $220M technology budget. Chair patent review committee.

• Director, Advisory Services

  Cisco Systems

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; CSCO; Information Technology and Services industry)

  May 2004 — May 2005 (1 year 1 month)

  Led high-level strategic consulting engagements with Cisco’s top worldwide accounts.
  
  Provided leadership to newly formed team of senior professional service consultants providing strategic technology, business, and risk management services to largest Cisco accounts worldwide. Customers included Microsoft, Ford, Home Depot, Caterpillar, Deutsche Bank, and Union Bank of California.
  
  Functioned as a team leader and technical subject matter expert in large, complex “C” level engagements. Provided thought leadership in business governance, business process re-engineering, extensible architectures, and IT infrastructure services including network, data center, security, and mobility. Developed professional services offerings portfolio, best practices, and intellectual capital. Drove revenues through business development, repeat business, and sales pull-through. Met revenue, utilization, and realization goals while maintaining 100% customer satisfaction and service delivery quality.

• SVP/Chief Technology Officer

  WebMD Health

  (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; HLTH; Online Media industry)

  February 2003 — May 2004 (1 year 4 months)

  Recruited at the executive level to create and implement a new technology strategy for the world’s largest consumer and physician health portals.
  
  Reported to the CEO of the online division of WebMD, a $700MM publicly traded company, with responsibility for designing/architecting all core applications including a new content management system, CRM system, and data warehouse. Led all software development, data center, and operations support and maintenance. Provided leadership guidance for HIPAA security and privacy compliance. Quickly came up to speed on complex technology environment (Microsoft and UNIX) inherited from over 30 corporate acquisitions. Instituted production change management and quality processes and controls. Assessed technology engineering team in three locations, quickly made appropriate staffing changes, and reorganized technology team for increased efficiency.

• EVP/Chief Technology and Information Officer

  Nordstrom.com

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Apparel & Fashion industry)

  December 1999 — February 2002 (2 years 3 months)

  Oversaw all technological development and execution of Nordstrom.com, the leading online retailer of quality fashion apparel.
  Directed and administered all stages of technological development for two scalable and highly trafficked sites, from pre-conception to launch and ongoing updates. Designed, developed, and implemented award-winning re-launch of site, resulting in record $1MM in single-day sales, up from less than $1MM in sales per entire year. Developed EDI- and XML-based backend, automating inventory updates, orders, and shipment confirmations. Served as chief architect for new product development, including Inventory Management System. Provided production support, upgrades, and maintenance of all legacy systems at headquarters, call center, and fulfillment center. Systems include CRM, ERP, WMS, and custom systems on IBM AS/400, HP3000, Windows, and Unix platforms.

• President/Chief Technology Officer

  Punch Networks

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

  July 1998 — December 1999 (1 year 6 months)

  Recruited to manage all corporate IS functions for this startup software firm developing secure Internet-based file collaboration products and services.
  Conceptualized and implemented complete reorganization of primary product line, from packaged software applications to web-based ASP. Designed and developed secure, browser-based software. Authored business plans, reports, and patent applications. Purchased, installed, configured and tested all production hardware. Assembled and managed a qualified staff of 45. Managed human resources, payroll, and salary and performance reviews. Authored monthly board reports, and participated in business development and sales presentations with potential customers and partners.

• VP of Research and Development

  J. River, Inc.

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

  January 1996 — July 1998 (2 years 7 months)

  Managed all research, new and existing product development, quality assurance, and technical support for J. River, Inc., a provider of secure Internet content distribution software.
  Released two new versions of industry-leading terminal emulation package before playing instrumental role in expanding corporate vision to expand product offering. Served as lead architect on development of all new security products including Internet firewall application, network monitoring and troubleshooting utilities, and Music Exchange secure content distribution system (http://www.musicex.com). Provided system architecture, design, and programming for content distribution system. Hired and supervised developers, orchestrated relocation of office, and managed multi-million dollar budget.

Paul Onnen’s Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  MS, Computer Science, September 1984 — May 1986

• St. Olaf College

  BA, Math, Physics, 1980 — 1984

Additional Information

Paul Onnen’s Groups:

•    Linked:Seattle
•    St. Olaf College Alumni Group
•    Expedia Inc - Alumni and Employees
•    WebMD|MedScape Alumni and Friends!
•    Expedia Expatriates
•    J. River Alumni

Paul Onnen’s Honors:

InfoWorld Award: CTO of the Year in the Retail Sector.
CTO Magazine award: Top 25 Most Influential CTOs.

Patent: “Digital Certificates Containing Multimedia Data Extensions,” granted 12/1995.
Patent: “Object-Based Digital Signatures,” granted 2/1997.
Patent Application: “Method and System for Storing Multiple Media Tracks in a Single, Multiply Encrypted Computer File,” filed 1/2002.
Patent Application: “Digital Tokens and System and Method Related to Digital Tokens,” filed 1/2002.
Patent Application: “Method and System for Licensing Digital Works,” filed 1/2002.
Patent Application: “Licensed Digital Material Distribution System and Method,” filed 5/2002.
Patent Application: “Method and System for Providing Remote Access to the Facilities of a Server Computer,” filed 8/2002.

Paul Onnen’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

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