The management team has a depth of experience in web based business models, successful on-line services, search engine optimisation, marketing communications and operational management.
Jeff Mitchell, CTO, Board Director and Company Founder
Jeff helps lead voeveo’s business strategy as a board member and leads voeveo’s strategic technical direction as the CTO. With over 10 years of experience in web application development and management, he started his career while e-commerce was a new and emerging field. As internet technologies evolved, Jeff developed highly scalable websites and social networking platforms using the best fit web technology for the project. Experienced in a broad range of multi-media technologies, his work has extended into television and mobile environments.
Jeff also ran his own specialist web development company for several years working with award-winning advertising and web design agencies.
Recognising early on that the mobile space was a significant and emerging market, Jeff developed the business strategy and technical foundations for voeveo.com. Today, Jeff leads a team of developers implementing his vision for an easy to use, fully featured, community marketplace. As a passionate user advocate he also works closely with the community team; he believes that to run a successful web solution, technology should always support users not dictate to them.
Jeff’s insight into emergent technologies can be found on his blog: www.squared99.com. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Computer Science from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Jane Pollitt, COO, Board Director and Company Founder
Jane’s career has spanned the government and private sectors and specialised in aligning organisational activity with long-term strategy and vision. Jane has worked closely with Chief Executives and their boards to manage internal and external issues through effective communications and people strategies. She has strong skills in project and team management and has led groups through team turnarounds.
For the past three years Jane has been involved with the mobile content industry managing the governance and compliance, and financial operations for voeveo.
Jane says, “I’m a future focussed person, I like to work on business strategy and be clear about the steps we need to take and why. But I’m also pragmatic, you have to be flexible in this industry and be prepared to make changes to your line of sight so we keep on the crest of this great wave.”
Jane has a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand majoring in English and Geography.
Jen Porter, Investment and Business Relations Director and Company Founder
Jen, a business consultant, has worked on major international projects for the private and state sector including the privatisation of New Zealand’s telecommunications arm to Bell Atlantic and Ameritech Corporation (now Telecom New Zealand). She has been contracted by national and international consultancies to manage public relations and marketing communication assignments in commercial and political sectors.
She has worked in the mobile content industry for the past 3 years negotiating partnerships with voeveo’s major sellers in the UK.
Jen says, “I like business development, fund raising, forming relationships and making things happen. The fast moving environment of mobile content and technology is an exciting industry to be in and I want voeveo to be out front leading.”
She has a Master of International Relations (Merit) and is currently completing her Doctorate at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Annabel Youens, Community Director and Company Founder
Annabel has been working with e-commerce sites and online social communities before they were buzz words. As employee #11 at Abebooks.com, one of the largest and earliest online marketplaces, she worked across all aspects of member relations. As a Product Marketing Manager Annabel was responsible for tailoring the book-selling platform to meet the needs of the seller and buyer community. This included: managing the bookseller advisory board, handling seller feedback on legal and contractual changes, working closely with the business analysts to scope system changes, scoping projects with the development team on continuous UI and transactional system improvements as well as managing the marketing team responsible for site content, promotions and competitions.
After a successful merger with German based Just Books, Annabel helped integrate their systems and websites, resulting in French, German and British versions of their service.
Over the past 3 years Annabel has applied this valuable experience to growing and developing the voeveo community. She also designs and manages the online marketing initiatives and works hard to continually improve the complete online experience for all voeveo visitors and users.
Annabel also pursues her passion for writing and connecting communities on her blog www.annabelyouens.com. Annabel has a Bachelor of Arts with a Minor in Writing from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.