- Derek Handley
-
Derek Handley (born 1978 in Hong Kong) is a New Zealand entrepreneur and currently CEO of The Hyperfactory. Derek attended Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), Massey University (New Zealand) and the MIT Sloan School of Management. In 2009 Handley was named the Ernst & Young Young Entrepreneur of the Year in New Zealand.[1] Handley was named one of the 40 Most Influential People in New Zealand Telecommunications in 2005 and 2006 and awarded the 2006 Price Waterhouse Young Achievement of the Year.[2] In 2007 he was nominated as the National Business Review Top 60 Innovators of 2007.[3]
In 2011 Handley was named a New Zealand 2011 Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust [4].
Derek Handley and The Hyperfactory
In 2001, Handley founded global mobile marketing and media company The Hyperfactory[5] with his brother Geoffrey Handley. According to the Company's website, The Hyperfactory claims to "power brands and businesses through the mobile medium" for clients such as BlackBerry and Coca Cola. In July 2009 the founders sold a 19.9% stake to Des Moines, Iowa based media and marketing company Meredith Corporation.[6] The valuation was not disclosed; the New Zealand Herald cites a valuation range of NZ$55–60m[7]. In 2010 Meredith Corporation acquired the remainder.
The Hyperfactory won six Webby Awards in 2009 [8] placing them second in the inaugural 'Global Webby Agency of the Year' award. The company was nominated for more awards in the Global Mobile Marketing Association Awards in 2007 than any other company in the world[9] and won two. In 2008 The Hyperfactory won the most awards (five) [10] including two global categories. The company has also won the top awards Best in Show at 2007 OMMA Awards and Best in Show at 2007 AdWeek Awards.[11]
Other Ventures
Derek is Chairman and investor in Booktrack, a company that has created the idea of soundtracks for books; is also backed by Peter Thiel and described by The Atlantic as 'the future of reading' [12].
Prior to launching The Hyperfactory, Handley founded a global online sports and racing betting business, Feverpitch. At the age of 22, Handley became New Zealand's youngest managing director[13] of a listed company when he led Feverpitch to list on the venture-style 'New Capital Market' of the New Zealand Stock Exchange. The company subsequently launched ‘betting exchanges’ around the world similar to the business Betfair but eventually floundered.
In 2003 Handley led a merger of several major players in the New Zealand childcare sector to form Kidicorp [14] Group Limited. The company was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange as the largest national operator with more than 75 childcare centres throughout the country.
Handley is also the co-founder and owner of luxury basics cashmere label To Sir With Love.[15]
Handley is an active speaker in the entrepreneurship, marketing and digital industry, having spoken at events around the world including ad:tech, Mobile Marketing Association Forums, OMMA, iMedia, Informa, CTIA, Consumer Electronics Show, Mobile Entertainment Forum and iHollywood.
Notes
- ^ "Young Entrepreneur of the Year". Television New Zealand. 23 October 2009. http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/young-entrepreneur-year-4-13-3090184. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.hitech.org.nz/previous-winners.html
- ^ "Information Technology and Communications". National Business Review. 11 September 2007. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/information-technology-and-communications. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/leadership/awards/2011_awards/
- ^ http://www.thehyperfactory.com
- ^ "The Hyperfactory sells strategic stake to Meredith Corp". 3 News. 22 July 2009. http://www.3news.co.nz/News/BusinessNews/The-Hyperfactory-sells-strategic-stake-to-Meredith-Corp/tabid/421/articleID/113446/cat/52/Default.aspx. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ Parker, Tamsyn (22 July 2009). "US stake in Hyperfactory coup for Kiwi brothers". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entrepreneurship/news/article.cfm?c_id=190&objectid=10585880. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ Hall, Mitchell (6 May 2009). "Hyperfactory and Xero big winners at 'online oscars'". National Business Review. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/hyperfactory-and-xero-big-winners-online-oscars-102028. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ http://mmaglobal.com/?q=node/2131
- ^ http://www.adweekmedia.com/aw/content_display/custom-reports/mma-awards-guide/e3i5cb311a1dabd62638c532ef60f03b4f5
- ^ http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/creative/features/e3ic1abd1883d2156375c76d1de0b33fe35
- ^ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/08/books-with-soundtracks-the-future-of-reading/244344/
- ^ Griffin, Peter (16 January 2002). "Betting exchange offers investors a safer punt". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=636672. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.kidicorp.co.nz/
- ^ See http://www.tosirwithloveonline.com
Categories:- MIT Sloan School of Management alumni
- New Zealand businesspeople
- Victoria University of Wellington alumni
- 1978 births
- Living people
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