- Michael A. Neuman
-
Michael Neuman (born 1955) is a Canadian-born executive who has managed telecommunications and broadcast television companies in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA. In Canada, he formed and became CEO of WorldLinx Telecommunications Inc. and launched MediaLinx which formed the ISP Sympatico. He was CEO of satellite TV provider Bell ExpressVu and acted as President of Bell Mobility where he joined forces with Sir Richard Branson to launch Virgin Mobile Canada. He was President of Fortune 300 company EchoStar, which operates DISH Network in the U.S., and CEO of British telecom outfit iaxis prior to its sale to Dynegy Inc., in 2000. He has an advisory board role at Argosy Partners, a private Equity fund. He is an advisor to a satellite company called MSCI,[1] which has announced it will be launching a polar communications constellation composed of 78 microsatellites that will orbit the Earth. It's been named COMMSTellation.[2][3][4]
Michael Neuman, Elevest Corporation
Contents
Personal life
Neuman was born in Hamilton, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario in 1977 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science.
He is married with two children.
Associated corporations
V Band
In 1984, Neuman founded and became Managing Director of telecom startup V Band PLC in the United Kingdom. The company sold and installed trading room telecom systems for financial institutions in London's Square Mile. The company was sold to Telephone Rentals PLC in 1987.[5] Neuman joined the board of V Band Inc. in 1988 as Vice Chairman and was appointed CEO later that year.
WorldLinx
In the early 1990s, Neuman founded and became CEO of WorldLinx Telecommunications Inc. (a subsidiary of BCE Inc), a data communications company. On behalf of BCE, Neuman led the formation of the Beacon Initiative,[6] a 10-year, $8 billion upgrade to Canada’s fiber optic network. Under Neuman, WorldLinx also launched a subsidiary, MediaLinx, which in turn launched Sympatico.
ExpressVu / Bell ExpressVu
In 1994, Neuman formed and led a new satellite television business on behalf of a group of telecom and broadcast investors which became ExpressVu and later Bell ExpressVu, after becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE. Under Neuman, ExpressVu distributed Canada’s first national broadcast of High Definition programming,[7] the country’s first satellite internet service and the then-largest hockey programming line-up in the country, NHL Centre Ice. ExpressVu is now the third largest TV distributor in Canada.[8] Neuman resigned from Bell ExpressVu in November 1999.[9]
iaxis
In 1999, Neuman joined the British telecom firm iaxis as President and CEO with a mandate to build and operate a fiber optic network covering 12,000 miles through the major capitals of Europe. iaxis NV was sold in 2000 to Dynegy Inc.[10]
Teleglobe
In 2001 Neuman re-joined BCE as President Europe, Middle East and Africa of the European subsidiary of BCE’s Teleglobe Inc., a provider of global telecom services.[11]
Bell Mobility / Virgin Mobile
In 2002, Neuman assumed the leadership of BCE’s mobile phone operator Bell Mobility. In 2004, Neuman orchestrated the deal with Virgin Mobile to form a new, jointly owned property, Virgin Mobile Canada, launched in February 2005.[12]
DISH Network
In 2005, Neuman was appointed President and COO of EchoStar Corporation,[13] operator of the American satellite TV service provider DISH Network. At DISH, Neuman created a marketing sensation by offering free satellite TV service for 10 years to any city or town in the USA that would change its name to ‘DISH’. A Texas town subsequently did so.[14] Neuman resigned as President of EchoStar in February 2006.[15]
Magna Entertainment
In 2007, Neuman was recruited by Frank Stronach of Magna International with a mandate to reverse the fortunes of Stronach’s failing horse racing company Magna Entertainment Corp.[16] Neuman resigned after 5 months as the corporation’s 6th president in seven years. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009.[17]
Elevest Corporation
Elevest Corporation LogoNeuman founded the 100% privately held Elevest Corporation in 1995, a management consulting and venture capital firm.
Mobilicity
Mobilicity LogoIn 2009, Neuman joined the board of directors for Dave Wireless (Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless),[18] a newly formed mobile telecom company which held 10 licenses and intended to pursue a wireless strategy targeting more than half of Canada's population in 10 of the 13 largest markets including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa. On May 15, 2010 Dave Wireless was renamed Mobilicity and was launched in Toronto. Neuman remains on the board.[19]
iMarketing Solutions Group Inc.
iMarketing Solutions Group Inc.In April 2010, Neuman joined the board of directors at iMarketing Solutions Group Inc., a firm offering integrated benefit event planning, marketing and production services. In August 2011 Elevest was retained by iMarketing Solutions Group Inc. and Neuman was appointed interim managing director of the company.[20]
References
- ^ MSCI Strategic Advisory Board Page
- ^ Wallstreet Online article about COMMStellation
- ^ Euro Investor article about COMMStellation
- ^ COMMStellation article in the Toronto Star
- ^ Press release announcing sale of V Band to Telephone Rentals PLC, 1987
- ^ Advance Cultural Technologies Newsletter, 1994
- ^ Audio-Ideas.com
- ^ Digitalhome.ca
- ^ Hollywood Reporter article on Neuman resignation from ExpressVu, 1999
- ^ Press release announcing sale of iaxis to Dynegy Inc., 2000
- ^ Press release announcing Neuman appointment as CEO of Teleglobe, 2001
- ^ Press release announcing Bell Mobility / Virgin Mobile Partnership, 2005
- ^ Multichannel News Article on Neuman COO appointment at EchoStar, 2005
- ^ Press release announcing name change of Dish, Texas, 2005
- ^ Multichannel News Article on Neuman resignation from EchoStar, 2006
- ^ Toronto Star Article on Neuman appointment to Magna Entertainment, 2007
- ^ CBC Article on Magna Entertainment Bankruptcy, 2009
- ^ DAVE Wireless Press Release, 2009
- ^ Website page listing board of directors
- ^ Press release announcing appointment as interim Managing Director for iMarketing Solutions Group Inc., September 2011
Euroinvestor article about COMMStellation Wallstreet article about COMMStellation
Categories:- Businesspeople from Ontario
- Living people
- 1955 births
- Businesspeople in the telecommunications industry
- Canadian chief executives
- People from Toronto
- University of Western Ontario alumni
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
