Robert J. Laikin
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Laikin, founder of BrightPoint, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since its inception in August 1989. Mr. Laikin has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 1994. Mr. Laikin was President of BrightPoint from June 1992 until September 1996 and Vice President and Treasurer of BrightPoint from August 1989 until May 1992. From July 1986 to December 1987, Mr. Laikin was Vice President, and from January 1988 to February 1993, President of Century Cellular Network, Inc., a company engaged in the retail sale of cellular telephones and accessories. His honors and awards include:
- Named to the Board of Directors for the Eskenazi Health Foundation
- Named to the Board of Directors for The Hundred Club of Indianapolis (assisting families of fallen police officers and firefighters)
- Trustee, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
- Inducted into the North Central High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010
- Recipient of the Indiana University William L. Haeberle Entrepreneurial Legacy Award for 2008
- Inducted into the Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame in 2008
- Received a Stevie Award for Best Turnaround Executive in 2007
- Recipient of the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Alumni Association (1999)
- Recipient of the Ernst and Young – INC Magazine Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year Award (1995)
- Received an honorable mention in 1995 Inc. Magazine National Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Former Board Member of United Way of Central Indiana
J. Mark Howell
President, Americas
Mr. Howell is the President of BrightPoint Americas. Mr. Howell had served as President of BrightPoint, Inc. since September 1996, President, Americas since March 2001 and was our Chief Operating Officer from August 1995 to April 1998 and from July 1998 to March 2003. He was Executive Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of BrightPoint from July 1994 until September 1996. From July 1992 until joining BrightPoint in 1994, Mr. Howell was Corporate Controller for ADESA Corporation, and prior thereto, was an accountant with Ernst & Young LLP.
Anurag Gupta
President, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Mr. Gupta joined BrightPoint as Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Business Development in April of 2003. Before joining BrightPoint, he worked for Motorola, Inc. Mr. Gupta has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry in leadership roles at Motorola and BrightPoint in multiple areas including: business development, business management, strategy, Investor Relations, corporate communications, strategic planning, product development & marketing, among other management roles. He also has experience working in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Mr. Gupta has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Toledo and a Masters of Business Administration from the IIT Stuart School of Business, Chicago.
R. Bruce Thomlinson
President, Asia Pacific
Mr. Thomlinson has served as President of BrightPoint's Asia Pacific division since October 1998. From October 1996 to October 1998, he was Managing Director of BrightPoint Australia. Since 2005, Mr. Thomlinson has also overseen various operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa during transition periods. Prior to joining the BrightPoint management team, Mr. Thomlinson held the position of Managing Director/Director for Hatadicorp Pty Ltd., a company he co-owned from 1989 until it was acquired by BrightPoint in October 1996.
Craig M. Carpenter
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Mr. Carpenter joined BrightPoint in 2000. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Carpenter served as BrightPoint's Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. Before joining BrightPoint, Mr. Carpenter served as Associate General Counsel and Vice President of Operations of ProValent, Inc. from 1999 to 2000, practiced law with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (formerly Sommer & Barnard P.C.) from 1996 to 1999 and practiced law with Kroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Carpenter earned his B.S., Business (Finance-Real Estate), and J.D./M.B.A. degrees from Indiana University.
Jac Currie
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Mr. Currie has served as BrightPoint's Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since November 2007. Prior thereto, he served as President, Emerging Markets from January 2006 until November 2007. From August 2002 to December 2005, Mr. Currie was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Persequor Limited, a holding company for investments in wireless telecommunications that BrightPoint subsequently acquired. From January 1998 to August 2002, Mr. Currie served as the Managing Director of BrightPoint Middle East FZE. Mr. Currie serves on the Board of Directors of several of BrightPoint's subsidiaries. He has been involved in the wireless industry since 1988, working in a variety of business development and general management roles in markets across South America, Europe, Africa and Asia for Millicom International Cellular [NASDAQ:MICC].
Vincent Donargo
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Mr. Donargo joined BrightPoint in September, 2005. Prior to assuming his current role as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mr. Donargo served as BrightPoint's Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller. Before joining BrightPoint, Mr. Donargo was the Strategic Business Unit Controller, Director of Finance and Corporate Controller of Aearo Company, a safety products manufacturing company. From 1990 to 1998, Mr. Donargo was employed in various financial positions with National Starch and Chemical Company, a specialty chemical manufacturing subsidiary of ICI Americas, Inc.
Larry Paulson
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Mr. Paulson serves as BrightPoint's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As BrightPoint CMO, Mr. Paulson is responsible for providing direction and coordination in the areas of strategic development, portfolio expansion through new products and services, establishing and managing relationships with key vendors and customers and executing on the global marketing plan. He also facilitates and drives BrightPoint's strategic commercial initiatives around the world. Mr. Paulson joins BrightPoint from Nokia, one of the world's leading mobile phone providers. He served in multiple roles during his 23-year career with Nokia including Global Senior Vice President and General Manager Devices CDMA in the Nokia Devices Business Group. In this role, Mr. Paulson designed, developed, launched and life cycled approximately 80 models of CDMA handsets in over 40 countries.
Robert L. Colin
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
Mr. Colin has more than 30 years of experience and leadership in the areas of accounting, auditing and financial reporting. He has extensive experience in public accounting as well as private industry. Before joining BrightPoint, Mr. Colin served as a partner for Deloitte & Touche LLP, Assurance since 1994. Mr. Colin is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.
Annette Cyr
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Ms. Cyr joined BrightPoint as Vice President, Human Resources for the Americas Region and assumed responsibility for Global Human Resources in December, 2003. Ms. Cyr has over 20 years of Human Resources experience with both public and private corporations. Most recently, she led the Human Resources function with ILX Lightwave Corporation, a leader in laser diode instrumentation and measurement. Prior to joining ILX, she held a number of positions with BP-Amoco. Ms. Cyr's experience includes managing Human Resources processes in dynamic environments. She has extensive experience overseeing international Human Resources operations as well as key strategic initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, succession planning, leadership development and executive compensation. Ms. Cyr earned a Masters degree in Personnel and Employment Relations and a Bachelors degree in Political Science and History, both from the University of South Carolina. She is active in the local community and is a board member of Aspire Indiana.
Jerre L. Stead
Director
Mr. Stead joined the BrightPoint Board of Directors in June, 2000 and currently serves as the Company's Lead Independent Director. He is also a member of the Company's Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and Compensation and Human Resources Committee. Since 2006, Mr. Stead has served as Chairman of the Board and CEO for IHS, one of the leading global providers of critical technical information, decision-support tools, and related services to customers in the energy, defense, aerospace, construction, electronics, and automotive industries. From 1996 until his June 1, 2000 retirement, Mr. Stead was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ingram Micro Inc., a leading distributor of computers and peripherals. Mr. Stead held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Square D Co., AT&T Global Information Solutions (NCR Corporation) and Legent Corporation. He also held numerous positions during a 21-year career at Honeywell. Mr. Stead is currently a Director for Armstrong Holdings, Inc., Conexant Systems, Mobility Electronics, Inc. and TBG Group. Mr. Stead is also Chairman of the Board for the Center of Ethics and Values at Garret Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Eliza Hermann
Director
Ms. Hermann has been a member of BrightPoint's Board of Directors since January, 2003. She is currently Chairperson of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee, and a member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Hermann also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of the National Health Service for Hertfordshire in the UK, where she is chairperson of the Finance and Performance Committee, and she holds a Crown appointment as an independent Civil Service Commissioner. She was formerly employed by BP plc from 1985-2008, where she served most recently as Vice President Human Resources at global headquarters for 7 years, and was previously part of the business leadership in the oil and gas exploration and production division for over 10 years. She has particular experience in developing and implementing business strategy, emerging market entry, mergers and acquisitions including pre-deal due diligence and post-deal integration, and in all aspects of human resources. Throughout her career, Ms. Hermann has focused on international business, having led projects in over 20 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the countries of the former Soviet Union, and in North and South America. She was instrumental in the establishment of several Joint Ventures in Russia and Central Asia, and during the late 1990's she was integrally involved in the merger of British Petroleum and Amoco Corporation, participating in the organization design and cultural integration of the two companies.
John F. Levy
Director
Since May 2005, Mr. Levy has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Board Advisory, a consulting firm that advises companies in the areas of corporate governance, corporate compliance, financial reporting and financial strategies. From November 2005 to March 2006, Mr. Levy served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Universal Food & Beverage Company, which filed a voluntary petition under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Act on August 31, 2007. From November 1997 to May 2005, Mr. Levy served as Chief Financial Officer of MediaBay, Inc., a NASDAQ company and provider of spoken word audio content. While at MediaBay, he also served for a period as its Vice Chairman. From March 2006 through April 2010, Mr. Levy was a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., a publicly traded company that develops, markets, distributes and publishes interactive entertainment software games. From November 2008 through June 2010, he was a director at Applied Natural Gas Fuels, Inc. (formerly PNG Ventures, Inc.), which, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production and wholesale distribution of vehicle-quality liquid natural gas in the western United States serving airports, public transit, refuse, seaports, regional trucking, taxis, and government fleets markets. Mr. Levy currently serves as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Applied Minerals Inc., a materials company focused on specialty clays, a member of the Board of Directors and Lead Director for Gilman Ciocia, Inc., a financial planning and tax preparation firm, and a member of the Board of Directors of Applied Energetics, Inc., a company which specializes in the development and application of high power lasers, high voltage electronics, advanced optical systems, and energy management systems technologies. Mr. Levy is a Certified Public Accountant with nine years experience with the national public accounting firms of Ernst & Young, Laventhol & Horwath, and Grant Thornton. Mr. Levy has a B.S. degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received his M.B.A. from St. Joseph's University (PA). Mr. Levy is also a board member and program chair for the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Cynthia L. Lucchese
Director
Ms. Lucchese has been a member of BrightPoint's Board of Directors since August 2009 and is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Lucchese was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hillenbrand effective February, 2008. From 2005 to 2007, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Thoratec Corporation. Prior to that, she worked 10 years for Guidant Corporation, now a part of Boston Scientific Corporation, in a variety of senior finance roles, including Vice President and Treasurer, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, and Vice President of Finance and Administration of the Guidant Sales Corporation. Ms. Lucchese also serves on the Audit Committee of the Indiana Sports Corporation, a not-for-profit entity.
Thomas J. Ridge
Director
Tom Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. During his tenure, Secretary Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide. Tom Ridge served as Secretary of this historic and critical endeavor until February 1, 2005. Twice elected as Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor Ridge's aggressive technology strategy helped fuel the state's advances in economic development, education, health care and the environment.
Richard W. Roedel
Director
Richard W. Roedel has been a director and Chairman of BrightPoint's Audit Committee since October 2002 and is a member of the Company's Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Roedel is a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Sealy Corporation, Lorillard, Inc., Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc. and Luna Innovations Incorporated. Mr. Roedel is also on the board and serves on the Audit Committee of IHS Inc. Mr. Roedel served in various capacities while with Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. from October 2002 to June 2005, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Roedel is also a director of the Association of Audit Committee Members, Inc., a non-profit association of audit committee members. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Roedel was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the accounting firm BDO Seidman LLP, the United States member firm of BDO International. Before becoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he was the Managing Partner of BDO Seidman's New York Metropolitan Area from 1994 to 1999, the Managing Partner of its Chicago office from 1990 to 1994 and an Audit Partner from 1985 to 1990. Mr. Roedel is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Michael L. Smith
Director
Michael L. Smith was appointed to the Board of Directors of BrightPoint in May, 2011. In addition to serving on BrightPoint's board, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors and audit committees of the following public companies: Kite Realty Group, Inc. (a REIT), hhgregg, Inc. (a home appliance and electronic retailer), Emergency Medical Services Corporation (a provider of emergency medical services) and Vectren Corporation (a diversified utilities company). Mr. Smith was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of WellPoint, Inc., from 1999 until he retired on January 31, 2005. He previously served as a director of the following publicly traded companies: Calumet Specialty Products Partners, InterMune Inc. and First Indiana Corporation (which was acquired by Marshall & Ilsley Corporation in 2008).
K.P. Wilska
Director
Kari-Pekka Wilska became a member of BrightPoint's Board of Directors in November, 2005. One of the cellular industry's true pioneers, Kari-Pekka "K.P." Wilska has been a driving force in Nokia's rise to its position as the largest wireless supplier in the world. Since joining Nokia in 1973, Mr. Wilska has held numerous management and marketing positions, serving in executive posts with Nokia Inc., Vertu Ltd., Nokia Mobile Phones, Nokia Cellular Systems, Nokia Telecommunications, Kinex Corporation and Mobira Oy. Mr. Wilska retired from Nokia in 2005. In November 2005, Mr. Wilska joined Austin Ventures as a venture partner. Mr. Wilska is on the Board of Directors of BrightPoint Inc. (Nasdaq: CELL), 724 Solutions Inc., BlackSand Inc., Sotto Wireless Inc., Mavenir Systems Inc., and PulseWave RF Inc. He served on the Board of Directors of Spectra Site Inc (AMT), Agere (LSI) and Zarlink Inc (ZL). Mr. Wilska also serves on the Boards of Dallas Opera and Fort Worth Opera. Mr. Wilska holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio and Television Technology from the Helsinki Institute of Technology. He was a recipient of the Electronics Engineering Association of Finland's bi-annual EIS Award in 1995, received the CTIA's President Award in 1999, was recognized by the Wireless Foundation with the Industry Achievement Award in 2002, and was appointed Engineer of the Year by the Engineering Association of Finland in 2003.
BrightPoint Leadership
