Startup Weekend already hosts hundreds of events around the globe each year, and now the Seattle-based entrepreneurial education non-profit is looking to get even bigger. The organization just hired Ludovic Ulrich, the former global program manager for Microsoft’s BizSpark program, as chief development officer.
“Ludovic brings with him incredible experience and insight to help us continue developing our product offerings and finding world class partners to help us achieve our potential,” said Startup Weekend executive director Marc Nager. “Having worked with Ludovic since the very early days of Startup Weekend, we know he’s going to be an incredible addition to the team and bring tremendous value to our community.”
Startup Weekend is growing globally, but especially in Europe where Ulrich will be based part of the year and has deep roots. The organization hosts 54-hour coding marathons where teams of geeks develop and design new products.
“After 8+ years at Microsoft in Europe and most recently in Redmond as Global Program Manager for BizSpark, I am thrilled to join the terrific Startup Weekend crew to help disrupt the way the world is approaching entrepreneurial education,” he tells GeekWire. “I can’t wait to contribute now full-time and bring new partners onboard.”
Glympse, the mobile application that allows users to privately share their locations with friends, family or co-workers, has named former Amazon.com employee Mikky Anderson as director of engineering. It’s big hire for the company, which has grown to 17 and recently relocated to new offices in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Anderson most recently worked at Amazon.com as a Principal Technical Program Manager, and before that spent nearly 20 years at Microsoft. Glympse raised a $7.5 million round from Ignition Partners and Menlo Ventures last year.
Microvision announced Friday that Jeff Wilson has resigned as CFO, and that the Redmond maker of miniature projectors is now looking for a replacement. Wilson joined Microvision in 1999, and was appointed CFO in 2006. He previously worked at Siemens Medical Systems. Shares of Microvision dropped 12 percent on the news.
Microsoft has named Hollywood executive Nancy Tellem, the former president of CBS Network Television Entertainment Group, to the position of entertainment & digital media president. She will report to Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. As part of her role, Tellem will oversee the launch of a new production studio in LA, which will develop interactive content for the Xbox and other devices.
“I am excited to be a part of the continued evolution of Xbox from a gaming console to the hub of every household’s entertainment experience,” Tellem said in a release. “The Xbox is already a consumer favorite, and we now have a tremendous opportunity to transform it into the center of all things entertainment — from games, music and fitness to news, sports, live events, television series and movies — so consumers have one destination for all their entertainment needs.”
At CBS since 1997, Tellem supervised the development of “CSI,” “Survivor,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The King of Queens.” She was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2006, and named to Forbes’ 2008 list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.” The LA Times has more on the appointment, calling it a “significant bet that a technology company can compete with Hollywood to produce original video content.”
Seattle public relations veteran Anne Marshall has joined T-Mobile USA as director of strategic communications.
Hydrovolts, a maker of hydrokinetic turbines that generate renewable energy from water canals and water treatment plants, has named Anil Shrikhande as a senior advisor. He most recently retired as chairman and president of Rolls-Royce India, and at one time served as president of Boeing India and led Boeing Ventures. He will assist the company with overseas expansion in India and Asia. “Anil’s appointment is a timely addition as we make the transition from prototype development to full-scale commercialization,” said CEO Burt Hamner. “His global experience and relationships bring expertise at a critical time as our products generate international interest.”
Former Amazon.com executive Erich Ringewald has joined American Express, helping the financial giant oversee its consumer products. He most recently oversaw the technology at mobile payments company Boku, where he served as co-founder and CTO. At Amazon.com, he served as general manager and vice president responsible for the company’s third-party seller platform, Amazon Auctions and its global payments platform. From 1985 to 1991, he worked at Apple.
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