—INRIX hired Chris Handley as vice president of product management and analytics. The former group head of analytics at Vodafone will lead the development of the company’s movement analytics.
“Chris understands the potential of mobile big data disruption and the fact that mobile operators need to partner with established analytics providers with sophisticated platforms to successfully monetize their assets,” said INRIX chief marketing officer Steve Banfield in a press release. “We look forward to applying his expertise in the development of innovative analytics products and services to help solve urban mobility challenges globally.”
Handley comes to INRIX from Vodafone, but has also held management positions at AT&T Wireless, GoAhead Software and Visio in his 20 years of experience.
—Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers will bring on Arielle Zuckerberg as an associate partner next month, TechCrunch has learned. The influential and successful venture capital firm has worked hard recently to introduce more diversity to the tech industry and add more youth to their team after missing out on funding newer tech companies.
Zuckerberg, 26, the younger sister of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, currently works as product manager with phone management app company Humin. She also served as a product manager for Google.
—Sears hired former Amazon executive Girish Lakshman as president of fulfillment, a new position overseeing supply chain and inventory. Lakshman previously led transportation and customer returns at Amazon, a rival Sears has struggled to keep up with in recent years.
“Girish’s strong operational discipline, process thinking and experience leading change make him a strong fit for Sears Holdings,” said Sears CEO Edward Lampert. “He will work closely with me and our supply chain and inventory management leaders to enhance our members’ experiences and support our transformation as an integrated retailer.”
During his career at Amazon, Lakshman moved up the leadership ladder roles in transportation, technology, logistics, operational and management.
—Whitepages hired former Google product lead Mayur Kamat to lead the company’s communications experience division. He’ll oversee improvements to Whitepages‘ caller ID and scam-protection apps.
In his time at Google, Kamat was part the Google Hangouts team, leading product and business strategy for Google Voice as it merged with Hangouts.
“Both Google Voice and Hangouts were built on the concept of leveraging a consumer’s mobile phone identity for communication services. Our mission at Whitepages is to give users control of their mobile identity as well as to foster a better understanding of how their data is represented to the world,” says Kamat.
Kamat will join the team at Whitepages’ headquarters in downtown Seattle.
—Broadside Digital added Bradley Schick and DJ Schwend to its board of advisors.
Schick is the chief technical officer and vice president of engineering at Skytap, a Seattle-based provider of self-service access to production-like environments in the cloud. He has also held leadership positions at Microsoft and Vizrea.
Schwend focuses on improving user-centered design at many firms around the world, including big names like Microsoft and BlackBerry, along with startups like Evri, Gist and Rival IQ.
—Novinium hired Mark Newton as vice president of engineering. Newton will help develop new products at the underground cable rehabilitation company.
“We are excited to have Dr. Newton lead our engineering group,” said Novinium CEO Glen Bertini. “His experience commercializing new technology platforms will accelerate the expansion of our technology portfolio and continue our commitment to innovation.”
Newton had a 17-year career at W.L. Gore & Associates, the company behind Gore-Tex, with roles in leadership and research departments. He also holds patents for testing devices and has participated in industry standards boards.
—Adaptiva hired Jim Souders as chief operating officer for the Microsoft administrator add-on provider where he’s responsible for streamlining and scaling operations.
Before his start at Adaptiva, Souders was general manager and vice president of sales at Dorado Software, helping the increase revenue and develop its SaaS delivery model.
He was also senior vice president of global field operations for Action Engine, which develops cross-platform smartphone apps.
