Philip Beck, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer — Philip Beck, 47, founded the Company in 1999 with the intention to solve the problems faced by multi-national Merchants in accepting multi-currency credit card payments where the Merchants’ banks, credit card Processors and payment networks were unable to provide effective payment solutions. Mr. Beck has led the Company since its inception, developing and refining the Company’s strategy, in particular, the Company’s approach to multi-currency processing and developing the Company’s business relationships. Mr. Beck has over 18 years’ experience as an international banking and corporate lawyer working with a range of businesses from start-ups to multinational corporates, practicing in New York from 1984 to 2001. As a partner in New York law firms, Mr. Beck represented a number of international banking institutions. Mr. Beck received his law degree from London University in 1981 and is admitted to practise law in New York USA, England and Wales and the British Virgin Islands.
Graham Arad, Director, SVP and General Counsel — Graham Arad, 48, is an experienced international lawyer practising principally in the area of corporate and commercial law. Mr. Arad has been the Company’s General Counsel since its founding in 1999 and has supervised the legal aspects of the Group’s business since that time. Mr. Arad was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1983, and has been practising as an attorney in New York since 1991, and in the British Virgin Islands since 1995. Mr. Arad was a partner in law firms in London, New York and the British Virgin Islands for over 20 years in total and obtained his law degree from London University.
Paul Noblett, Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives — Paul Noblett, 60, is President of Noblett & Associates, Inc. a 12 year old business development and systems consultancy focused on the credit card and communications industries and became a director of the Company in 2000. Mr. Noblett was Executive Vice President of Operations and Sales for NaBanco (National Bankcard Corporation) from 1989 to 1992, at the time a major processor of Merchant credit card sales, and the predecessor to First Data Merchant Services, Inc.. Prior to NaBanco, Mr. Noblett was the General Manager of MasterCard’s worldwide operations for six years and was responsible for building their international network known as Banknet. In addition to his position as a director of the Company, Mr. Noblett sits on the boards of Diversified Acquiring Solutions, Inc., Electrum Corporation, YapStone Inc. (doing business as Rent Payment), 2020 Advisors LLC, Resource Finance Company, and Kincaid Technologies, Inc. Mr. Noblett is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he majored in economics and mathematics.
Cameron McColl, Non Executive Director — Cameron McColl, 47, has significant experience in setting up and developing new companies. An electrical engineer by training, Mr. McColl has worked for firms such as Medtel (pty) Limited, Ferranti Radar Limited, National Semiconductor Limited and Advanced Micro Devices Limited. In 1989, Mr. McColl founded McColl McGregor Limited, Scotland’s first high technology call centre operation, specialising in the technology and finance sectors. In 1993, Mr. McColl co-founded Memory Corporation plc, a high technology semiconductor design group, which was listed on AIM in 1995, and served as CEO until 1996. In 1994, Mr. McColl co-founded Telecom Service Centres Limited (‘‘TSC’’) and served as Chairman until 1998. TSC was sold in 2004, at which time Mr. McColl resigned. Since 1996 Mr. McColl has been involved in commercial real estate investment, as an investor in and director of Shawhead Limited. Mr. McColl resides in Edinburgh, Scotland and previously served as a non-executive director and the Chairman of the Board of the Company from 1999 to 2001. Mr. McColl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Edinburgh University.
Jonathan Kaiden, Non Executive Director — Jon Kaiden, 40, has been a principal and founding member of Sopris Capital Associates, LLC since 2003 (Sopris is principally owned by Andrew Paul, one of the holders of Preferred Shares). Mr. Kaiden has more than 15 years of private equity and investment banking experience, with a strong focus on healthcare and information technology. Prior to joining Sopris Capital, Mr. Kaiden spent the prior twelve years as an investment banker and securities attorney focusing on corporate finance and mergers & acquisitions. After beginning his investment banking career at S.G. Cowen, Mr. Kaiden became a vice president with The Seabury Group, a boutique merchant banking group geared toward helping middle market companies obtain private equity and venture capital. Mr. Kaiden then headed Josephthal & Co.’s healthcare investment banking practice for the years prior to joining Sopris Capital. Prior to receiving his MBA, Mr. Kaiden practiced corporate and securities law for three years at the New York law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. Mr. Kaiden holds an MBA, with honors, from Columbia Business School (1996), and J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School (1991). Mr. Kaiden obtained his undergraduate degree, a B.A. in government, from Cornell University (1988).
Barbara Thomas Judge, Non Executive Director – Lady Judge is a lawyer, international banker and entrepreneur. She is currently Chairman of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Deputy Chairman of both Friends Provident plc and the Financial Reporting Council. Additionally, Lady Judge is a non-executive director of Quintain Estates and Development PLC and PA Consulting Group amongst others. Lady Judge also serves as Chairman of the Governing Body of the School of Oriental and African Studies and as a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts and of The Wallace Collection. Lady Judge started her carreer as an attorney in private practice and became a partner at the New York firm of Kaye Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler, in 1978. In 1980 she was appointed a Commissioner of the US Securities & Exchange Commission, the youngest person to be appointed to the position and became Chairman of the SEC’s Special Committee on Internationalisation of the Securities Markets. She subsequently became a main board director of News International plc and Samuel Montagu and Co., when she resided in Hong Kong from 1983-1987. Lady Judge obtained a B.A. in History from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated second in her class, when receiving her J.D. with honours at the New York University Law School.