Richard Webb – Chief Executive Officer and Director
A co-founder of ASOC8, Richard founded Red Ocean in early 2006 which in turn founded, incubated, and/or funded a number of interactive media companies
including BlueFreeway (www.bluefreeway.com), MeshBay (www.meshbay.com), Effective Measure (www.effectivemeasure.com), and The Inspiration Room (www.theinspirationroom.com).
Richard founded BlueFreeway in 2006, became its first CEO, and listed the company on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 2006. BlueFreeway has now one of the world’s largest independent, global digital and interactive marketing communications companies made up of 25 companies and 540 staff servicing 1,500 publishers and advertisers in all continents through sales offices in 25 cities and 20 countries. Under his leadership, BlueFreeway launched blu. — a patented world first marketing portal designed specifically for marketing professionals to collaborate, network, and execute interactive communication initiatives.
Prior to establishing Red Ocean, Richard successfully developed a number of global publicly listed and private companies. In 2005 and 2006, as CEO of Citect (ASX: CTL), he restructured and re-aligned the global Australian publicly listed industrial automation software company, to launch a number of patented new products, expand its geographic presence to 80 countries, achieve record revenue and profits, and deliver a three-fold increase in its share price prior to its successful trade sale to the French publicly listed industrial conglomerate, Schneider Electric. Before becoming CEO of Citect, Richard was the President of Asia Pacific and Latin America of Nielsen post the successful trade sale of Red Sheriff to Nielsen in 2004.
Prior to joining Nielsen//NetRatings, Richard was the CEO for the public unlisted Australian company, Red Sheriff, for five years. Under Richard's leadership, Red Sheriff grew its revenue thirty-fold, raised product development and expansion capital in New York and London, expanded its global presence from a start-up in Australia to become the world's largest web analytics and market intelligence provider servicing over 1,200 clients in 52 countries, and developed and launched a suite of patented software and technology application services.
Previously, he served as the Managing Director – Australasia for Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) and CEO – Asia Pacific for Cott Corporation (NYSE: COT). He has also held various senior management roles in Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and the Middle East with Lion Nathan (ASX: LNN), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), and Anheuser Busch (NYSE: BUD).
Richard holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Syracuse University in New York. He is a licensed professional engineer in New York and Florida and maintains dual US/Australian citizenship.
During his spare time he enjoys his four children, match race sailing, snowboarding, enduro motorcycling, water skiing, tennis, golf, and owns and operates a vineyard in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney.
richard.webb@asoc8.com