Asset Finance Technology

Ian Charik has joined the management team at Cassiopae SAS as senior vice president of asset finance US, and asset finance director UK. His primary responsibilities include business development for Cassiopae’s leasing software in both the UK and US markets.

Charik has worked in the asset finance industry for some 30 years and has gained extensive experience in global markets including the US, Europe, Africa and China. Initially working for a finance company, Charik’s career has led him into management and executive positions with a major UK consulting company, a UK software company specialising in asset finance, entrepreneurial initiatives within the leasing industry and global sales and marketing.

Noel Webster, president of Cassiopae, explained that the company is seeking to grow in the US and UK. “Both markets,” he said, “are very interested in the advantages gained from a highly configurable, front-to-back solution that can manage multiple lease and loan products using a single system world-wide.”

The news comes as Cassiopae announced that is has been selected as part of The Situs Companies’ initiative to provide technology advances to the commercial real estate industry. Bruce Nelson, Situs’ global head of asset management explained: “The loan servicing software provides comprehensive commercial loan management. With a single point of entry, Cassiopae improves efficiency, eliminates redundant data, reduces errors and lowers maintenance and operating costs.”

Reproduced from Asset Finance International

Thomas L. Thomas, a long time software industry executive has joined the International Decision Systems® (“IDS”) management team and its board of directors as Executive Chairman.  In this role, he will work closely with both management and the board on the company’s global growth strategy.

Mr. Thomas brings more than 35 years of successful software industry executive leadership as both a software vendor CEO and a corporate CIO to IDS.  His most recent role was as President and Chief Operating Officer of GXS, Inc, a leading worldwide technology provider of business-to-business EDI and supply chain integration, synchronized and collaboration solutions.  Prior to its acquisition by GXS, Mr. Thomas served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Haht Commerce, Inc. a leading provider of demand chain management solutions. Mr. Thomas was also previously CEO and President of Ajuba Solutions, a provider of integration software, acquired by Interwoven.  Prior to this he was Chairman, President and CEO of Vantive Corporation, a public company and leading customer relationship management software vendor acquired by PeopleSoft.  Before joining Vantive, Mr. Thomas was SVP of E-Business and CIO at 3Com, Palm, Dell Computer, as well as VP at both Kraft Foods and Sara Lee.  Mr. Thomas also brings extensive board experience and currently serves as a director on three software company boards.

“IDS is a key portfolio investment for our firm and the addition of Tom Thomas reflects our commitment to bolstering the leadership team of this important and successful investment” said Nicholas E.  Somers, Managing Partner of SV Investment Partners, the private equity owner of IDS and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IDS board.  ”Tom will add a deep background in enterprise software to our management team and our experienced and accomplished board of directors which already includes technology veterans Michael Armstrong, former Chairman of Comcast Corporation and former Chairman and CEO of AT&T and Hughes Electronics, David Dobson, President, Pitney Bowes Management Services & EVP, Enterprise Sales and Solutions, Pitney Bowes Inc.and the former CEO of Corel, and Paul Lacy, former President of Kronos, Inc.”

“IDS has a strong and effective management team and an experienced board of directors, I am pleased to join them to help continue and expand the company’s long track record of market leadership,” said Tom Thomas.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with Tom’s decision to join our team,” said Todd Davis, CEO of IDS. “His tremendous leadership experience will be instrumental in assisting IDS to achieve the next phase of its growth.”