Jesper Balser

Jesper Balser co-founded Navision in 1984 together with two college friends. Headed by Jesper Balser, the company grew over the next 18 years from a small Scandinavian business to an international provider of business software for medium-sized companies. This growth included a successful stock market IPO in 1999, a well-organized merger with Damgaard in 2000 and culminated with Navision being acquired by Microsoft in 2002. After ensuring a smooth transition from Navision to Microsoft, Balser left the company to pursue other interests.

Preben Damgaard

Preben Damgaard co-founded Damgaard Data A/S in 1983. Its objective was to develop user-friendly integrated enterprise solutions. In October 1999, Damgaard A/S was successfully listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. The offering was oversubscribed by more than 16 times. As a leading provider of end-to-end e-commerce and collaborative business solutions for medium-sized companies, the new organization boasted a global customer base of more than 121,000 installations and a strong international sales channel of more than 2,000 business partners, a presence in 25 countries and over 1,000 employees. In 2002 in their largest purchase to date, Microsoft Corporation acquired Damgaard/Navision for USD 1.55 billion in cash and shares, thereby founding a new division within Microsoft – Microsoft Business Solutions. Preben Damgaard became Vice President, Europe/Middle East/Africa Operations as well as a member of the European management team at the company’s European headquarters in Paris. In 2003 Preben Damgaard left Microsoft to spend more time with his family and to pursue other interests.

Neal Dempsey

Neal Dempsey is Managing Partner of Bay Partners in the US and joined the early stage venture capital firm in 1989 after a varied business career, including five years as Chief Executive Officer of Qubix Graphics Systems, one year as Chief Executive of Envision Technology, and several senior management positions with Zentec and Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS). Neal received his BA degree from the University of Washington’s School of Business Administration. He remains actively involved with the school as a member of the Business School Advisory Board and as a director of the University’s Foundation. Neal also serves as a Trustee at Claremont McKenna College and is Chairman of the Board of Eastfield Ming Quong, a Santa Clara-based non-profit organization which supports emotionally disturbed children and their families.

Gunnar M Eriksson

Gunnar M Eriksson joined Ericsson in the System Test Department of the AKE Switching System in 1968. Through his career with Ericsson he held positions as Managing Director and Division Manager of Ericsson Software, Ericsson R&D and Ericsson Radio Systems R&D in the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden and Japan. Gunnar built up Ericsson’s Japanese mobile business from zero revenues to a multi-million Euro business. From 1995 to his retirement from Ericsson in 2002 Gunnar held positions as head of Ericsson Utveckling AB, managing 1,800 employees and was corporate Vice President for Operational Development for Ericsson Corporate Technology. Gunnar graduated from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden with an MSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Lou Gerken

Lou Gerken is the Founder and Chairman of Gerken Capital Associates, a privately owned merchant bank formed in 1989. Prior to forming Gerken Capital Associates, Lou was a Managing Director and Group Head of Prudential Securities Technology Investment Banking Division. The group was advisor on more than thirty M&A and corporate finance mandates exceeding $4.5 billion in total financing. He was a General Partner in Prudential Securities’ four venture capital funds with $336 million under management. Prior to that, he was associated with Montgomery Securities Venture Capital Funds and Wells Fargo Capital Markets, where he developed one of the first United States fund of funds. Lou received an MBA from the Southern Methodist University Graduate School of Business, a Masters Degree in International Business from the American Graduate School and was awarded a Bachelors Degree in Economics. Lou holds Series 7, 63 and 24 NASD Licenses.

Per-Arne Sandström

Until he retired in July 2004, Per-Arne was First Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Per-Arne joined Ericsson in 1988 and has extensive experience from top management in Ericsson, ranging from Chief Operating Officer to President of the North America Market Area for Ericsson Inc. in the United States, where he also served on the Board of Directors of the Cellular Telephone Industry Association. Between 1998 and 2000 Per-Arne served as head of Business Unit GSM Systems. Until then, he had been Executive Vice President in the United Kingdom and the Director of Market Operations in Western Europe. Per-Arne is a Swedish citizen and resides in Stockholm.