Management Team
IDeaS is led by an active, involved founder and seasoned management team. IDeaS founder and senior management team consist of Edwin (Ed) Booth, Dr. Ravi Mehrotra, Mark Derus, Joseph Martino, Mike Gray, Linda Hatfield, James Ruttley, Dr. Omar Karim, Rajiv Nashikkar, Grahame Tate, Uli Pillau, and Bernard Ellis. Together these individuals have been instrumental in building business for global Fortune and industry-leading companies.
Edwin Booth - CEO & Chairman
As Chairman and CEO of IDeaS, Ed Booth offers proven experience at rapidly growing technology-based companies that deliver a total solution to the global marketplace. Prior to joining IDeaS in July 1999, Ed was the President and CEO of JobBOSS Software of Minneapolis, Minnesota, which became the leading supplier of enterprise management software and services for job shops and small contract manufacturers under his leadership. Ed was CEO of CADEC Systems in New Hampshire, which also became the leading supplier in its market in trucking logistics. Previously, Ed held several posts at Cummins Engine Company, including Chief Electronics Officer and Director for Latin America and the Far East.
Dr. Ravi Mehrotra - Founder, Chief Scientist
Chief Scientist, Dr. Ravi Mehrotra co-founded IDeaS in 1989. While an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University, he invented new models for parallel computing, designed and analyzed both asynchronous and randomized algorithms for distributed processing and reviewed many proposals for key government scientific agencies. Ravi is a holder and co-author of more than one dozen patents. At Texas Instruments, Ravi played a key role in the development of a real-time scheduler for a complex manufacturing company. As a scientist in the Decision and Technology Lab of Andersen Consulting, Ravi was instrumental in development and implementation of a fleet planning, scheduling, and load consolidation system for a major household goods transportation company.
Mark Derus - CFO
Mark Derus, CFO & VP, Finance Mark joined IDeaS in 2006 with more than 20 years of finance and general management experience in high tech growth companies. He has led or managed numerous growth company financings, from start-ups to M&A transactions and IPOs. Prior to joining IDeaS, Mark served as CFO of Visual Circuits, a digital media networking company headquartered in Minneapolis. There he raised $4 million in private placement funds and led the eventual sale of the company. Mark's career also includes nine years at Cherry Tree Ventures, a Twin Cities based venture capital firm with more than $80 million in managed capital where he served as VP Finance. Mark received an MBA in Finance from the Carlson School in 1991.
Joseph Martino - Senior Vice President
Joseph Martino serves as Senior Vice President at IDeaS and is responsible for the Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Business Development activities across the regions. Joseph, a travel industry veteran, has held senior level management positions at MICROS Systems, Inc. and Fidelio Software for the past decade. As Vice President, operations and central systems business development for MICROS Systems in Naples, Florida, he was responsible for an enterprise software development organization in delivering state-of-the-art hospitality applications. Previously, Joseph held the position of Senior Vice President and COO of Fidelio Software in Munich, Germany, where he maintained worldwide headquarters responsibility for all internal operations, product development, sales and service. Prior to working at MICROS Systems, Joseph spent 10 years with increasing marketing and sales responsibilities with Marriott Hotels & Resorts. He began his hospitality career at Cunard Ships, Hotels and Resorts.
Mike Gray - Chief Technology Officer
As CTO, Mike Gray will play a key leadership role in the continued development and communication of IDeaS technology strategy and vision. Prior to joining IDeaS, Mike was Sr. Director - Enterprise Architecture for The Thomson Corporation the leading global provider of integrated information-based solutions. With a BA in Math & Physics from Hamline University and twenty-six years of architecture/infrastructure and technology development experience, Mike will work closely with IDeaS management team to drive innovation and explore new business and technology directions.
Linda Hatfield - Vice President, Product Management
As Vice President of Product Management for IDeaS, Linda Hatfield is responsible for the definition and development of the products which have positioned IDeaS as the leading provider of Revenue Optimization solutions in the hotel industry. Prior to joining IDeaS in 2002, Linda was the Director of Product Management and Marketing for JobBOSS Software, a leader in the enterprise management software and services for job shops and small contract manufacturers. Linda has also held various product management and development positions with Cummins Engine Company, AIG and GTE. Linda received her BA in Economics from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.
James Ruttley - Vice President, Client Services
James Ruttley joined IDeaS in 1997 with more than 12 years experience in the hotel industry. In the position of Vice President - Client Services, James is responsible for all aspects of the delivery services which IDeaS provides to its client's including technical & forecasting support, project management, client training and client management. Previously, James served as Director of Consultancy Services and also as Director of Process Development. Prior to joining IDeaS, James held a variety of senior management roles in major London hotels in the Rooms Division, Conference & Banqueting and Food & Beverage areas. During his time with IDeaS James has been involved in the design and implementation of revenue optimization solutions for virtually all of IDeaS clients with particular emphasis on the integration of systematic revenue optimization into the hotel culture.
Omar Karim, Ph.D - Vice President, Research and Development
Dr. Omar Karim is responsible for all aspects of research and development for IDeaS. Dr. Karim has been with IDeaS since 1993 and led the original development of the forecasting systems for IDeaS products and services. Prior to joining IDeaS, Dr. Karim was a professor and researcher in the areas of mathematical and computer modeling of complex systems. While at the Universities of California, Berkeley, Houston, and North Carolina he published more than 20 scientific papers with his research funded by state and national agencies. After receiving his Bachelor's and Master's degree from St. Stephen's College in Delhi, India, Dr. Karim moved to the United States where he received his Ph.D in theoretical physics from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Rajiv Nashikkar - Vice President & Managing Director, India Operations
In the role of Vice President & Managing Director, India Operations, Rajiv Nashikkar is responsible for the company's Technology Center located in Pune. Rajiv was part of the core team which started the Pune development center in 1999. Prior to joining IDeaS, Rajiv built software applications and solutions for the manufacturing industry, including applications for IBM. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from the College of Engineering in Pune, India. He also holds a Masters in Management Science from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management in Pune.
Grahame Tate - Managing Director, Asia Pacific
In the role of Managing Director of IDeaS Asia Pacific territory, Grahame Tate brings 15 years of experience in the hospitality technology industry. Prior to joining IDeaS in 1997, Grahame held management positions with NEC Australia where he was responsible for the hospitality technology division of their voice and data technologies. In the early 1990's, Grahame worked in telecommunications hospitality technology for Alcatel. Grahame currently is responsible for all sales and operations for IDeaS Asia Pacific territory and is based out of IDeaS Australia Office.
Ulrich Pillau - Managing Director, Europe Africa Middle East
As Managing Director of IDeaS Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME) territory, Ulrich (Uli) Pillau is responsible for IDeaS regional offices located in London and Munich and all sales and operations in the region as well. Uli, a hospitality industry veteran, brings 22 years of hospitality experience and proven expertise in hotel software solutions to the IDeaS team. Prior to joining IDeaS in 1998, Uli held various senior level positions in Fidelio Software and later Micros Fidelio Software for 9 years and contributed much of their success making them the worldwide leader in hotel management software. From 1993 until 1998, he held the position of Vice President for Micros Fidelio at their corporate headquarters located in Munich.
Bernard Ellis - Managing Director, Americas
As IDeaS' Managing Director for the Americas, Bernard Ellis is responsible for all sales activity in the region. Bernard joined IDeaS following a successful tenure at SynXis where he was the Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Channels. Prior to that, Bernard was an executive with Micros-Fidelio, where he managed sales for several major accounts. Bernard is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.