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John Gates, Elevate Communications, (617) 861-3651
20-Year Technology Veteran to Guide Whaleback as Company Ramps Growth of its CrystalBlue Voice Service with 10th Consecutive Quarter of Double Digit Growth with Less Than 1% Customer Churn
PORTSMOUTH, NH, July 7, 2009—Whaleback Systems™ today announced that chief financial officer (CFO) Karil Reibold has been elevated to the role of chief executive officer (CEO) for the company. Reibold joined Whaleback in October 2008 to oversee finance and administration and will now be responsible for all aspects of Whaleback’s operations including administration, engineering, finance, human resources, sales and marketing. Reibold brings extensive “C level” expertise in management, finance and operations with more than 20 years experience leading technology startups in all phases of growth.
"Karil is a respected technology veteran with more than two decades of senior management experience helping build businesses rooted in sound execution and value-creation,” said Walter Dick, managing director of Ascent Venture Partners and board member of Whaleback. “Over the course of her career, Karil has guided early and mid stage companies that have successfully introduced compelling technology solutions to both the enterprise and consumer markets that built value for shareholders and customers alike. She brings a keen focus and the critical expertise on how to lead organizations and teams to execute, scale and manage growth successfully.”
Over the course of her career managing rapid growth venture-backed companies, Karil has helped companies raise in excess of $300 million in venture capital and has worked on staff or as a consultant to venture funds in Silicon Valley and Boston. As an entrepreneur in residence for Norwest Venture Partners, she served as an operating partner assisting with numerous portfolio companies. Karil also served as CFO and Vice President of Finance and Operations for Annuncio Software, Inc. through its successful acquisition by Peoplesoft in January 2002. As a partner at David Powell, Inc. Financial Services, Karil worked with over 20 startups such as Netratings Inc. (NTRT), where she was acting CFO from inception through IPO.
“As businesses continue to transition from circuit-switched to packet-based telephony systems and services, there is a tremendous opportunity for young technology companies such as Whaleback to reshape the competitive landscape and deliver business telephony services that deliver more value, features and efficiencies to the SMB market than the incumbent class of service providers and PBX vendors,” said Reibold. "I've surveyed the telecom industry and chosen to join Whaleback because Wray West, founder and technical visionary, and his team, themselves successful pioneers from the earlier stage of the VoIP market, clearly understand the implications and possibilities for IP telephony in the enterprise and SMB markets.”
Reibold takes the helm at Whaleback as the company continues to grow at a record pace. The company has enjoyed 10 consecutive quarters of double digit growth with less than 1 percent customer churn. The company continues to add new partners and customers such as DJJ Technologies, Entech Computer Services, and Intervale Technologies recently joining its Premier Partner Program. In 2008, the company doubled its base of business customers expanding its seats under management from 4,500 to 9,000.
About Whaleback Systems
Whaleback Systems is a Managed Voice Provider and the pioneering developer of the first business phone solution built from the ground up for broadband. Unlike traditional systems, the Whaleback CrystalBlue Voice Service is 100 percent premises-based and software-driven. It includes the only IP PBX with Key System Unit features and Road Warrior Functionality. Whaleback's CrystalBlue Voice Service offers flexible fixed rate national and international calling packages that provide affordability and predictability to a customer’s monthly phone bill - making the most advanced technology immediately affordable for companies that need between 5 and 500 phone stations. The Whaleback service is available through partnerships with channel partners and VARs. Whaleback customers include law firms, real estate agencies, financial services firms, homebuilders, restaurants, resorts, advertising and public relations agencies.
