Profisee Management Team
Ian Ahern :: Principal and CEO
Ian Ahern is the founder of Profisee and was formerly the founder and CEO of Stratature from inception until its sale to Microsoft Corporation six years later in 2007.
Prior to a career in software services Ian worked for several years in the City of London in the banking and securities industries, where he developed financial consolidation, management and statutory reporting systems for Standard Chartered Bank and Nikko Securities. In the 1980s, Ian joined Gentia Software, a leading UK-based business intelligence software company to focus on the provision of software and consulting services to the finance sector, including over 50 European banking and insurance companies. Working at Gentia for over 10 years, Ian moved to America in the early 1990s to start the company’s US operation where, as the Vice-President of Client Services for the Americas, he was responsible for the implementation of analytical solutions for dozens of major US companies and government organizations. Several years after assisting Gentia to go public in an IPO on the NASDAQ, in 1998, Ian moved to another British software company looking to expand in North America.
Ian spent two years as a Vice-President for Armstrong Laing Group, an Activity Based Management software and services company. Initially running client services he then took responsibility for all services, sales and marketing in the Americas. Armstrong Laing Group subsequently changed its name to ALG Software and was acquired by Business Objects. Ian spent a year with Atlanta-based wireless start-up Air2Web, where he recruited, trained and managed their 50-person Client Services organization and managed the implementation and hosting of wireless applications for dozens of companies around the world.
In 2001, Ian returned to his career focus of enterprise reporting, planning and business intelligence with the formation of Stratature. In 2003, Stratature announced +EDM (Enterprise Dimension Manager) which quickly became the world’s leading master data management software for adoption by business functions such as marketing and finance for the management of complex master data and reporting hierarchies. With record growth in +EDM license revenues, in 2005 the company created a network of global +EDM resellers and alliance partners, and opened operations in Europe out of London in early 2006. In the summer of 2007, Stratature was acquired by Microsoft Corporation. Following a transition, Ian and the services team stepped out of Stratature and formed Profisee.
In starting Profisee, Ian strives to leverage his tremendous success with Master Data Management at Stratature by providing world-class MDM software, services, education, and methodologies dedicated to the Microsoft MDS platform.
Adam Hanson :: Principal
Adam Hanson brings over 18 years of technology and software experience implementing strategic solutions for the financial services, retail, transportation, and telecommunications segments. Prior to forming Profisee Adam served as VP, Research & Development and later VP, Professional Services at Stratature, a leading Master Data Management firm that was acquired by Microsoft in June, 2007.
At Profisee Adam leads a group of seasoned business consultants that manage all aspects of the implementation, training, and support of the company’s business intelligence and Master Data Management (MDM) solutions. Profisee consultants assist customers in the initial project implementation and successive phases by employing a methodology that includes needs analysis, project planning, business and technical requirements definition, best practices, and a final assessment that assures for an effective and expedient project delivery.
Prior to Stratature Adam served as Director of Product Management at Air2Web where he also led several global wireless implementations for customers. He also held product development and management roles at SunGard, UPS, and Fidelity National Information Services.
Adam holds a BA in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and a MBA from Emory University.
Michael Soble :: Principal
Michael Soble brings over 23 years of business and software professional services experience implementing solutions for the financial services, retail, manufacturing, utility, distribution and telecommunications industries. He leads a group of seasoned business consultants that manage all aspects of the implementation, training, and support of Profisee’s business intelligence and budgeting/forecasting solutions.
Profisee consultants assist customers in the initial project implementation and successive phases by employing a methodology that includes needs analysis, system design, project planning, business and technical requirements definition, best practices, and a final assessment that assures an effective and expedient project delivery.
Prior to Profisee Michael served as a Managing Consultant at Stratature where he was instrumental in implementing numerous financial reporting, budget/forecasting and business intelligence systems for a wide variety of customers and industries. In addition to the financial system implementations, Michael also designed and implemented numerous MDM solutions using Stratature’s +EDM software. While working on the MDM projects, Michael was instrumental in assisting the +EDM product development team improve the product based on his insight from working with clients.
Prior to Stratature, in 1996, Michael launched a consulting practice, Data Management Solutions (DMS), that focused on the development of customized business intelligence systems and financial applications for mid to large sized companies. In 2002, Stratature acquired DMS and Michael continued his consulting work with Stratature.
Michael began his career in the banking industry where he worked as an analyst, manager and director in financial reporting, budgeting and performance measurement.
Michael is a CPA and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance and also attended Georgia State with a concentration in Accounting.
Val Lovicz :: CTO and VP Research & Development
Val Lovicz brings 20 years of software development and implementation experience with specialization in Master Data Management, Business Intelligence, Financial Planning and ERP.
Prior to Profisee, Val was a co-founder of Stratature where he drove the creation of +EDM for Master Data Management. Following the acquisition of Stratature by Microsoft in June 2007, Val joined Microsoft as a Principal Program Manager where he managed the conversion of +EDM into SQL Server 2008 R2 Master Data Services (MDS) and delivered key new features like the Web services API. After 3.5 years at Microsoft, Val rejoins former colleagues at Profisee to continue delivering Master Data Management solutions based on MDS.
Prior to Stratature, Val was with Air2Web, directing development teams delivering leading-edge wireless e-commerce applications to several large clients. Val had also joined the Business Intelligence consulting practice at ALG Software and managed numerous successful BI implementations for Fortune 100 clients in a variety of industries.
Val began his career as an engineer with Furon, a global manufacturer, where he developed configurators and expert systems to streamline their complex design-to-order process, reducing average cycle times from one week to one hour. He then went on to lead the development of Furon's first and highly successful global data warehouse and decision support system.
Val graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida.
Ian Maclachlan :: Managing Director, Europe
Ian Maclachlan joins Profisee with a long and varied career in the business intelligence and information management industry. He built European professional services operations for Comshare, Inc. and Pilot Software, both of which were trail-blazing business intelligence software companies based in the United States. After a period as Director of the Decision Support Practice at Coopers and Lybrand in the UK, he was a director and co-founder of several business intelligence and information management-focused companies. Ian was founder and CEO of ClearView Business Intelligence Limited, a company focused on providing Microsoft-centric data warehouse and business intelligence solutions. ClearView was acquired in 2005 by Codec Group, a successful European software and consulting business based in Ireland. Following the sale of ClearView, Ian joined Stratature, Inc. as a board member and set up European operations based out of the UK. Stratature Europe made sales to a number of large Blue Chip companies particularly in the life sciences and telecommunications markets. After the acquisition of Stratature by Microsoft in 2007, Ian spent some time involved with Antivia Software, a pioneer in the application of social networking principles in the field of business intelligence.
Ian's objective in joining Profisee is to contribute to the overall success of operations as a board member and to build a successful direct and channel sales operation serving the European market for Master Data Management software and services.
John Leavitt :: VP Marketing
John Leavitt has over 10 years of experience in international marketing for high tech companies. John began working with Profisee following its inception, helping the company with branding, positioning, defining its value proposition and setting up and running its marketing department.
Prior to Profisee, John was director of marketing at Stratature (global provider of master data management software) where he ran the company's global marketing efforts and was responsible for a team of telemarketing, documentation and marketing specialists. John was with Stratature for seven years until the company was acquired by Microsoft in 2007.
John began his marketing career at Armstrong Laing (global activity-based costing software company, now a part of Business Objects/SAP) as a marketing executive responsible for implementing results-oriented marketing programs for North America.
John holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and a BA in French commerce from Georgia State University. Pursuing his French commerce degree, he also attended La Sorbonne in Paris, France, and Université Lumière II in Lyon, France. Attracted by the majesty of the French Alps, John stepped into a snowboard and has yet to step out.