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Board
The BigMachines Board of Directors brings a broad range of industry leadership experience. Their diverse backgrounds , business insight and passion for excellence help us fulfill our vision of building a world-class technology and services company. The Board of Directors guides the BigMachines' strategy and keeps the company focused on delighting its customers.
Godard Abel, Co-Founder, President and CEO
Godard leads the development and execution of strategy for BigMachines, with a focus on delighting customers and building a strong professional team. Prior to founding BigMachines, Godard was General Manager of the iNiku.com application service for Niku Corporation, a leading provider of web-enabled enterprise applications. Before entering the technology industry, Godard consulted for McKinsey & Company and advised leading manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany on strategy development and business process improvement. Godard earned an MBA from Stanford University and both a BS and MS in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Goerdt Abel, Chairman
Goerdt leads our board and advises BigMachines on business development by leveraging his extensive industry experience and contacts. Goerdt was formerly Chairman and CEO of ABEL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of positive displacement pumps, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Roper Industries. Over a period of twenty-seven years, Goerdt grew ABEL into a highly profitable, global manufacturer. Goerdt began his career in management with Mannessman AG. Goerdt holds a Diplom and PhD from the Vienna School of Business and Economics, where he studied international business and business strategy.
Christian Sowul
Christian joined Vista Equity Partners in 2001 and is a Principal. Prior to joining Vista, Christian worked in the High Technology Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he advised clients in a variety of verticals including software, IT services, telecom equipment, direct broadcast satellite, Internet, and media, among others. These projects included buyside and sellside transactions, public market financings and other strategic advisory initiatives. Christian also worked at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell focused on high technology M&A investment banking and at Generation Partners, a venture capital firm focused on technology investments.
James Hickey
Jim joined Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is a Principal. Prior to joining Vista, Jim spent 25 years at William Blair & Company, including 14 years heading up the technology investment banking practice and 11 years as a technology equity research analyst. While at Blair, he completed over 50 equity offerings exceeding $6 billion in total value and over 35 M&A transactions exceeding $18 billion in total value. Jim is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Robert Smith
Managing Principal at Vista Equity Partners, Robert was previously at Goldman, Sachs & Co. focused on mergers and acquisitions in the technology industry. While at Goldman Sachs, he was Co-Head of the Enterprise Systems and Storage Business within the Technology Group. Robert received an MBA from Columbia University Business School, where he graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. In addition, he holds a BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
Board Advisors and Observers
Richard Labreecque
Until his retirement in 2000, Richard built ITT Fluid Technology into the world's largest pump manufacturer and led its groundbreaking acquisition of Goulds Pumps in 1997. He brings over 30 years of experience as a leader in the manufacturing industry and has served two terms as President of the Hydraulic Institute, the North American pump industry association. Richard is the Chairman of the BigMachines Industry Advisory Board.
Hugh W. Nevin, Jr.
Hugh has advised BigMachines on its corporate structure and strategy since its founding and leads the Stanwix Partner group that has invested BigMachines. Hugh is a Director and former President of Cohen & Grigsby, a leading law firm based in Pittsburgh, PA, and Naples, FL. Hugh concentrates his practice in merger and acquisition matters, business law and international tax. Mr. Nevin, who is fluent in German, focuses a substantial part of his practice in advising foreign enterprises and individuals investing and conducting their businesses in the United States and U.S. companies doing business abroad. Hugh has been an early investor and advisor to several successful technology companies, including FreeMarkets, a pioneer in web-based business applications, which completed a successful IPO and later merged with Ariba (NASDAQ: ARBA).
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