Milestone expands its director group with previous Navision Co-Founder and Microsoft Business Solutions Head of Global Strategy.
Milestone expands its director group with previous Navision Co-Founder and Microsoft Business Solutions Head of Global Strategy.
Milestone Systems, the open platform company in IP video management software, announced Jesper Balser joined the Board of Directors to add further strategic competence with an eye towards the organization's continued international expansion.
“It is very positive that Jesper Balser joins the Milestone Board of Directors. Over the years we have built up an international sales and distribution channel, and our expansion continues — the latest initiative being this year's new subsidiaries in Australia and Spain,” said Lars Thinggaard, President and CEO, Milestone Systems. “Jesper Balser has great experience with developing global business channels for software, and we are pleased to gain from that expertise.”
Balser co-founded Navision in 1985 and as CEO steered that company's growth for 18 years to become an international provider of ERP business management software. He took Navision public in 1999 and the company was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2002 — their largest acquisition to date for US$1.55 billion. Navision became a new division called Microsoft Business Solutions. Balser then served as that division's Head of Global Strategy until leaving to pursue other interests as an investor and entrepreneur for a number of technology firms.
“Milestone is an exciting company in a very interesting sector,” Balser said. “I am impressed with how much has been achieved since its start in 1998. Milestone has already documented its ability to compete in the global market. Now the international expansion will be accelerated and systemized, where I hope my background will contribute.”
Milestone software is sold through authorized partners in 107 countries and currently has its own offices in 11 of these. The growing Milestone ecosystem includes well-developed partner programs with training and certifications, solution partner integrations, and broad alliance manufacturer support.
The last new member to the Milestone Systems Board of Directors occurred in July 2008. Index Ventures partner Guiseppe Zocco joined when his company invested $27 million in growth stage funding.