Train travel is more than our expertise... it's our passion. We develop
technology solutions that simplify the planning and purchasing of train travel.
Our mission is to make traveling by train a top-of-mind choice for travelers
around the world. To achieve this mission we’ve created a compelling purchase
experience that connects global train operating companies together.
Our international management team's experience provides unique insight into
industry needs and marketplace challenges. Our commitment to continuous
innovation enables railways, agencies, wholesalers and websites to sell
effectively, distribute efficiently and connect easily with customers.
Founded in 2000 and privately owned, Wandrian is headquartered in the U.S. with
offices in the U.K. and Australia.
,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bret Gordon joined Wandrian as CEO in 2007 and is charged with guiding the
company through its rapid growth phase. Most recently, he served as
Vice President and General Manager for National Leisure Group and oversaw the
launch of the company’s wholesale vacation division (NLG Vacations), its retail
division (Vacation Outlet), and its private label land distribution channels
(Orbitz, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, etc.). After successfully
expanding the vacation distribution business, Bret joined the private equity
industry to pursue investments within the travel and technology category.
Prior to joining NLG, Bret held senior management positions overseeing
product management, marketing, finance and operations within TNT Vacations, a
New England-based travel wholesaler specializing in the Caribbean and Mexico. He
joined TNT as a member of new management that successfully positioned the
company for long-term stability and growth. Following the turnaround period,
Bret assumed P&L responsibilities for the company’s scheduled air business and
executed a successful growth plan. Early in his career, Bret held positions as
an M&A litigation consultant and as a market researcher. Bret is a graduate of
Boston University.
,
Chief Financial Officer
Philip Ferri is the Chief Financial Officer of Wandrian and is responsible
for all of the financial and administrative functions at the company. He leads
the development of the budget and monitors progress against stated corporate
objectives. Philip joined Wandrian in 2007, bringing over 20 years of experience
from prior CFO and senior financial positions at OneTravel Inc., Direct Travel,
American Express, Rosenbluth International and the BISYS Group, Inc.
,
Chief Technology Officer
Leigh Turner has over 17 years of software management and development
experience. He was the Co-Founder and CTO of Interaction Networks, a mobile
platform startup. Prior to Interaction Networks, Leigh was the co-founder of
Valent Software and architect of the core software technology that drove
Valent’s product offerings. Subsequent to the sale of Valent to Lycos, Inc. in
2000, he held the position of Director of Community Development for Lycos, Inc.,
where he led the development of all community products across the Lycos Network.
Prior to Valent, Leigh was the Director of Software Development & Principal
Software Architect for the Internet Platforms & Architecture division of
CompuServe, leading a team of over 90 engineers. Prior to this, he was a Sr.
Software Engineer at Borland International Inc., Languages Division for
Debugging solutions for all Windows platforms. Prior to Borland, Leigh held
various staff positions at SEER Technologies (an IBM & First Boston joint
venture) and Galileo (global provider of travel information and transaction
processing services).
,
Senior Vice President, Supply
Michael Coleman is an experienced executive with more than 18 years spent in
the travel industry in various positions, including Regional Director and
Vice-President of Product Development at Council Travel, when it was the largest
student travel organization in the U.S. As a co-founder, he has been associated
with Wandrian from its inception, and his knowledge of international train
travel services is a key element on which Wandrian’s market distribution
strategy has been built. Michael is a graduate of the University of Vermont,
with a degree in Business and International Studies.
,
Founder & Senior Vice President, Strategy
Michael Fuller brings enormous energy and the ability to form strategic
relationships with multiple train travel industry partners. Prior to founding
Wandrian, Michael was Vice President of Market Development for Student
Advantage. He also founded a marketing and research firm, The Campus Agency,
specializing in the college and student market. Previously, he headed sales and
marketing at Travel CUTS, the leading student travel company in Canada. Michael
attended the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University
in Toronto, Canada.
,
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Charles de Gaspe Beaubien brings to Wandrian a wide range of experiences in
the travel industry over a 16-year career, including Vice President of Product
and Operations for Globus and Cosmos. He developed his passion for partnerships
as President of Yankee Holidays, where he operated several successful private
label partnerships, such as the “Red, White and Blue Freedom Packages” as part
of the recovery program for New York City after September 11. Charles holds a
business degree from Bishop's University in Quebec and from L'E.S.S.C.A.
(L'Ecole Superieur des Sciences Commerciales D'Angers) in France.
,
Senior Vice President, Experience
Will brings over 12 years of experience as an entrepreneur, consultant and
executive in various fields, including document management, financial accounting
systems and travel. Prior to joining Wandrian as the executive responsible for
customer experience, Will was the VP Product Strategy for ITA Software in
Cambridge, MA, responsible for leading the alternative distribution solutions
group. In 2002, Will moved from Canada to lead the establishment and development
of a dynamic packaging technology and business for National Leisure Group,
building a solution that powered over 15 brands, including Orbitz.com’s bundled
& vacation products during their initial IPO. Will has a computer engineering
degree from McGill University.
,
Managing Director, International Rail Australasia
Jonathan Hume is the Managing Director of International Rail Australasia. He
has 15 years’ experience in the Australian Travel Industry, with a background in
accommodation, coach touring and train travel. Prior to joining International
Rail, Jonathan was employed for three years as National Sales and Marketing
Manager for a major train travel supplier in Australia. Before that, he was
State Business Development Manager for Insight Vacations, based in Melbourne.
,
Founder & Senior Vice President, Strategy
See above.
,
President & Chief Executive Officer
See above.
,
Director
Ned has spent a total of 21 years in private equity investing and has been responsible for dozens of rounds of financing in both early and expansion companies. He currently sits on the boards of Wandrian, Babyage.com, RockBlocks Group Inc, & Certica Solutions.
Ned joined Brook Venture Partners in 1999 as a General Partner and a member of the fund's Investment Committee and is an active investor in and serves on several of Brook's portfolio company board of directors. Earlier in his career, Ned was with Saturn Asset Management and Morgan Stanley where he was involved with over 25 Initial Public Offerings including the Netscape IPO as well as the spinout of Lucent Technologies from AT&T.
Ned holds a B.S from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is a member of the University of Massachusetts High Tech Executive Council.
,
Director
Philip Wolf founded PhoCusWright Inc. in 1994 and serves as its President
and CEO. His expertise in travel distribution strategy and technology has made
him a sought-after speaker, analyst and industry authority. Philip serves on
several company boards and is an adjunct professor at New York University's
Graduate Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. He has served as
an expert witness and has lobbied the U.S. Congress on industry-specific issues,
and is quoted frequently in consumer and trade media including CNN, Business
Week, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The New York
Times.
Prior to PhoCusWright, Philip was president and CEO of Travelmation, a
venture-funded software developer and travel booking engine pioneer, later sold
to Rosenbluth International. He first entered the travel commerce arena in 1989
as head of a small agency.
He is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University and holds an MBA from
Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.
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Non-Executive Chairman
Tommaso Zanzotto brings exceptional experience and insight to Wandrian. He
is president of Toscana Ville Castelli & Golf, an Italian multiple venue
hospitality enterprise. Previously, he was chairman of Online Travel
Corporation, which was acquired recently by
www.lastminute.com. He served as chairman and CEO of Hilton International
from 1993-1996. Prior to that, he served as President, International Activities,
for American Express Company, culminating a 25-year career with the company.
Tommaso started his professional career as the Italian Travel Commissioner,
serving in the UK, France and the USA.
Tommaso is co-founder and honorary member of the World Travel and Tourism
Council (WTTC); trustee of the International Photography Council, London;
chairman of Stocklight Limited, a world leader in antiquarian rare books and
prints; chairman of the Mayfair-based auction house, Bloomsbury; publisher of
the monthly magazine The Rare Book Review; and a member of the
International Advisory Committee of INSEAD International Business School in
Fontainebleau, France. Over the years, Tommaso has served on several boards,
including American Express Bank and American Express TRS Co. in New York; Club
Med in Paris; Ladbroke Plc in London; Kuoni Holding Ltd in Zurich; Travel
Service International TSI in Miami (acquired by Airtour plc, now MyTravel plc);
and Compass International in New York. In 1983, the President of the Italian
Republic awarded Tommaso the title of Cavaliere Ufficiale for his international
activities.
Brook Venture Partners provides expansion stage capital through Brook
Venture Fund II to information technology and medical technology companies
located in the northeastern United States. The firm focuses on initial
investments of $2–$5 million. Brook is headquartered outside Boston in
Wakefield, MA.
For information call (781) 295-4000 or visit
www.brookventure.com.
Boston Capital Ventures (BCV) manages private venture capital partnership
funds for individual and institutional investors who make strategic investments
in companies with high growth potential. Its original BCV fund, formed in 1982,
and current BCV partnerships have attracted leading U.S. institutions and
individuals from 16 countries as investors. BCV investments focus on software
companies in the security, infrastructure, revenue management, marketing,
CAD/CAM, PLM, hospitality and travel sectors, where leveraging the strong
industry and operating experience of their general partners helps to accelerate
growth, increase profitability and enhance shareholder value.
RVS Ventures is the investment arm of entrepreneur Raymond Sozzi. Sozzi has
led the development, as Chairman or CEO, of more than a dozen media companies
focused on the youth market, including Student Advantage, collegesports.com and
beRecruited.com. Sozzi has been featured by BrandWeek as a Marketer of
the Next Generation and in Chief Executive Magazine as one of the top 10 up and
coming CEO's in America. In 1999, Sozzi was recognized by Ernst and Young,
USA Today and Dow Jones as the nation's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. RVS
Ventures is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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