IkeGPS snags former Apple executive Richard Mander, Trimble's Peter Shaw

IkeGPS [NZX: IKE], the makers of remote measuring devices, has hired former Apple Inc executive Richard Mander and Trimble Navigation's Peter Shaw to join the business as it chases US market share.

Mander, who is a former Apple engineering group manager, will join the Wellington-based company as executive vice president of engineering while Shaw will take the post of head of software engineering, leaving Trimble, a US-based measurement software firm where he was a senior software engineer. Both Mander and Shaw have worked for companies listed on the Nasdaq Composite Index, Wall Street's tech-heavy index, and have experience in the US tech market, ikeGPS said in a statement.

“I am delighted to have brought Richard and Peter onto the management team," said chief executive Glenn Milne. "Their leadership, product experience, and global technology backgrounds are directly relevant to the ikeGPS product portfolio and strategy. We are excited to welcome them into the business to more quickly advance current and pipeline initiatives."

Mander's resume includes chief technology officer at Navman and Visualant, chief executive of HumanWare and director of operations in engineering with Contour. In 2004 he was named World Class New Zealander for his work in the US technology market. Shaw leaves the Trimble geospatial division, having been responsible for a global network of developers, ikeGPS said. 

IkeGPS is forgoing profit as it chases growth in the US market, and sees particular opportunity in the intelligence and security sector. Last month ikeGPS expanded a deal with US defence technology investor In-Q-Tel to further develop its smartphone measuring tool, Spike, for US intelligence and security forces, and would beat contract sales forecast in its June prospectus. 

Shares of ikeGPS rose 3.5 percent to 88 cents. The company raised $25 million in new capital to fund its US expansion and product development when it listed on the NZX in July, through the sale of 22.7 million shares at $1.10 apiece.

(BusinessDesk)