Mark Barnekow, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mark has spent 20 years bringing management innovation to companies around the globe. He specializes in developing software-as-a-service solutions for fast moving consumer companies, large distributors and global retailers. Mark has been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times for his contributions in business and the community by awarding him the prestigious “Most Admired CEO Award”.
Most recently, Mark was the President of iTradeNetwork and CEO and President of Amphire Solutions from the company’s founding through its sale to Accel/KKR. As Chief Executive Officer, Mark guided the company's sales strategy, merger and acquisition activity, international expansion and overall company vision.
Mark leads TradingPartners’ overall business strategy and execution and provides the vision for the company’s new SpendScience™ executive dashboard and visibility platform.
Mark, who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, has worked on numerous global assignments in business and as a consultant with A.T. Kearney, including many in China, Europe, Japan and the Middle East in diverse industries including automotive, building controls, foodservice, heavy machinery, information technology, pharmaceuticals and retail/CPG.
Mark received his Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He serves on the Global Advisory Board of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Ginger Gorden, Chief Financial Officer
Ginger joined TradingPartners as CFO in 2010.
She was previously CFO of CSMG, a privately held sports and marketing agency, where she collaborated with private equity and individual shareholders to develop an exit strategy. She successfully executed the exit by leading three separate divisional sales of the company’s US professional sports representation divisions - NFL, MLB and the NBA. Prior to the sale, Ginger led the executive management team and also directed the development and implementation of all financial policies, procedures and practices. She also greatly impacted the company by successfully renegotiating a large debt restructuring.
Prior experiences include her role Vice President of Finance at Carlson Wagonlit Travel (and formerly Maritz Corporate Travel). At this global corporate travel management company, Ginger was responsible for implementation of strategic initiatives including the integration of acquisitions and centralized functions. Her international experience includes development and migration of standardized reporting for 20 independently managed international entities.
Earlier in her career, she held financial roles with Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Mercer consulting.
Ginger has an MBA from the University of Illinois Chicago and a BS from Marquette University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Steve Baggerly, Chief Technology Officer
Steve is the Chief Technology Officer for TradingPartners. Steve has over 15 years of experience delivering highly robust, mission-critical ecommerce and SaaS platforms.
Steve was most recently the COO of Meal Ticket, a company he co-founded which was invited to participate in Colorado’s TechStars incubator and startup accelerator. Prior to Meal Ticket, Steve was the VP of Operations and Engineering at iTradeNetwork before the company was acquired by Roper Industries. Steve was also CTO of Amphire Solutions before the company was acquired by Accel/KKR and merged with iTradeNetwork and Instill Corporation.
Steve spent eight years with Amphire helping build and grow the company’s mission-critical procurement transaction and supply chain applications for the foodservice, retail and institutional supply chains. During his tenure at Amphire, Steve also assisted with technical due diligence on multiple company acquisitions, and played a vital role in the international expansion of the business. Steve managed staff and operations in the US, UK, and China.
Steve also has experience working in healthcare and retail industries having spent part of his career with Albertsons, at the time, the second largest grocery store chain in the United States. While there, Steve was part of the team responsible for building, deploying and running Albertsons’ ecommerce site, the largest on-line grocery store in the United States.
Steve holds a BA from the University of Redlands.
Jessica Warren, Director of Corporate Services
Jessica currently oversees the product roadmap management, internal and external marketing activities, as well as external consultant relationships.
After joining TradingPartners in 2002, Jessica developed the global supply management process and methodology, directing the supply management team in both Europe and the US. Using her experience in global working cultures, Jessica led the internal efforts to drive standardization in multi-location client projects.
Jessica is fluent in Spanish, German and Swiss German. Prior to TradingPartners, Jessica lived in Madrid teaching English and German to government offices as well as translating technical retail and medical manuals. She studied a BA in Modern Languages at the University of Essex.
Philip Brown, Managing Director, North America
Philip is responsible for P&L, team development, resource management, strategic client relationships, and overall operations. He is focused on transforming the professional services organization and rolling out additional services and products to clients.
Philip brings 25 years of client-focused experience to the role, from strategic account management, to customer service and acquisition of new customers. With a background in institutional supply chains in Europe, Canada and the US, Philip has worked in manufacturing, retail/CPG, foodservice, apparel, high-tech and electronics industries. He was a key member of the team that built Amphire Solutions from start up to exit with private equity, often as a member of the due diligence team when the company made its acquisitions.
Philip graduated with Honors from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelors Degree in Engineering.
Richard Adams, Managing Director, Europe
Richard is responsible for the region’s financial performance, team development, resource management, key client relationships, and overall operations. Richard brings significant experience in retail procurement, supply chain management, and team-building skills.
Since joining TradingPartners in 2005, Richard has implemented new operational structures, created robust processes for delivery and forecasting, and developed new client relationships.
Richard has a track record of success in the industry following almost a decade at Sainsburys Supermarket Ltd, where he held roles across various divisions including distribution, supply chain and trading.
Richard graduated from the University of Brighton where he studied Computing & Information Systems with Marketing.
Paul Cowley, Commercial Director, Europe
Paul is responsible for new client acquisition across the region, managing the sales team, contract negotiations, and building relationships with C-level executives.
Since joining TradingPartners he has managed his solution-focused sales team, and has identified the retail and manufacturing industries as an area of growth for the company. Paul’s in-depth knowledge of sales processes and pipeline management has helped TradingPartners align its sales efforts, streamline procedures, and dramatically increase overall sales.
Prior to TradingPartners, Paul served as Vice President of Sales at Basware.
Paul has an MSC in International Marketing and Management from Leeds University Business School and a BA in Management Studies from the University of Leeds.
Nicolas Cardemil, Managing Director, Latin America
Nicolas manages business development and delivery teams across the region. Fluent in several languages, Nicolas has run over 150 spend negotiation events and has driven significant savings in markets of high inflation.
With superior commercial and procurement knowledge, Nicolas brings a cultural understanding, enthusiasm and experience in managing a multi-cultural and multi-lingual team.
Nicolas previously worked at Accenture as a supply chain management consultant, and spent two years at Shell Chemicals.
He graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Hispanic Studies.
Non-executive Directors & Advisors
Gustavo Alberelli
Gustavo is a Director at Kennet, where he has focused on investments in software, Internet and technology-enabled services since 2005. For more than 10 years, Gustavo has worked with high-growth technology companies. In addition to sitting on the Board for TradingPartners, he also serves on the Board of AcademixDirect and Prolexic Technologies. Before Kennet, Gustavo worked at Trinity Ventures in Menlo Park, CA. Prior to venture capital, Gustavo worked in marketing and business development at Saltare, an enterprise software startup funded by DFJ and Sutter Hill. He began his career in the technology investment banking division of Robertson Stephens.
Gustavo holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Swarthmore College. He speaks Spanish fluently
Dr. Richard Chaifetz
Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz is founder, Chairman and CEO of ComPsych Corporation, the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs (EAPs) and the leading provider of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, work-life, wellness, crisis intervention services and outsourced HR solutions under the GuidanceResources® brand.
Named to Crain’s Chicago Business Who’s Who list of Power Players from 2004-2009, Dr. Chaifetz is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago, The Executives’ Club of Chicago and Vistage International. In addition, he has served on the board of directors of several public and private corporations which, in addition to TradingPartners, currently include Access MediQuip, Edgewater Funds, and NueVista Holdings, and non-profit organizations such as The Field Museum of Natural History, the Miami University Farmer School of Business and the Saint Louis University Board of Trustees. In 2007, he was named Saint Louis University’s Alumni of the Year and was inducted into the University’s Entrepreneurial Alumni Hall of Fame.
Dr. Chaifetz, a licensed neuropsychologist, is a magna cum laude graduate of St. Louis University and received his Psy.D. from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.
Michael Elias
Michael Elias is the Managing Director of Kennet, London. Michael has been at the forefront of the development of European technology private equity as it grew from a fledgling niche into the multi-billion dollar market it is today. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA) and chaired its Venture Capital Committee from 2002 to 2006.
Michael has a particular interest in Internet business models and capital-efficient semiconductor businesses. He has led Kennet’s investments in online advertising network Adviva Media (acquired by Specific Media), online video advertising specialist GoViral (acquired by AOL Inc.), WiMAX chip business Sequans , semiconductor IP vendor Chipidea (acquired by MIPS) and oversaw Kennet’s investment in wireless audio chip business STS (acquired by SMSC).
Michael also led Kennet’s investment in Paragon Software (acquired by Openwave), Altitun (acquired by ADCTelecommunications), No Wires Needed (acquired by Intersil), Monis (acquired by Sungard Data Systems), and Ubizen (acquired by Cybertrust).
Michael founded Kennet in 1997. Earlier, he was responsible for establishing the international operations of Thompson Clive & Partners in California and Paris.
Michael holds a B.A. with highest honours from Harvard University, and received an M.Sc. from Cambridge University where he was a Marshall Scholar. Born in the United States, Michael has lived in several European countries and speaks fluent French.