Former Microsoft MD to Chair Analytics Firm

Marketing intelligence firm Xtract has appointed former Microsoft Finland MD Martti Mehtälä as Chair of its Board of Directors. Alan Moore from SMLXL and Canadian management advisor William Greenberg also become members of the Board.

Mehtälä was Managing Director of Microsoft Finland for 12 years, until June 2007. He joins the Board with more than 25 years' experience as a senior manager in the IT industry, having started his career at Nokia Data, and then worked with Computervision, ICL and Finnish IT distributor Dava Oy. Mehtälä is a member of the Planning Board of Defense Economy and of SysOpen Digia, and Chairman of the Board and Co-founder of NatureGate.

Moore is the originator of the term, philosophy and principles of Engagement Marketing and has authored a book entitled Communities Dominate Brands which is based on the subject. His SMLXL consultancy helps organisations produce cross-platform communication strategies and campaigns.

Greenberg is currently a consultant to consumer manufacturing, private investment and technology firms where he advises senior management on a range of issues related to financing, alliances/joint ventures, operations and technology and business development.

Previous Chairman of the board and Xtract COO Jouko Ahvenainen commented: 'Martti, Alan and William bring strategic business, marketing and management strengths as we are moving the company to the next level. Our solutions are being delivered and demanded by some of the world's largest brands and we are well set for this challenge.'

Xtract specialises in social network analytics and process optimisation and the firm helps mobile operators, media companies and consumer businesses to deliver effective marketing strategies by predicting customer behaviour. The company is based in London and Helsinki, and operates across Europe and Asia. Web site: www.xtract.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.