Red Aril Executive Team
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Red Aril was founded by a team of leading online advertising and Internet veterans with extensive experience in the fields of data management and optimization.
- Jim Soss; CEO, Red Aril
- Kira Makagon; Founder and President, Red Aril
- Kiril Tsemekhman; Chief Scientist
- Sasha Berman; VP Business Development
- Carol Eckardt; VP Finance
Jim Soss; CEO, Red Aril
Jim is a seasoned interactive marketing executive with a passion for building teams that deliver a strategic advantage within competitive markets. Prior to joining Red Aril, Jim was vice president of multichannel marketing services at Acxiom Corporation, where he was responsible for uniting global businesses that spanned both digital and traditional marketing ($300M+). Jim initially joined Acxiom as vice president and general manager of Acxiom Digital (formerly Digital Impact, Inc.) a leading digital solution provider and top twenty-five interactive agency. Before Acxiom, Jim spent several years with infoGROUP as vice president of sales, business operations, client services, and professional consultancy. Prior to the Internet age, Jim built an extensive background in enterprise software and previously served as an executive with Starlight Networks, Sybase, Inc., and Pansophic Systems. Jim holds a B.S.E. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. with high honors distinction from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Kira Makagon; Founder and President, Red Aril
Kira is a serial Silicon Valley entrepreneur with an established reputation for expertise in leveraging innovative technology to build high-growth businesses. Prior to founding Red Aril, Kira was Co-Founder of NebuAd. Prior to NebuAd, Kira was director and president of Exigen Group, a technology and services provider for media, financial services, and insurance customers, where she was responsible for marketing, business development, joint ventures and mergers & acquisitions. Before that, Kira focused on eCRM and analytics technologies as Co-Founder, director and SVP of Products at Octane Software. Octane was sold to E.piphany, an early pioneer and leader in online marketing & analytics, for $3.2 billion. After the merger, Kira became the CTO at E.piphany. Previously, Kira was VP of product development at Scopus, where she saw three generations of product delivery, a successful IPO, and subsequent purchase by Siebel Systems. Kira holds a B.S.C.S. from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
Kiril Tsemekhman; Chief Scientist
Kiril is an expert in modeling online user behavior, developing algorithms to support complex segmentation rules, pattern recognition systems and sophisticated data mining technologies. Prior to Red Aril, he led the development of a sophisticated behavioral segmentation and modeling platforms while at NebuAd. Kiril also co-founded, developed the technology for and successfully operated a database marketing company. Before venturing into the online advertising world, Kiril had a career in research and taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. Kiril holds a Ph. D in Theoretical Physics from the University of Washington.
Sasha Berman; VP Business Development
Sasha has been building strategic partnerships between major brands and innovative technology companies for over 15 years. She has built relationships with companies such as Yahoo, DoubleClick/Google, Coremetrics, Motorola, SAP, and Amdocs. She was instrumental in developing joint ventures with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and EDS. Sasha began her technology career at Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc. (Alcatel) where she developed the company’s first formal partner-enablement program and forged strategic relationships with companies including Deloitte Consulting, Siemens, Accenture, SAP, and Siebel. Sasha holds B.A.s in Economics and Russian from the University of California, Davis.
Carol Eckardt; VP Finance
Carol has an extensive knowledge and experience in emerging high-growth technology companies, having joined five others prior to Red Aril (oDesk, Door to Door Auctions, Persist Technologies, WorkCard Company, Spinway) in the capacity of CFO/VP Finance/Controller overseeing these companies from their infancies through various exits including mergers & acquisitions. Before her venture into start-up technology companies, she was Controller for several of the broadcasting stations of Clear Channel San Francisco. Carol holds an MBA from Santa Clara University.