SEATTLE— September 22, 2005—Inrix, Inc., the first company to deliver real-time and predictive traffic information announced the addition of two new members to the company’s board of directors, the hiring of several key executives and the formation of an advisory board. Kendra VanderMeulen, former executive vice president of InfoSpace Mobile and pioneer of AT&T Wireless’ (then McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc.) wireless data business, joins Inrix’s board of directors. She will apply her deep experience turning wireless data applications into services that have transformed the way people use mobile devices to the company’s efforts targeted at the mobile industry.
“Inrix is seizing on a significant opportunity to deliver next generation traffic information to mobile, Web and other markets,” VanderMeulen said. “I look forward to contributing to Inrix’s innovation and growth.”
Roger Eigsti, former president and chief executive officer of Safeco Corporation, also joins Inrix’s board of directors bringing decades of experience leading major corporations as well as serving on the boards of several public and private companies. He will focus on helping drive Inrix’s long term strategy and success.
They will join John Johnston, co-founder at August Capital; Dan Grossman, principal at Venrock Associates and Bryan Mistele, Inrix president and chief executive officer on the board.
Other recent additions to the Inrix executive team include Thomas Sexton as vice president of sales bringing twenty years of sales and sales management experience to the company. Most recently, Sexton led traffic data sales for Westwood One, the nation’s largest radio network and leading provider of traffic incident data. Additionally, Kush Parikh, former general manager of Texas Instruments’ Mobile TV Business Unit, has joined Inrix as vice president of business development. Parikh has extensive sales, product marketing, and business management experience with mobile carriers and portable device manufacturers.
“Explosive growth in the local search and navigation markets is driving significant demand for applications leveraging our unique traffic services,” said Inrix President and CEO Bryan Mistele. “The collective expertise from our expanded executive team and board of directors, as well as our new advisory board will ensure Inrix capitalizes on this growth by enabling our customers to leverage real-time, predictive and forecast traffic information to successfully grow their businesses.”
Inrix Forms Advisory Board
Inrix also announced the formation of an advisory board headed by Lynda Applegate, Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. Applegate is a recognized expert in the areas of entrepreneurial ventures, information technology and executive management. The advisory board will provide strategic counsel to Inrix executives on key issues and leverage industry relationships to establish connections with potential partners and customers. Applegate is joined on the advisory board by Dennis Walsh, former Chief Technology Officer of General Motors; David Weld, founder and vice chairman of MessageGate; Matt Kursh, former General Manager of MSN; and Laura Rippy, former CEO of Handango.