Shelby Bryan
John Shelby Bryan (born March 21, 1946) is an American telecommunications pioneer, international business executive, and venture capitalist.
The Texas-born millionaire, who fought as a Golden Gloves boxer, received his B.A. and Law Degree from the University of Texas. After graduating the University of Texas Law School, Mr. Bryan was one of only two graduates hired to manage environmental projects for Ralph Nader. He went on to study at Harvard Business School. From there he began working at Morgan Stanley until in 1977. In 1977 Mr Bryan left Morgan Stanley to partner with Swedish media owner Jan Stenbeck to form one of the first modern cellular phone systems in the U.S.
As CEO, Mr. Bryan turned the newly founded Millicom, into a company which created cellular operations and more cell licenses, covering a greater population, than any other company to date. One of Millicom's early joint ventures start-ups was Vodafone, which became the world’s largest cell phone company. In September 2013, Vodafone sold its U.S. wireless business to Verizon Communications for $130 billion, making it history's third largest corporate deal. [1]
In 1985, Bryan built up Millicom, which at the time was one of the first of only two cellular phone companies in existence. In 1994, Shelby Bryan became CEO of ICG Communications, and in 1996, Bryan became one of Bill Clinton's chief fund raisers and supporters. In 1999, Bryan was named to President Clinton's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
In 2000, Bryan stepped down from his role at ICG as ICG began to face difficult times. Arguments can be made that this was in part due to the marketplace uncertainty the company faced, as well as the competitive nature of the industry which was populated by larger companies who were investing billions in infrastructure. Some have said that Bryan would not cower to the press, so when troubles hit ICG, they were more critical of him than they might otherwise have been.
Currently BusinessWeek lists Bryan as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PingTone Communications,[2] an IP communications company. He is also involved with oil and gas ventures.
Immediate family
Bryan and his first wife, Lucia, have two daughters, Ashley and Alexis. After divorcing Lucia, Bryan married his second wife Katherine, and had two sons, Austin and Jack. Bryan made waves in 1999 when he left his second wife for fashion editor Anna Wintour. Since those heady days, the frenzy around the couple, who reside in Anna's Greenwich Village manse, has ebbed. Though he squires her to fashion events and U.S. Open matches, Shelby, says an insider, intentionally flies "under the radar."
Shelby's father was James Perry Bryan III.[3] Shelby's mother was Gretchen (Smith) Bryan.[4] Shelby's paternal grandfather was William Joel Bryan II.[5] Shelby's paternal grandmother was Catherine Weisinger Perry.[6]
Descent from Austin family
Shelby is the great, great, great grandson of Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Perry. Shelby is not a direct descendant of Emily's brother, Stephen F. Austin; Stephen F. Austin did not have offspring, issue, or children.[7]
He is however a direct descendent of Stephen F Austin's father Moses Austin who, in 1821, left for Missouri with a grant to bring 300 colonists into Texas. These colonist were referred to as the The Old Three Hundred. His full family tree may be found on the Brazoria County Historical Museum's website.
Bryan's oldest known relative is Richard Austin who sailed, with his wife and two sons to America in 1638 on the ship Bevis.
Personal life
Shelby is in a committed relationship with Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour, and is an avid golfer and traveler.
References
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/02/us-vodafone-verizon-idUSBRE97S08C20130902
- ^ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=3641854
- ^ Marie Beth Jones, 1982, Peach Point Plantation: The First 150 Years (Waco: Texian Press), p. 191, ISBN 0-9630042-0-4
- ^ Marie Beth Jones, 1982, Peach Point Plantation: The First 150 Years (Waco: Texian Press), p. 191, ISBN 0-9630042-0-4
- ^ Marie Beth Jones, 1982, Peach Point Plantation: The First 150 Years (Waco: Texian Press), p. 191, ISBN 0-9630042-0-4
- ^ Marie Beth Jones, 1982, Peach Point Plantation: The First 150 Years (Waco: Texian Press), p. 191, ISBN 0-9630042-0-4
- ^ Adriance, Lois Brock. (1984) Descendants of Moses Austin, Texian Press: Waco, p. 1, Library of Congress Number 84-080078
- Gray, Kevin (1999-09-20). "The Summer of Her Discontent". New York magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-09.