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Derek Handley

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Derek Handley
Handley in 2011
Born1978 (age 45–46)
Hong Kong
CitizenshipNew Zealand
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, speaker, author

Derek Handley (born 1978) is a New Zealand entrepreneur, speaker, and author who was born in Hong Kong.[1] With his brother Geoffrey Handley, he co-founded the global mobile marketing and media company The Hyperfactory[2] and the mobile advertising network Snakk Media, which subsequently failed. He is the founder and managing partner of Aera VC,[3] and founder of Wiser Conversations,[4] "a series of virtual conversations designed to help us reflect and respond to our new surreality",[5] created as a response to the pandemic.

Early life and education

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Handley was born in Hong Kong, and grew up in New Zealand.[6] He attended Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University, and undertook the MIT Sloan School of Management executive program.

Career

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Early career

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At 22, Handley founded a global online sports-betting business called Feverpitch which fizzled out, he listed on the venture-style New Capital Market of New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX),[7] He subsequently led a merger of several companies in the New Zealand childcare sector and formed Kidicorp Group Limited, which backed into Feverpitch.[8][9] The move was not an outstanding success and the Wright Family bought Kidicorp back in 2007 in a deal valuing it about $42m. [1]

Handley also served as chair of Booktrack in 2012-2013,[10][11] a company developing e-reader technology incorporating soundtracks for e-books.[12] The company was also backed by Peter Thiel.[13][11]

In 2013, Handley was named an adjunct executive professor for Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.[14] Currently, he is studying religion at the Harvard University Extension School.[15]

Mobile industry ventures

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Derek co-founded the global mobile technology and media company The Hyperfactory in 2001,[2] prior to the proliferation of internet-enabled mobile handsets.[16] The company went on to win numerous awards.[17][18] It was subsequently acquired by media conglomerate Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP)[19][20][21] though it is uncertain whether this was a successful purchase for Meredith as the company subsequently wrote off the investment.

In 2011, he co-founded the mobile advertising network Snakk Media,[citation needed] which listed on the NZ Alternative Exchange (NZAX) in 2013,[22] becoming one of the first public B-Corporations.[23] Handley stepped down from the Snakk Board in 2015.[24] The company was later placed into voluntary administration due to financial difficulty in 2018,[25] then later removed from liquidation in 2020.[26][27][28]

Chief Technology Officer of New Zealand

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Handley's application for the governmental role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of New Zealand became a political controversy when he applied in 2018.[29][30] The role was to be created under the auspices of Government Digital Services Minister Clare Curran. On 24 August 2018, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dismissed Curran from the Cabinet after it became clear Curran had met Handley in February at her Beehive office to discuss his interest in the vacant CTO role. Curran had failed to disclose the meeting in her ministerial diary and to inform staff or officials about it (the second meeting she had failed to disclose). Curran apologised to the Prime Minister for her actions and eventually resigned as a Minister.[31][32][33][34]

In September 2018, Handley announced that he had been offered, and had accepted, the CTO role in August.[35] Soon after, the Government announced that it would not be proceeding with the role after concerns were raised by the business community and NZ entrepreneurs over Derek’s selection, suitability, and credibility,[36] and paid Handley compensation of $107,000 (three months' pay plus reimbursement for moving costs). Handley said he was "deeply disappointed" by the process but the Government's decision to halt it was understandable due to the concerns raised.[35]

Recent and current roles

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Handley is currently General Partner with Aera VC, a fund which invests in deep-tech ventures underpinned by social impact[37] and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.[38] He launched the fund at Wharton Business School, where he was named Social Innovator in Residence.[39][40]

In 2013, he joined the board of Sky Television, a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange,[41] stepping down from the role in January 2021.[42] He is also the founding CEO of Richard Branson's The B Team.[43][44][45] He remained with the B Team as entrepreneur-in-residence and adviser until 2015.[46]

Awards and honours

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In September 2006, Handley was a finalist in the Bayer Innovator Awards (Information Technology and Communications Category).[47]

In October 2009, he received the 2009 EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[48]

In December 2010, he was named finalist for the New Zealand Herald Business Leader of the Year.[49][50]

In October 2011, he was listed on the 'Silicon Alley 100' of the most influential technology people in New York.[51][52] That same year he was named a New Zealand 2011 Sir Peter Blake Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust,[53] and became a World Class New Zealander.[54]

In March 2015, he was named one of 100 visionary leaders by the Young Presidents' Organization, a global network of business leaders who have achieved success at an early age.[55]

In April 2015, he was year named a Distinguished Young Alumni of Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington, New Zealand).[56]

In September 2015, he was named in the world's top 100 influential leaders by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a global accrediting body and membership association for business schools.[57][58]

In November 2015, he was named one of the top 10 most influential social entrepreneurs on Twitter (by Chivas' The Venture, US).[59]

In November 2016, the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania invited Handley to join the David Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence Program, naming him the third "Innovator in Residence" to visit the school.[60]

Personal life

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Handley has a son with his wife, Maya. During the process of applying for the Chief Technology Officer position, he moved his family back to New Zealand to live in Auckland.[6]

In November 2017, Handley was granted New Zealand citizenship by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin, under the "exceptional circumstances" provision. The provision was required because he had not spent enough time in New Zealand to meet the usual requirements to become a citizen, since he was 865 days short. Handley argued that he did not meet the requirements because he frequently travelled for business.[6]

References

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  1. ^ De Lore, Claire (16 April 2018). "Derek Handley talks Trump, business and coming home". New Zealand Listener (March 22, 2018 ed.). Noted. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Why Hyperfactory Buy Makes Sense for Meredith". Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Aera Team". Aera VC — AKL / HK. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Derek Handley". Wiser Conversations. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Wiser Conversations with Derek Handley". Wiser Conversations. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Bennett, Lucy (17 November 2018). "Derek Handley granted citizenship under exceptional circumstances provision". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Books With Soundtracks: The Future of Reading?". The Atlantic. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  8. ^ Griffin, Peter (16 January 2002). "Betting exchange offers investors a safer punt". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  9. ^ "New baby boom for KidiCorp". NZ Herald.
  10. ^ "How Derek Handley is taking on the world". Stuff. 2 July 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Software firm seeks $3 million from local backers". NZ Herald.
  12. ^ "Snakk appoints new Chair; refreshes Board for next phase" (PDF). Investors.snakkmedia.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Hyperfactory's Derek Handley + PayPal founder Peter Thiel backs groundbreaking NZ-developed new e-reading sound+SFX technology Booktrack". 29 August 2011.
  14. ^ "Dollars and Change interviews AeraVC founder Derek Handley". Wharton University of Pennsylvania, Social Impact. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Wiser Conversations with Derek Handley". Wiser Conversations.
  16. ^ "Young entrepreneur goes global". Stuff. 24 October 2009.
  17. ^ "The Hyperfactory sells strategic stake to Meredith Corp". 3 News. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  18. ^ Hall, Mitchell (6 May 2009). "Hyperfactory and Xero big winners at 'online oscars'". National Business Review. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Meredith Corporation Broadens Mobile Marketing Capabilities by Completing Acquisition of Industry Leader The Hyperfactory". ir.meredith.com.
  20. ^ "mobiForge – Mobile Web Development". Mobithinking.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  21. ^ "IDC Selects 10 Wireless Entertainment Companies to Watch in 2007: Small Players That Could Have Big Impact. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Snakk Media now listed". RNZ. 6 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Why at Snakk Media, the hot shots don't get paid that much more, how it made to the 'Best for Workers' list". 23 April 2015.
  24. ^ "Snakk founder Derek Handley to leave board, shares fall". businessdesk.co.nz.
  25. ^ "Mobile advertising company Snakk Media in administration". NZ Herald.
  26. ^ "Rescue looms for Snakk Media creditors". Stuff. 19 October 2020.
  27. ^ Brunskill, Dan. "Handley's Snakk is back, as a listing shell". businessdesk.co.nz.
  28. ^ "Snakk Media taken out of liquidation for backdoor listing". NBR. 19 October 2020.
  29. ^ Patterson, Jane (26 September 2018). "Handley saga: Blast waves of political bomb shake confidence". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  30. ^ Greive, Duncan (29 August 2018). "NZ tech is losing it over the idea of Derek Handley as CTO of New Zealand". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Jacinda Ardern sacks Clare Curran from Cabinet, removes her from two portfolios after second failure to declare a meeting". 1 News. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  32. ^ Hurley, Emma (24 August 2018). "Prime Minister removes Clare Curran from Cabinet". Newshub. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Clare Curran sacked from Cabinet, PM Jacinda Ardern announces". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  34. ^ Pullar-Strecker, Tom (14 September 2018). "Derek Handley receives $107k in compensation after being dumped as chief technology officer". Stuff. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  35. ^ a b Hadnley, Derek (14 September 2018). "The Role of New Zealand CTO". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  36. ^ Greive, Duncan (29 August 2018). "NZ tech is losing it over the idea of Derek Handley as CTO of New Zealand".
  37. ^ "Q&A with Derek Handley: From B Team to Aera VC". Impact Alpha. 28 January 2017.
  38. ^ "Aera VC — AKL / HK". Aera VC — AKL / HK.
  39. ^ "Social Innovator in Residence Archives".
  40. ^ Abraham, Tony (8 November 2016). "A high-profile social entrepreneur announced his new fund at Wharton". Generocity Philly.
  41. ^ "From near ruin to success – Derek Handley – Business – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 24 May 2013.
  42. ^ "Sky Network Television's (ASX:SKT) Derek Handley steps down - The Market Herald". themarketherald.com.au. 8 January 2021.
  43. ^ "On cloud nine: Budding Kiwi space tourists ready to follow Sir Richard Branson". NZ Herald.
  44. ^ Hub, IISD's SDG Knowledge. "B Team Launches Responsible Tax Principles for Businesses | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD".
  45. ^ "On the trail of the Green Swan | Greenbiz". www.greenbiz.com.
  46. ^ "Thinking of Leaving the 'Safety' of the Corporate World?". NBR. 17 May 2014.
  47. ^ "Bayer Innovator Awards: Information Technology and Communications". NBR. New Zealand. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  48. ^ Hunter, Tim (25 October 2009). "Young entrepreneur goes global". Sunday Star Times. New Zealand. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  49. ^ Twose, Helen (10 December 2010). "Business Leader of the Year 2010 Finalist: Derek Handley". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  50. ^ "Derek Handley: What I've learned from two years with Richard Branson". NZ Herald.
  51. ^ "2011 Silicon Alley 100: A-Z Order". Business Insider. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  52. ^ "The Complete 2011 Silicon Alley 100 List: RANKED!". Business Insider. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  53. ^ "The Blake Leader Alumni". The Sir Peter Blake Trust. 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  54. ^ "World Class New Zealand". Export New Zealand. 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  55. ^ "Derek Handley, Serial entrepreneur". Real Leaders. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  56. ^ "Victoria honours distinguished alumni". Victoria University. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  57. ^ "Influential Leaders". AACSB International. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  58. ^ "Victoria alumnus named in world's top 100 influential leaders". AACSB International. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  59. ^ "Top Ten: Most Influential Social Entrepreneurs on Twitter". The Venture. 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  60. ^ "Social Innovator in Residence Program to Host Entrepreneur Derek Handley, Nov. 2–3". 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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