Eric Leven, Chief Executive Officer
Eric is responsible for Rip Road's operations and strategic direction.
Prior to Rip Road, Eric was a Director of New Business for Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless, where he launched hundreds of wireless products with major media companies. He led the Cingular team that focused on strategic mobile video relationships, and was instrumental in setting up the exclusive HBO Mobile video relationship. He established the first Hispanic mobile content portal, led the development of all AT&T's Mobile News and information products, led development for AT&T's Ringtones and Graphics offers, and championed Location Services. He was responsible for setting up AT&T Wireless' premium SMS business, and he helped build the industry SMS Common Short Code (CSC) initiative in 2003.
Before working at AT&T Wireless, Eric was VP of Business Development and Content at Europe Online Networks in Luxembourg. He led the content team and all content deals, and assisted in raising over $70 million of capital for the company.
Aditya Verma, Executive V.P. - Marketing
Aditya is responsible for Rip Road's Clients' Mobile campaign development and execution.
Prior to Rip Road, Aditya was the Director of Youth Marketing for Cingular Wireless, where he oversaw the carrier's marketing efforts aimed at acquiring and retaining youth customers. Initiatives included exclusive Content development, Game development - with the major Game manufacturers, Events, Promotions, Advertising, the creation of a Loyalty Club, Handset manufacturer co-op programs and marketing campaigns designed to increase wireless data usage.
Prior to Cingular's merger with AT&T Wireless, Aditya led data advertising and marketing for AT&T Wireless' mobile internet service, mMode. Aditya also developed the interactive marketing plan for American Idol, and worked with numerous Brands to create the first attempts at Mobile Marketing campaigns. Additionally, he launched AT&T Wireless' Ogo, a mobile device targeted at youth customers for text messaging, IM, and email on the go.
Aditya come out of the Advertising Agency world where he worked at Merkley Newman Harty as Group Account Director and led the advertising development of accounts including IBM, BellSouth, and jetBlue Airways.
Mark A. Berman, Executive V.P. - Finance and Strategy
Mark is responsible for Rip Road's finances.
Prior to Rip Road, Mark was a Senior V.P. and Director of Tokyo Equity Research for Lehman Brothers, where he helped build the company's research department in Tokyo. While there, he created the Lehman Brothers Custom Products team, a highly successful group within research that was deployed throughout Lehman Brothers globally. Mark was certified as an Internal Control Manager by the Japanese Securities Dealers Association and holds a CFA designation.
Prior to that, Mark was a Director and Senior Analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston's telecommunications and media sector, based in Tokyo. He was responsible for sector coverage of Japanese telecommunications and media, including NTT DoCoMo, NTT, KDDI, Japan Telecom (then Vodafone Japan), and the Japanese broadcasters.
From 1994-2000, Mark was the global technology, telecommunications and multimedia senior analyst, for Rockefeller & Company, Inc. and for Jardine Fleming Securities (now owned by JPMorganChase).
