Board of Directors
Philippe Catherine
Chairman
Philippe Catherine is chairman and CEO of Mentum® and oversees the ongoing strategic direction of the company. He has over 30 years of experience in the IT and Telecommunications industry. Previously, Mr. Catherine served as chairman and CEO for CTS International where he built strategic relationships with customers and partners around the world. His experience and dedication to partnerships while at CTS led to the acquisition of the Planet portfolio and the creation and launch of Mentum. Prior to joining CTS in 2003, Mr. Catherine worked for 16 years at Hewlett Packard in various roles that included services, sales and marketing. His extensive experience in Hewlett Packard was preceded by his position as European sales and marketing manager for Rohde and Schwarz where he not only headed up sales and marketing for Europe, but also became chairman of the French subsidiary and president of the board for Rohde and Schwarz Spain.
Philippe Catherine holds a 'Diplôme d'Ingénieur en Informatique et Electronique' from the ESIEA, France.
Elderd Land
Board member - GIMV
Elderd Land is executive investment manager within GIMV and represents them on the Mentum board of directors. Mr. Land is responsible for business development of GIMV in the Netherlands where he utilizes his negotiation and commercial skills to further ongoing business opportunities. He also holds board positions in Sofware, Mediornet, Psytechnics and 3mensio. Prior to joining GIMV in 2000, Mr. Land worked at ABN AMRO within the field of corporate finance, responsible for the telecom and Internet sector teams in Amsterdam. Mr. Land has also worked for KPN Telecom in international business development.
Elderd Land holds an MBA and has conducted a year of research at FGV/EAESP in Sao Paulo.
Guillaume Lautour
Board member - AGF Private Equity
Guillaume Lautour, in his role at AGF Private Equity, focuses on investments in the Internet and telecommunications sector. In addition to sitting on the board for Mentum, Mr. Lautour sits on the boards of Telisma, Everbee Networks and Yoono. Prior to joining AGF Private Equity, Guillaume Lautour was a director at Shooter Ltd., based in Beijing, China and advised several large European groups on their industrial projects. Previously, Mr. Lautour worked for more than five years in investment banking on mid-sized M&A transactions at Banque du Phénix in Paris. He started his career as an analyst for various financial operations for technology companies in Paris and New York.
Guillaume Lautour holds a Dipl.-Eng. in Telecommunications Engineering from Telecom Lille, post-graduate degrees in finance and an MSc in economics from the University of Paris. He also attended the CNAM program in actuarial studies in Paris.
Jean-Bernard Schmidt
Board member - Sofinnova Partners
Jean-Bernard Schmidt is a managing partner for Sofinnova. Prior to this position, Mr. Schmidt was Chairman of Sofinnova Partners where he dedicated over 30 years of service. Mr. Schmidt’s experience at Sofinnova included many investments in information technology and life science. He has worked in the United States and Paris where he launched the first Sofinnova Group fund.
Mr. Schmidt is a past and current board member of technology companies in the United States and France. He was a board member of Afic, the French Venture Capital Association and was Chairman of EVCA, the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association from June 2003 to June 2004.
Mr. Schmidt is a graduate of the Essec business school in Paris and holds an MBA from Columbia University.
John Forrest
Board member - Independent Advisor
Dr. Forrest has over twenty years of technical expertise in the telecommunications sector including microwave and optical technologies. He is a long-standing fellow and former senior vice president of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Dr. Forrest was also awarded the CBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee Honours and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Dr. Forrest was director of the venture capital company 3i and has also held appointments including chairman and director at various technology and financial services companies. He has worked extensively on government and public committees and was instrumental in his role as founder of the communications company NTL.
Dr. Forrest has an MA from Cambridge University and a Doctorate in Physics from Oxford University.
