Marc Simoncini
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Biography
In 1998, after working for more than ten years as a communication systems developer for Opsion Innovation, Marc Simoncini created i(france), a consumer internet portal designed to provide web surfers with free tools such as free email, hosting services for personal sites, agendas, etc.
In 2000, Marc Simoncini sold i(france) to Vivendi Universal before developing Meetic.
Philippe Dian
Director
Biography
With a master's in business law and a diploma from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Philippe Dian began his career as a lawyer for the Cabinet Gide Loyrette Nouel firm (from 1979 to 1981) after which he moved to Cabinet Veil et Associes and subsequently to Veil Armfelt Jourde as a full partner (until 1993). In 1993, he was the founding lawyer of the Deprez Dian Guignot firm. At present he is also chairman of MDP (a family-owned holding company), manager of SARL RFPC (a family-owned holding company), a member of the Supervisory Board of XTS telecom and a director of Bianca Finances.
Gregory R. Blatt
Director
Biography
With a BA from Colgate University and a juris doctorate from Columbia Law School, Gregory R. Blatt began his career in New York at the business law firms Watchell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Grubman Industry & Schindler. Before joining IAC/InterActiveCorp, he was Executive Vice-President and Legal Director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, with responsibility for legal affairs and expansion. Gregory R. Blatt is currently Executive Vice-President at IAC/InterActiveCorp and a member of the Chairman's office since March 2005. In this capacity he supervises legal affairs, human resources and corporate communication. In February 2009, he also became CEO of the Match group.
W. Michael Presz
Director
Biography
An IT graduate from Harvard University, W. Michael Presz has held senior positions at Mobil Oil and MassMutual Life Insurance. He has also worked as a consultant for the US Department of State and Patent Bureau, developing a number of technologically complex solutions. W. Michael Presz joined the Match Group in October 2000 as Technical and IT Director. In 2007, he became Executive Vice-President in charge of the Match Group's international operations with responsibility for websites in 24 countries, strategic development, key business relations and management of the Group's foreign teams.
Benoist Grossmann
Independent director
Biography
Benoist Grossmann holds a doctorate in physics and an MBA from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. He worked for more than 12 years for several venture capital funds before joining AGF Private Equity. He has been a partner of Viventures (from 1998 to 2002) and an investment manager at Financière de Brienne. Before moving to the financial sector, Benoist Grossmann was employed for more than 10 years as a laser systems specialist by EDF, NASA and Thales Optronique. Benoist Grossmann joined AGF Private Equity in 2002. He became a member of the Management Board in 2003 and is currently in charge of the company's venture capital business.
Marc-Louis Landeau
Independent director
Biography
With a degree in economics from Geneva University and an MBA from Columbia University in New York, Marc-Louis Landeau currently heads the Olympia Group, which he founded in 1989. His career began in 1970 when he joined Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas. In 1972, he became Marketing Director and subsequently General Manager of Club Français du Livre. In 1979 he moved to Drexel Burnham Lambert, taking over the Paris office in 1981. In 1989 he set up Olympia Capital Management, of which he has remained Chairman and CEO to this day. Olympia Capital Management is an independent manager of alternative funds of funds with international operations and more than 80 employees in Paris, New York, London, Zurich and Hong Kong.