Rodriques Departs Verizon Business

Former Totality, Novo CEO Shifts Focus to Technology-Driven Media & Entertainment

Kelly Rodriques, former CEO of managed services provider Totality, has announced his departure from Verizon Business which acquired his company last year. An early advocate of moving business to the web, Rodriques leaves the firm with a legacy of successfully building and merging technology-driven services companies.

Rodriques also is shifting his focus as he departs; intent now on building consumer-directed, media and entertainment companies and more than one-at-a-time. Two years ago he co-founded the Hollywood-based, independent film production company, Sire7; he serves on the board of five separate on-line companies and is in discussion to create an investment fund to underwrite his efforts.

"When the interactive marketing group was founded inside Ogilvy & Mather nearly 20 years ago, we saw the economic potential of what was then new technology," Rodriques said. "First with NOVO, an e-business services provider that we sold to international marketing services giant, Publicis, in 2000 and now with Totality's recent acquisition by Verizon, we have seen the business value of technology made real."

In planning what comes next, Rodriques is looking beyond what is being called Web 2.0 toward a more integrated technology, content and user-defined business model. He already sits on the board of six firms, including:

--  M/Foundry (www.mfoundry.com), a platform designed to easily move
    applications and content to mobile devices;
--  Global Gaming League (www.ggl.com), focused on multi-user, online and
    live video game tournaments; and
--  Bandalong (www.bandalong.com), linking fashion, self-expression,
    community and role-playing games in a rich IM environment.
    

Rodriques is in current discussion with investors and company executives to create an investment fund to create new companies and accelerate a return on technology investment.

"What comes next has to be focused on using technology to create richer content, tighter communications and trustworthy media," Rodriques said. "The ability to bring proven leadership, use technology to create simultaneous business and customer value and attract the capital to underwrite the effort will be key."

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Distributed by Market Wire

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