Jeffrey P. Bezos
Founder and CEO
Amazon.com, Inc.
Jeff Bezos has always been interested in anything that can be revolutionized by computers. Intrigued by the amazing
growth in use of the Internet, he created a business model that leveraged the Internet’s unique ability to deliver huge
amounts of information rapidly and efficiently. He founded Amazon.com, Inc., in 1994; it is now the leading online
retailer, offering services that traditional retailers cannot: lower prices, authoritative selection, and a wealth of product
information. Before founding Amazon.com, Mr. Bezos worked at the intersection of computer science and finance,
helping to build one of the most technically sophisticated quantitative hedge funds on Wall Street for D.E. Shaw & Co.
He also led the development of computer systems that helped manage more than $250 billion in assets for Bankers
Trust Co. Mr. Bezos graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in electrical engineering and computer science
from Princeton University in 1986.
TaPan Bha T
Senior Vice President, Front Doors and Network Services
Yahoo! Inc.
Tapan Bhat is Yahoo’s senior vice president of Front Doors and Network Services, driving strategy, product
management, and programming for the primary starting points to Yahoo. These services include Yahoo’s home page,
My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, and Yahoo! Buzz. In addition, Mr. Bhat leads the network services team, which is focused
on creating a more consumer-centric and integrated experience across the Yahoo! network through consistent product
strategy, standards, and global product planning. Mr. Bhat has spent his career building and marketing innovative new
products and businesses in the consumer software, Internet services, and packaged goods industries. He was the first
product manager of Quicken.com and grew it to the No. 1 finance site before leaving to start his own business, which
was subsequently sold to Intuit. He then managed Adobe’s consumer digital imaging and video business, developing
and launching market-leading consumer imaging and video Photoshop products.
Michael Birch
Former Chief Executive Officer
Bebo
Michael Birch served as Bebo’s CEO since 2005, when the company was founded. In addition to the traditional
CEO role, Mr. Birch focused on the technical and product aspects of the business. Before joining Bebo, Mr. Birch
co-founded BirthdayAlarm.com, which he still owns, a website with more than 40 million members worldwide; and
Ringo.com, an early (and at the time second-largest) social network, which he sold in 2003 to Tickle.com, now owned
by Monster.com. After graduating from Imperial College in London with a BS degree in physics, Mr. Birch focused
on database-driven computer systems before leaving to found Internet companies in 1999. He chose to focus on
consumer Internet sites initially driven by viral marketing, but more recently he has been specializing in developing
community-driven websites with some of the highest engagement metrics on the Internet.
Xochi Birch
Co-founder
Bebo
Xochi Birch co-founded Bebo and focuses on the company’s operational and financial aspects. She served as Bebo’s
president until 2007, after which her role changed to chief community officer. The new role allowed her to focus on
what she believed was the foundation of the business. Ms. Birch graduated from St. Mary’s College, Calif., with a BS
degree in business administration and economics. She then developed computer systems for insurance companies
for nine years. In 1999, after the birth of her first child, she co-founded Internet companies and moved from a
technical role to focus on the operational aspects of the business. Before co-founding Bebo, Ms. Birch co-founded
BirthdayAlarm.com, which she still owns, a birthday reminder and e-card service with more than 40 million members
worldwide.
