Milestone Hires New CEO From IT Integrator
For the first time in 20 years, Milestone Systems has a new CEO and, notably, the incoming executive comes off a term as an EVP of a $5+ billion revenue IT systems integrator.
We spoke with the new CEO, Thomas Jensen, and share our conversation and outlook for Milestone in this note.
Jensen ********
****** ****** ** * ***** **** CEO *********** * ****** *** ********** rise ******* *** ********* ***** ****** the ***** ***** *** *********** / ***********, ********* ****** *****:
************,****** *** *** *** ********** ****** **** ******** ** *******.
Experience ** *******
***** ******* ** *** ****-***** ** the ********, ** ** * *****,******** ******, ******** ** ********** **** **** $5+ ******* ****** *******. **** ***** Jensen ******** ********** ******* ** ** least **** ** *********'* ********.
************, ****** ********* *** **** ** Bechtle **:
*********** *** ******* *** ******** *********** for *** ************ ********* ************* ********; Strategic ****** **********; ******** ***********; *** M&A. ** ********, ****** ***** ******** Europe (******, *****, ******** & *****), United *******, *** ******* ****** (******, Hungary & ***** ********).
Conversation **** *** *** ******
**** ***** **** ****** **** *** following **** *********:
****** **** ** *** ** ********* of ******** * *** ******** *** that ** **** ***** *** ***** few ******, ******** ** *** *, 2020, ************* *** ** ******* ********** growth ******* ******** ********* ********.
*** **** ** *********'* ******** ********** team ** ******** ********* *** **** Larsen, **** ******* ******** *** *** Bjørn **** *********.
***** ******** *** **** ********** *** and ******* ******** ** *** ***** for ****-*** / ******* ******* *******, it *** *** *** **** ********** what ****, ** ***, *** *** Jensen **** **** **** *******. ****** referred ** ******* ** * ********* partner.
****** ********** **** ** *** ***** 95% ** *** ****** ***************, ********* living ** ******* ****** *** * years, ******** *** ** ******* *** Danish ***** **** ****** **********.
Pros ** ******
******'* ***** ****** ***** ******** *** desire ** *******, ***** ** ****** for *********. ******** *** **** ********* had * *** ** ***** ********* (like ***** ** *****) ***** *** be ***** *** *** *** ** not **** ********* ***** ** *** VMS ****** ******* **** *****. ******, as * ***** **** ***, **** have *********** ********** ** **** ********* succeed. ****** **** *** *********** ******** management *********, ********** ** *****, **** will ****.
Cons ** ******
******* ****** ** *** ** *** industry, ** ** ************ *******, ** is ***** ** **** **** *** him ** ***** ********** **. ** does *** ***** ***** *** *, 2020, ** **** ** ** ********** scenario, ** **** **** *** ** mid-2021 ** ****** ********** *** ************ and ********** ********* *****.
***** ******'* ***** ****** *** *********'* historic ***** *****, **** ****** **** help ***** ***** **** ***** ** reasonable.
*******, *** ********* *******, ** ** expressed *********** *** ********, ** **** ** ** ***** the *****. ****** **** ** ** systems **********, ** ***** ****** *********** the ***** ** ******* ********. *** what **** ********* ** ****? *** is ****** ********** ** ********* **** sibling ******* *******?
*******
******* * *****, ********* *** ********* solves *** ***** ********* *******. **** Jensen *** ***** ******* ** **** Milestone *** ******* **** *** **** few ***** ******* **** **** ********** ** ***.
Vote / ****
* ******** **** ******** ******** ** climb ******* ** **** *** *** company - ***** *** ******** ** true
* ***** *** **** ***** *** case. ** **** ** **** ********* is ***** ** **** ******* *** is ********* *** ******** ** **** them *** ******* ****. * ***** be ***** ***** **** *** * don't **** ****** ****** * ***** phone **** *** * ***** **** of *********** *** ******.
****** ***** ** **** * **** time ******* *** ** ****** **** are *** **, ** **** *** tenure ** ******* **** ** ******* 24 ******
** **** ** ****** *** ** a *******. ****'* * ***** ****** to *****. *** ** *** (*) 7-year ****** ** **. ** ** spends * ***** ** *** ** Milestone **** ***** **** * ***** tenure.
* ** ****** **** **** ********* (board *** *** **** ** *** C-suite) ** ********* ********* **** **** they **** ** * *** ** someone *** **** *** **** ** change ********.
**** *** ** *** *** *** this ***? * ***'* **** *** I ***** ***** ** *********'* *****'* business ** **** ********** *** ****, less ***** ** **** ******* *** CSMO ** ***, ***/**?
***, ******, **** ** *** ********** about ******** ** *******? * ***'* really **** *** * ******* ** was **** ****** **** **** **** in *** **.
* ***** *** ***** ** ********* (which ** *********** *** **** ** it *** ** *** **** ** years) *** ***** **** *** *** things ***. **** ** *** **** disruption ** ***** *******. ****, ***** will ** ***********, *** ** ***** hearts **** ****** **** ****** **** to ******** *******. **'** *** **** happens * *****.
***** ** ** **** ***** ** promote **ø** (*** ***) ** *** CEO ********?
**** ** ****** ***********, *** ***** on ** ********** *****'* ***** * bit ** ******** ******* *** **** making *** ******* *** *** **** selling **. *****'* * ****** **** promoting **ø** ***** ****** ******* *** vice *****. * *** **** ****** as ******* *** ** *** "*******" choice **** *****'* ****** ******, *** maintains *** ******* ******* *** ***. I'd ** ******* ***** ********* *** over *** *****, ** ** ******* party ***** **** * **** ******.
******** ** *******?
** **** ** **** ***** *** "*****-***" (* **** ** ****-******** *********) as * ******* ************ *****. *** I ***** ***** ****** ******** ****** that "***". ** ****** ****** ***** it ** *** ********.
*** *** * *** **, ** someone ***** ** "* **** ** create *** ****** **** ***-*****", **** that's ********, *** * ******* ** (even ** *** ***-***** *** ********, the ****** ** ***** ** ***********). If ******* **** "* **** ** be ***" **** *'* **** *********. I'm *** ********* **** ****** *** just ***** * ***** ** * paycheck, *** ******** * ***'* ***** people *** **** **** ** ** CEO's **** **** **** ***'*. * don't ***** ****'* * ************ ************ trait.
* ***'* ***** *** ****** *** moving **** ***** ** *****, ** it ***** ** ** *** **** efficient *** ** ******** ****** ***. I ******* *** ***** ********* ***** a ****; *** **** ***'** ****** Peter *** ***** **** ** **** on ** **** **.
* *** ** **** **** *** had * ***** ** *****. * am *********.
***** *** *** *** *** ****** to ** *** ******* *** *** the *********** ** ***** ********/********** ** security *** * ***** ***** ** just ***** *****?
******* *** *** *** *********** ** Canon ********/********** ** ********
****, ****?
** **** **** ******* *** ******, Canon **** ****, ********* *** ******** having ************* ********* ** ****. ***** ****, *** ******* ******** has **** ** ***** ********* *** related ************ **********. ** **** *** seen *** ***** ***** ** **** happening. ***, ** *****, * ***'* know, ****** * ***'* *** *** now. ***** *** *** ***?
** *** *** ***** ** ***** in ** ********, ******* **** **** a * **** ***** ****** ********* and ******** * *** ********, *** not *** ** ***** *** ***** cart *** ***** * *** ***** in *** *******.
*** **** **** ******* *** ******** without ********* ****** *** *** ******* man ***** ** **** * *** title ** *** ******, ***** **** to **.
*****....
** ******* ** *** **** ************ rationale ** **** **** **** * guy *** *** ****** *** ********. Maybe ****** ***** *** ** ** bad *** * ***** ** *** a **** **** ****** ** **** as * ***.
*’* *** ****** ** ** ***, I’m ****** ** ***** **** “*** guy” *** ***** **** ***** *** title ** ****.
** ** *** ***** ** ***** the ******** *** ******* * *** business ********, *** *** ********** ** it....that’s ***** *** ****** ********.
** ** *****, * ** *** saying ** *** ***** ** ***** Axis.
*******, * ** **** ****** * don't ***** ** ***** **** * short **** ******** ** ***** ****, Milestone *** ******** *** ** *** fall ***.
**'* **** * ***** ********** ***** there's ** ******** *** ****. *** could ** *****, ** ******, *** I ***'* *** **** ****** ** evidence *** *** ****** ****.
** ***** **** * ****** ******. Jensen **** ** ******* **** *** Danish *******/******** **** *** ***** ************* twist **** *** *******. *** ** the ********* ******* ********** (*** **'* IT, *** ** *** **** ******** that **** ** ** **** *******, but ***** *** **** ** ****** denominators), ***** *** ********* *********** ***. You ***'* **** * *** ** these ********...
* ** **** ** **** ***** great ***** **** *********. *** * am **** **** ** **** **** to *** *** *** ********* ********** - ** ***** ** ***** ** think *********. *** ***** ** ***** made ** ** *********** ********* *** original ***** *****, ** ***** ** passion *** **** ** ******* ********* the ***** *** - *** ** shake ** ****** ************ **** *** the **** ** ******* **** **.
** *** *** ********* ******* ** Axis *** *********. *** ****** *** signs ** **** ****, ** ************* changes *** ******** ********** *** ********* and ***** * ***** ****** ** the **** ***** *** ******* *** built **. * ****** *************; ***. A ******; **.
***** **** ***** ************** **** ** they **** ******** ** ***** *** (exclusive) ***? * ***** **.
*** ***** **** **** ** **** more *********** ** *******. ***** **** to *** *****, *** ********* ******* their ******** ** ** ******* ******* market?
* ** ******* ** ****** ** Milestone *** ******* ******* ** ***** Jensen **** ***** *** ****.
********* *** **** ***** *** **** thing *** ****** ****** ***** ** the *********** *** *** **** *****. What ********* ***** **** *** * don't **** ** **** *** **** do **** ** ****** ** ** more ********** **** *** ** ** market ******** ***** *** *** ******* ever.
**** ******** ** **** ********* * believe *** *** *** ****** ***** Avigilon *** ******* **** ***** **** advantage ** ******* **** ****** ** the *** ****** **** ********* ** partners ***** **** *** ***** ***** more ***********.
******* *** ********* **** ** **** together ** *** ** **** **** advantage ** **** ******* *** ** able ** **** *** ****** ** VMS ***** ** ****** *** ******* to ** **** ** ******* ********** and *** ***** ***** ****** ******** or *******.
******** ******** ***** ***** ***** * bit ***** ** ** *********** **** like ** **** ****** ******* *** less ************. (****** ***** *****)
**** ***** *** ****** **** ********** directly **** ****. **** ********** ********* sure ***** ****.
**** **** **. ****** **** *** a *** ***** *** ***** ****.
**, **** ****** ***** ******* *** an ******* **** ********? *** ***** the ********?
* *******, **** **** ********’* **** to **** *** **** ** *********** and ************* *** ***** ** *** features ******* ***** ****** ******** *** their ************ ******** (** ****’* *** I **** **) ** ***** ** other, ** ***** *********, ****, ********, Canon.
***** ** ****** **** ******* ** Milestone ******** ********, ***.
***,****** ********* ********** *** ** ********** ** *********:
****** ****** ***** ** ***** **** he ****’* ***-******* **** ********* ******* offered *** *** ********. **’* **** based ** ********* ***** **** ** Executive **** ********* ** *******: “* have ** ******* *** ** ******* and * ***** ********** ****** ** anytime ****. *** **** ********* ******* out ** ** ***** **** *** in * ******* **** ****** ****** and * ***** ********* ********** **** a ***** *******-****** **-**-****** *****, * had ** *****. * ***** ******* that **** *** *** **** ** return ** ******* *** ******* ** know **** ***** *** ***, ** became *****: * *** ***** ****.”
******** ****** ******** *******, *** ******...
* ***** *** ******* ******** ********** I *****. *** ********* *** ****** is ****** **** *** *********** ********* you **** **** *******, *** **'* actually ************ ** **** ** **** elsewhere ** *** *******.
* **** ****flirting **** **** ** * *** *** *****. I've been ready, but waiting for the right match with the right company. I feel that I've found that. Thomas Jensen says
(******** ****)
"*** *** ******* *** ******ø******* * en å**æ***. *** *** *å*** *** været ****, *** *** *** ****** på *** ******* ***** *** *** rigtige **********. *** *ø*** ***, ** jeg *** ******," ***** ****** ******.
**** *** ***** * ******* *****, you ** ****** ***** *** ************. Instead *** *** (*********) ********** ** head-hunters. ** ***'** *** *********** "******* for * ***", ******* *** *** opportunities *** ***** ******* ** ***. But "* ***** ********** ****** ** anytime ****" *** "*'** **** ******** with *** *** **** *** *****" can't **** ** **** ****** ** hoped ** ****** *** *** ** Bechtle (* ***** **** *** ** the *****).
** **** ** ** *** **** he ****'* **** ** ** *** at * "****-****** ****" ******* ***** it ** *** ***** "*******, ******** and ************", *** **** ** ***** Milestone ** **** ***** **** ** the ******** *** ***** ** ****** and **** ********* **** **** ** opinion ** *** *** ** ***** systems. **** **** ** **** ********* is ****** ******** ****** ********** *****. I ***** **** *** ****** ******* of ****** ***** **** **** **** hippie ********.
* ***** **** **** ******** **** Milestone *** ******** ****** ** * number ** ********* *****. **** **** wasted **** *** ***** *** ********** failed ** ******* ** ********** *** coherent ***** ********. **'* **** ** a ****** **********, *** *** ***** is **** ***** ********** **** *** budgets, **'* ********** *** ****** ********** they **** ******** *** *** ****** they've ********* ** *****, *** ******* change **** ***** ******** ** ******** on ********* ***** *****, **** ***** players ****** ***** ****.
** *** ************ *** ********* **** if ** *** ***** ** **** dramatic ******* (* ****** *********** ********) or ** ** ***** ** ******** as ***** (****** ***** ******). * think **** ********* ****** ** ***:
I'm *** ***** ** **** * *** ** *******. I am going to help the company move forward, and tackle the challenges that we, and society is facing.
(******** ****)
"*** **** **** *** ** **** en *** ***** **. *** **** hjælpe ************ ****** ** ****** ** udfordringer, *** ** ** ********* **å* over ***."
* ***** * *** ** "********" may ***** **** ********* ** ***** well ***********, *** **** **** ******** to ******** *** **** **** *** probably **** ****** ***** ** **** momentum *****. ** ** ********, ** may *** ** **** ***, ******* at **** *** ******* *** ******** growth *** **** *** ********** **** Milestone ** ** ***** *********.
********* ** ***** ** ****** *** TJ ** **** ******** ******** ***** major ********* ******* **** ****** ** starts *** ***, ** - *** I ***** * ** ********* ****** here - **'** **** **** ** wait *** ***.
*'* **** ********** ***** **** ***********, and * ******** **** ******** ******** to ***** ******* ** **** *** the ******* - ***** *** ******** is **** (******** * **** ** peer ******** ******** ** **** **** up).
***. *** "**** ********: ********** ** reality" **** **** ** *** ***** way. * ***** **** ******** ****, and ******* * **** **** ** pants. *********** *******, *** ** ************ ****** ******* - ** ****** thought, ******* * ****** **** ****** it ** *** *****.
******* ***** **** ****** ** ** weird ** **** ****** ***** ** have * **** **** ******* *** at ****** **** *** *** **, in **** *** ****** ** ******* will ** ******* ** ****** **** he ****** (*** *** ****** ** Maersk *** ****** **** ** ** of *** **** ********). * ********** that **** ** ****** ******, *** it ****** ***** ** ********** **** I *** **** ******* ********.
********* ** ********** ******* ** ***********, raking ** ***** ** ***** ****** every *******. *** **** ** **** is ****** **. ** ***** **** the ******* ** *****, ********** ** manage, ********* (***** ******* *******), *** a *********. *'* **** ******* ** point ** * ****** *** ** the ******* **** *** ******* ********** success. ** ***** **** - **** like *** - ***** ******* ***** is ***** ****, *** *** **** else.
*** **** ********? ** ** ***, then *** ****** *** ** ** is ** **** **** *** ****** the ***** ***** "********* ****** ********", and ********* **** * *** ** pass *** **** ** *** ****** without ******* *** **** ******.
* ** ****** **** **** ********* (board *** *** **** ** *** C-suite) ** ********* ********* **** **** they **** ** * *** ** someone *** **** *** **** ** change ********. ******* *** *****'* ********* too ****, *** *****'* ***** *** delicate *******-*****-***-*******-******* *********** **** ****'** ********** for *** **** ** *****.
**** **** ********* **** ****** ***** beat *****' **** ******, ******* ****** was * **** ** ********** ***** who **** ****** ***** *** *** in ***** ** ******* - **** Origin ***** **** ******* **** *** a **** ** ***** ***** ****** their ***** *** ***** *** ***** of *******. * ***'* **** ** that ******* ** ********** ** *********, but **** ** **** ** ** resting **** ******* ** * *** pile ** $$$.