iPrice Group, South East Asia’s leading product discovery and comparison platform, has appointed Paul Brown-Kenyon as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Previously iPrice Group’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Brown-Kenyon brings more than 20 years of experience in the Asian technology sector, having spent 13 years leading MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd.) and six years with the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
The appointment comes as the e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia is experiencing unprecedented growth as a result of the pandemic crisis. With government-enforced lockdowns across many countries, e-commerce platforms in the region are seeing an influx of new customers.
Recent survey by digital advertising solutions provider Criteo concluded more than 50% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region plan to shop online more as a result of the pandemic.
For iPrice Group, their websites which serve Southeast Asian and Hong Kong consumers also saw a 60% increase in traffic within only the past 2 months.
With consumers increasingly turning to online shopping, tech and media platforms are looking to expand into e-commerce, opening up a multitude of partnership opportunities for iPrice Group as an e-commerce enabler. iPrice so far has entered partnership with such diverse companies as New Straits Times, IDN Times, VnExpress, Thairath, LINE, Visenze, Home Credit Indonesia, and is exploring other partnerships across the region.
Earlier this year, iPrice Group also successfully closed a $10 million Series B led by ACA Investments, which brought their total funding so far to $20 million.
“With rapid growth in our team size, client base and partnerships, changes to the management team are critical for our continued success,” said David Chmelař, iPrice Groups’ former CEO who now assumes the title of Executive Vice-Chairman and Co-founder.
“Paul’s experience in building tech companies in Asia is a perfect match to the growing demand on operational excellence at iPrice. We are convinced that in this new role, Paul will help bring iPrice to the top league of SEA startups.”
Sharing details of his new role, Mr. Brown-Kenyon said “iPrice’s core value proposition – helping online consumers navigate and find the best online deals – has become even more important today. Starting with our own websites, we are now the content provider for the websites and apps of multiple top brands in the region. David and the team have done an amazing job building iPrice into this position.”
“My primary focus will be on helping the organization scale successfully to meet the rapidly expanding needs of our consumers, merchants and partners all looking to tap into the e-commerce opportunity. To accomplish this, I’ll be overseeing areas such as strategy, operational excellence, corporate governance, performance management, as well as making iPrice an attractive workplace for talents in the region,” added the newly minted Chief Executive Officer.
As regards Mr. Chmelař, his new role in the company will enable him to spend more time dealing with the external world on behalf of iPrice. “Given that relationships with partners and merchants are critical to our future success, in my new role, I will be devoting my attention to business development and partner relations in addition to working with our Board and investor group. I am very much looking forward to the challenges and happy to continue dedicating my full energies to iPrice.” added the Executive Vice-Chairman and Co-founder.
As a further announcement, Heinrich M. Wendel, iPrice Group’s co-founder and current Chief Technology Officer, will take an additional title of Chief Product Officer as he will spend more time on developing iPrice’s product offerings and setting the direction for the company’s technology in the long term.