ActivCard Corp. d/b/a ActivIdentity (NASDAQ:ACTI) , a global leader in digital identity assurance, has today named Jason Hart chief executive officer.
Hart, a member of the company's board of directors, a major shareholder, and senior vice president of sales and marketing, assumes leadership of ActivIdentity from Ben C. Barnes.
"We thank Ben for his dedication and hard work during his tenure," said Dr. Richard A. Kashnow, chairman of the board. "His leadership of the acquisition and integration of Protocom has strengthened the company and helped to enable a smooth internal succession."
Hart joined ActivIdentity in August 2005 through the acquisition of Protocom, a global leader in enterprise single sign-on technology. As founder and chief executive officer of Protocom, Hart established the company in 1989, and by 2004 was the fastest growing Australian software developer in terms of revenue and employment growth(1).
"Jason's record of accomplishment, industry experience, and his entrepreneurial approach make him well qualified to lead our company into the next phase of our development," said Kashnow.
Dr Kashnow also announced the board's appointment of Thomas Jahn as chief operating officer. Jahn was formerly the company's chief restructuring and integration officer. He joins company founder and president, Yves Audebert, and Mark Lustig, whose appointment as chief financial officer was recently announced, as a member of the executive management team.
"With the acquisition of Protocom seven months ago and having Jason join the company both as a member of the board and senior manager, I had always envisioned him as a successor to me as CEO," said Ben C Barnes. "Recently we completed rounding out the executive team with the appointment of Mark Lustig as CFO. I have taken ActivIdentity up to this key transition point and believe it is time to step aside prior to the annual shareholder meeting next week. I have every confidence that with Jason's leadership the company will execute the business plans we have put in place."
"I am excited to be taking the helm of ActivIdentity at this point of market growth and corporate opportunity," said Hart. "Our history, product and patent portfolio, and industry expertise in serving a global customer base make ActivIdentity well suited to exploit the growing digital identity markets."
About Jason Hart
Mr. Hart founded Protocom in 1989 and has received many awards and international recognition for his business acumen, innovation and leadership in the information and communication technology sector.