Ng Steps Down, Kupietzky Promoted to President of Oversee.net
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Kupietzky promoted, Ng to leave CEO position and become Chairman of Board.
Domain Name Wire has learned that later today Oversee.net will announce that Jeff Kupietzky has been named President of the company. Oversee.net is parent company of DomainSponsor, Moniker, and Snapnames. Kupietzky had been Executive Vice President as well as General Manager for DomainSponsor. Kupietzky will take over day-to-day operations as Oversee.net co-founder Lawrence Ng steps down from his CEO position and becomes Chairman of the Board.
I had the chance to meet with Kupietzky when I visited Oversee.net last month in Los Angeles. Kupietzky is a seasoned executive with years of technology experience. Prior to Oversee.net, he was Vice President of Marketing for X1 Technologies. Previously, Jeff he was Vice President of Digital Insight, responsible for all consumer product management as well as growth and retention initiatives. He has also held numerous product management positions, building ASP businesses for Siebel Systems, Loudcloud, and 3Com. Jeff consulted for McKinsey & Co. and worked at UBS. He has an MBA with high distinction from Harvard Business School and graduated Summa Cum Laude with B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.
Peter Celeste, who has been running DomainSponsor, will move into Kupietzky’s former role and will now handle all of Oversee’s Domain Services division.
Related posts:
- [UPDATED] Oversee.net Lays Off 18% of Staff
- Jeff Kupietzky Opening Remarks at DOMAINfest
- DNW Radio: Jeff Kupietzky on DOMAINfest Global 2010
Tags: domainsponsor, jeff kupietzky, lawrence ng, Moniker, Oversee.net, SnapNames
Ng is the founder right?
Why would a founder step down from a start up? Usually that’s a bad sign.
No word as to why he is leaving. Chairman is certainly not a full time position.
Rob – it’s typical for a founder to stop aside of a rapidly growing organization. In fact, I’m somewhat surprised it took this long before it happened with such a large outside capital raise. They bring in someone who’s grown an organization from 200 people and $200M revenue into a large company. Sometimes the founder takes a different role in the company, sometimes they just leave day-to-day operations. Consider Google: the founders stayed, but brought in a CEO who could take the company to the next level and go public.
Right but the difference is the replacement. With DS they are promoting from within a former VP of Marketing. At Google they brought in a world class CEO so they could go public.
Sure, a founder will step aside and bring because the VC guys want talent that will prepare the company for an IPO.
No offense to Mr. Kupietzky but he is no Eric Schmidt
So, this CEO replacement does not position Oversee for an IPO. That makes me wonder why the CEO is leaving.
Usually a big red flag for internal conflict but I will wait to read the press release.
… but they failed to mention some other upper level “changes” within oversee.net…
Rob – Jeff my not be Eric Schmidt, but Oversee is no Google, either
In this case he didn’t come from outside but is much more experienced than Ng…has a much longer and varied resume.
Of course I don’t know what the inside story is, but apparently Joe Blow has heard something
Lawrence is a solid guy. Oversee started going down hill since kuPUTZky came on. They lost their personal touch and went completely corporate. Alot of domainers have left them because of this.
Let’s not mention what a terrible buy Snapnames(lost the Netsol exclusive contract just after) was as well as Moniker.
I hope Lawrence takes his money and moves on to better things. The guy is a true visionary unlike the new guy.
I’m sure they both are great guys but if Lawrence saw his future to be brightest with Oversee, he would be staying not looking for greener pastures.
That’s my take from an outsider’s view.
Please post the link to the press release when it comes out.
Lawrence is a smart & young guy who I’m sure has a lot ahead of him.
With what he’s done and what he’s learned, I’m looking forward to seeing what he does next.
[...] parent company of DomainSponsor, SnapNames and Moniker announced today what DNW had reported earlier: President Lawrence Ng became chairman of the board and Jeff Kupietzky has taken over his position [...]
The press release is out now.
I disagree with cmon domains.
My relationship with Snapnames is as great and personal as it has ever been…and let us not kid ourselves; Oversee knew full well there was a chance NetSol would take their biz elsewhere before they decided to buy them.
I have no doubt that Lawrence, Jeff, and the entire leadership know what they are doing; and will continue to know so in the years to come…
…and even the Eric Schmidt was not “the great Oz” Eric Schmidt until he joined Google.
So what if snapnames isn’t the #1 drop catcher this days?? it is ok to be #2 and #3… you don’t think there is any money to be made in the drop biz? Ha! Funny… Anyways, Oversee has diversified pretty well but an IPO for them is a long shot and will never happen…at least I don’t think. They are still involved in some shady activities and most of the revenues they do bring in and inconsistent and they depend too much on others, ie; Google and other peoples traffic. Solid business overall but probably they have seen their better days. That is why Ng left. The truth…at least my 2c
Best,
Mike
http://www.wannadevelop.com
BTW, Matt Bentley of Sedo stepped down as well earlier this summer. He was involved with the company since 2002. Was one of the brightest guys there…
Get the picture?
Best,
Mike
http://www.wannadevelop.com
Thanks. I read the press release and it is unimpressive. It does not say why he is leaving which to me is a big red flag.
It’s like the Captain of the ship saying he’s getting on a helicopter and flying away and the first mate is in charge but giving no reason why he is leaving. What does he know?
After buying snapnames and moniker and obviously in acquisition/ramp up mode the Founder and CEO does not just decide to leave especially without reason. And especially would not give up his position to some former VP of Marketing. Just doesn’t happen.
Something stinks at Oversee.net.
Am I wrong?
Rob, big changes are coming to the domain industry as a whole… they are already happening as we speak and have been for month’s. This stuff does not get publicized because the bigger companies do not have anybody to bitch at because it’s party their fault. Domainers can bitch about stuff all day long…Sometimes rightfully so. If companies were more open about things we could together work on the solutions and fix the problem. It can happen.
maybe oak hill is now the puppet master? they are on the board. they want their roi. jeff does have biz smarts and will stop a project if it’s not going to make $$.
Of course Oak Hill calls the shots. Regardless of their actual voting power, you have to listen to the money.
[...] parent company of DomainSponsor, SnapNames and Moniker announced today what DNW had reported earlier: President Lawrence Ng became chairman of the board and Jeff Kupietzky has taken over his position [...]
Oversee calls their own shots and that means founder Ng can do whatever he wants. Congrats to him. They are very cashflow positive in a time where others are hurting a lot more (i guarantee you), and oak hill has a minority stake. Oversee will come out on top in 2 years, just watch.
Rob – I just want to make sure people understand that Jeff was not just some “VP of Marketing”. He was an Executive VP of the company, reporting directly to Ng.
You are right. He was the VP of Marketing at a company before coming to DS so that was an unfair comment.
Still though, unless Ng left for personal reasons meaning family or health, then I have to wonder why he would leave his company that should offer him the best opportunities in the world.
Did he get a better offer to do something else?
I just find it curious that he did not state the reason for leaving. To me that’s a red flag but maybe I’m reading too much into it. Seems to raise questions.
Perhaps there is a conflict between him and the investors? Maybe his vision is in the minority of other executives? He sees greener pastures elsewhere?
Why would a founder and CEO leave his company?
Rob, most likely the investors wanted the change. Or Ng felt the company would do better with a more experienced leader. Or they thought Ng was to close to the business and some of the early hires. The fact that he was name chairman of the board is a good sign that a deal was struck or it was amicable.
Good point. Thanks.
[...] parent company of DomainSponsor, SnapNames and Moniker announced today what DNW had reported earlier: President Lawrence Ng became chairman of the board and Jeff Kupietzky has taken over his position [...]
[...] Since then the domain parking business has continued to deteriorate. Current revenue from domain parking cannot justify previous staffing levels at many domain parking companies. Other divisions of the company are also likely hurting, including NameKing. The previous layoffs occurred under the former company president Lawrence Ng. This is the first round of layoffs under new president Jeff Kupietzky. [...]