Derek Handley

Derek Handley (born 1978) is a New Zealand entrepreneur, speaker, and author who was born in Hong Kong.[1] With his brother Geoffrey Handley, he co-founded the global mobile marketing and media company The Hyperfactory[2] and the mobile advertising network Snakk Media. Handley's application for the governmental role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of New Zealand became a political controversy in 2018.[3][4]

Derek Handley
Handley in 2011
Born1978 (age 42–43)
Hong Kong
CitizenshipNew Zealand
OccupationEntrepreneur, speaker, author

Early life

Handley was born in Hong Kong, and grew up in New Zealand.[5] He attended Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University, and undertook the MIT Sloan School of Management executive program.

Career

The Hyperfactory

In 2001, Handley founded the mobile marketing and media company The Hyperfactory with his brother Geoffrey Handley.[6] On the company's now-defunct website, The Hyperfactory claimed to "power brands and businesses through the mobile medium" for clients such as BlackBerry and Coca-Cola.

In July 2009, the company was sold to the Meredith Corporation for an undisclosed amount.[7] The Hyperfactory won six Webby Awards that year,[8] placing them second in the inaugural Global Webby Agency of the Year awards. The Hyperfactory was also the winner of numerous other awards.[9][10][11]

Snakk Media

Together with his brother, Handley also co-founded the mobile-advertising network Snakk Media, which later failed. The company compliance listed it as having no money raised on the NZX in 2013, becoming one of the first publicly listed B-corporations in the world. The market capitalization of the company was just NZ$813,000 on 24 August 2018 prior to it being placed into administration due to financial difficulty.[12]

Handley stepped down as Chair in September 2015.[13]

Other ventures

Handley served as chair of Booktrack, which developed e-reader technology incorporating soundtracks for e-books.[14]

Prior to The Hyperfactory, Handley founded a global online sports-betting business called Feverpitch. At 22, he led Feverpitch to list on the venture-style New Capital Market of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX).[15] The company subsequently launched betting exchanges around the world, similar to Betfair,

In December 2011, Handley spent a year helping to create what is now The B Team,[16] a non-profit initiative where he was appointed the founding CEO.[17] In 2016, Handley founded Aera VC, a network of family funds which invested in start-ups that tried to address social problems.[18][19][20]

In 2013, Handley was named an adjunct executive professor for Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.[21] He also released a memoir, Heart to Start.[22] In 2013, he joined the board of Sky Television New Zealand, a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange,[23][24] before stepping down in 2021.[25]

New Zealand Chief Technology Officer controversy

In 2018, Handley applied for the governmental role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of New Zealand. The role was to be created under the auspices of Government Digital Services Minister Clare Curran. On 24 August 2018, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dismissed Curran from the Cabinet after it became clear Curran had met Handley in February at her Beehive office to discuss his interest in the vacant CTO role. Curran had failed to disclose the meeting in her ministerial diary and to inform staff or officials about it (the second meeting she had failed to disclose). Curran apologised to the Prime Minister for her actions and eventually resigned as a Minister.[26][27][28][29]

In September 2018, Handley announced that he had been offered, and had accepted, the CTO role in August.[30] Soon after, the Government announced that it would not be proceeding with the role after concerns were raised by the business community and NZ entrepreneurs,[31] and paid Handley compensation of $107,000 (three months' pay plus reimbursement for moving costs). Handley said he was "deeply disappointed" by the process but the Government's decision to halt it was understandable.[30]

Awards and honours

In September 2006, Handley was a finalist in the Bayer Innovator Awards (Information Technology and Communications Category).[32]

In October 2009, he received the 2009 EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[33]

In December 2010, he was named finalist for the New Zealand Herald Business Leader of the Year.[34]

In October 2011, he was listed on the 'Silicon Alley 100' of the most influential technology people in New York.[35][36] That same year he was named a New Zealand 2011 Sir Peter Blake Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust,[37] and became a World Class New Zealander.[38]

In March 2015, he was named one of 100 visionary leaders by the Young Presidents' Organization, a global network of business leaders who have achieved success at an early age.[39]

In April 2015, he was year named a Distinguished Young Alumni of Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington, New Zealand).[40]

In September 2015, he was named in the world’s top 100 influential leaders by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a global accrediting body and membership association for business schools.[41][42]

In November 2015, he was named one of the top 10 most influential social entrepreneurs on Twitter (by Chivas’ The Venture, US).[43]

In November 2016, the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania invited Handley to join the David Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence Program, naming him the third "Innovator in Residence" to visit the school.[44]

Personal life

Handley has a son with his wife, Maya. During the process of applying for the Chief Technology Officer position, he moved his family back to New Zealand to live in Auckland.[5]

In November 2017, Handley was granted New Zealand citizenship by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin, under the "exceptional circumstances" provision. The provision was required because he had not spent enough time in New Zealand to meet the usual requirements to become a citizen, since he was 865 days short. Handley argued that he did not meet the requirements because he frequently travelled for business.[5]

References
  1. De Lore, Claire (16 April 2018). "Derek Handley talks Trump, business and coming home". New Zealand Listener (March 22, 2018 ed.). Noted. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. "Why Hyperfactory Buy Makes Sense for Meredith". Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  3. Patterson, Jane (26 September 2018). "Handley saga: Blast waves of political bomb shake confidence". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. Greive, Duncan (29 August 2018). "NZ tech is losing it over the idea of Derek Handley as CTO of New Zealand". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. Bennett, Lucy (17 November 2018). "Derek Handley granted citizenship under exceptional circumstances provision". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  6. Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "The Hyperfactory sells strategic stake to Meredith Corp". 3 News. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. Hall, Mitchell (6 May 2009). "Hyperfactory and Xero big winners at 'online oscars'". National Business Review. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  9. "mobiForge – Mobile Web Development". Mobithinking.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  10. "IDC Selects 10 Wireless Entertainment Companies to Watch in 2007: Small Players That Could Have Big Impact. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  11. "iMedia Agency Awards 2011". iMediaConnection.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  12. "Snakk grows annual revenue by 83% | Snakk Media Investors – Smartphone & Tablet Advertising". Investors.snakkmedia.com. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  13. "Snakk appoints new Chair; refreshes Board for next phase" (PDF). Investors.snakkmedia.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  14. "Books With Soundtracks: The Future of Reading?". The Atlantic. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  15. Griffin, Peter (16 January 2002). "Betting exchange offers investors a safer punt". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  16. "Derek Handley, Mobile Marketing and Media Pioneer, Joins Madison Alley as Special Advisor | Madison Alley Global Ventures". Madisonalley.com. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  17. "The B Team | Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz reveal The B Team…". The B Team. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  18. Fletcher, Hamish (4 November 2016). "Kiwi Derek Handley backs 'social' start-ups". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  19. Peters, Adele (16 November 2016). "This Activist VC Firm Will Help American Social Entrepreneurs Move To New Zealand". Fast Company. US. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  20. "Dollars and Change interviews AeraVC founder Derek Handley". Wharton University of Pennsylvania, Social Impact. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  21. Matthews, Benjamin (4 June 2013). "AUT appoints Derek Handley to executive professor role". Idealog. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  22. "From near ruin to success – Derek Handley – Business – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 24 May 2013.
  23. "Handley joins Sky TV board – Business – NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  24. "Derek Handley under fire at Sky Television AGM". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  25. "Derek Handley to step down from Sky board". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  26. "Jacinda Ardern sacks Clare Curran from Cabinet, removes her from two portfolios after second failure to declare a meeting". 1 News. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  27. Hurley, Emma (24 August 2018). "Prime Minister removes Clare Curran from Cabinet". Newshub. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  28. "Clare Curran sacked from Cabinet, PM Jacinda Ardern announces". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  29. Pullar-Strecker, Tom (14 September 2018). "Derek Handley receives $107k in compensation after being dumped as chief technology officer". Stuff. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  30. Hadnley, Derek (14 September 2018). "The Role of New Zealand CTO". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  31. https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/29-08-2018/nz-tech-is-losing-it-over-the-idea-of-derek-handley-as-cto-of-new-zealand/
  32. "Bayer Innovator Awards: Information Technology and Communications". NBR. New Zealand. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  33. Hunter, Tim (25 October 2009). "Young entrepreneur goes global". Sunday Star Times. New Zealand. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  34. Twose, Helen (10 December 2010). "Business Leader of the Year 2010 Finalist: Derek Handley". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  35. "2011 Silicon Alley 100: A-Z Order". Business Insider. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  36. "The Complete 2011 Silicon Alley 100 List: RANKED!". Business Insider. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  37. "The Blake Leader Alumni". The Sir Peter Blake Trust. 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  38. "World Class New Zealand". Export New Zealand. 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  39. "Derek Handley, Serial entrepreneur". Real Leaders. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  40. "Victoria honours distinguished alumni". Victoria University. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  41. "Influential Leaders". AACSB International. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  42. "Victoria alumnus named in world's top 100 influential leaders". AACSB International. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  43. "Top Ten: Most Influential Social Entrepreneurs on Twitter". The Venture. 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  44. "Social Innovator in Residence Program to Host Entrepreneur Derek Handley, Nov. 2–3". 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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