Friday, January 15, 2010

Mobile app firm Illume Software names new CEO

By Mass High Tech staff

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Daniel Ross has been named president and CEO of Concord-based Illume Software, a mobile phone application company. Ross replaces interim CEO Matthew Growney, who is listed as the company’s director and executive advisor.

Ross joins Illume having previously served as managing partner of Boston private equity firm Maxis Capital. In addition to being an Entrepreneur in Residence at GrandBanks Capital, he has worked for OpenMarket, Picturetel and Digital Equipment Corp. He’s also served as a member of investor group CommonAngels.

He also held a member role with CommonAngels, a senior executive position at OpenMarket and an Entrepreneur in Residence at GrandBanks Capital.

Ross will be responsible for driving Illume’s flagship product iZUP, a cell phone application intended to prevent drivers from getting distracted by cell phones. The application uses the GPS technology in a mobile phone to send information back to a control server that can determine whether or not a phone user is driving. If so, the phone locks out any calls or texts, saving them on the server until such time as the user has stopped driving. The application is available on Windows Mobile and Android smartphones.

In October, the company reported that it had raised $1 million in new funding to boost development of the iZUP. The financing adds to Illume’s previous round of $2.4 million closed in February.