Executive Board

Savio Chan
CEO
US China Partners

Savio S. Chan is President and Chief Executive Officer of US China Partners Inc., a privately held business development firm specializing in Market Entry, Strategic Sourcing and Marketing Development in China for U.S. companies. Savio also facilitates local and cross-border joint ventures among leading Chinese multinationals as well as manufacturers. Formerly, Chan served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Technology Training Solutions (TTS) and he oversaw the daily and long-term operation of the company he established in 1996, and which had grown in a remarkably short time to be recognized as one of the premier and fastest-growing Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers in the New York tri-state areas. TTS was selected by the National Minority Business Council to receive the Outstanding Minority Business Award. Savio is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at various business and technology events including the American Express Minority Small Business Seminars, Microsoft technology conferences and the e-Business Conference and Expo, co-organized by BusinessWeek and InformationWeek. Savio was also named "40 Under 40" business leader Award by Long Island Business News, Hofstra University and the Bank of New York. Newsday named him one of the Top 10 Movers and Shakers on Long Island. Recently he was the organizer for the first e-Commerce Summit convened by the Small Business Administration in New York City. U.S. Small Business Administration also presented the Community Service Award to Savio during their Annual Award Luncheon.

Lanny Cohen
CEO, N. America
Capgemini

Since joining Ernst & Young, now Capgemini, almost 30 years ago, Lanny Cohen's career has reflected a rare combination of major client and executive account management, strategic service delivery, practice and operations management, and people and leadership development responsibilities that has earned him the esteem and affection of clients, top management and staff alike.

He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Capgemini North America Technology Services.  He also leads Capgemini’s Global Technology Services Council.   Lanny has held a variety of practice management roles including responsibility for the firm’s New York, Northeast, and East Region operations, Americas Technology Consulting practice, and Americas Service Lines.  He has considerable experience in managing the delivery of large, mission-critical transformation assignments, which include technology, process and people transformation consulting engagements.  ; These assignments have included several leading-edge, breakthrough projects in a variety of industry sectors.

Lanny is one of the thought leaders behind Capgemini’s adaptive enterprise and adaptive IT vision, a vision derived from his considerable technology expertise. In addition, Lanny and other senior executives have pioneered the firm’s innovative and unique approach to the integration of strategy and technology design and execution.  But his expertise goes beyond technology, encompassing business transformation, process innovation and people change, through his stewardship of mission-critical transformation assignments for Fortune 500 companies across industries as diverse as media and entertainment, financial services, telecommunications, public sector, health, manufacturing and transportation. Lanny has also applied this extensive experience to marketing initiatives, career development programs, and leadership forums across Capgemini.

An "outside" as well as "inside" person, Lanny has remained steadfast in his focus and commitment to client service.  In addition, to the executive leadership positions he has held in the firm including service on the Americas Executive Committee for many years, Lanny remains hands-on with numerous clients serving in account executive, senior account advisor, and quality advisor for a variety of the firm’s major and emerging clients.

Lanny also serves on a number of advisory groups and task forces across Capgemini and is an instructor in the firm’s professional development and education program.  Outside of Capgemini, Lanny served on the Board of Directors and formerly as Treasurer of the Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMCF), the consulting industry’s professional association.   Underscoring his commitment to the field and cause of higher education, Lanny is also a Trustee of the Board of St. Thomas Aquinas College, a leading liberal arts institution in New York State.

He was also named one of Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Consultants for 2004 for his work at Capgemini and his industry leadership through AMCF.  In addition, in 2008, based on a record of helping clients meet global challenges and transform their businesses, Lanny was honored by the Executive Council with the Judges Choice Award for CEO and Innovation of the Year.

Lanny began his career at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was responsible for the financial and program management of federally-funded block and discretionary grant programs.  He holds a B.A. with dual majors from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University.  A Certified Systems Professional, he is a graduate of the executive leadership programs at the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and Harvard University.

 

Michael Desa
Area Vice President, Northeast
Sprint

Michael Desa serves as area vice president of Sales for Sprint Business Solutions in the New York Metro Area, where he is responsible for Sprint's National Accounts sales organization focused on providing converged telecommunications solutions to key businesses in the nation's largest metropolitan area.In this role, Desa's responsibilities include developing and implementing strategic business plans that target and deliver complex business solutions to key targeted clients in the market. He leads a team of five branch organizations responsible for creating account specific programs that bring Sprint's wire line and wireless assets to market.He began his career with Sprint in 1991 as a branch sales manager before being promoted to regional sales director in key business communities centered in Southern and Northwestern US markets before returning to his native roots here in New York.Desa brings almost 25 years telecommunications industry experience to Sprint. He started his career with Telenet Communications Corporation as a system engineer, quickly climbing the ranks to become district manager for the organization. He has also held key management positions in operations, manufacturing and sales operations throughout his career.

Rob Goulding
Head, B2B Local Markets
Google

Rob is responsible for Google’s Local/B2B Practice on the East Coast. He has held several leadership positions within Google, and has had the pleasure of working on all of the companies advertising platforms. Prior to joining Google, Rob built his media career at Reed Business Information. Over the course of his career at RBI, he served in several executive positions across the company’s technology, construction, and media and entertainment divisions. He is an avid cyclist living in New York City with his wife, Sarah. 

 

Nelson Griggs
Vice President, New Listings
NASDAQ OMX

Nelson Griggs is Vice President, New Listings in the Corporate Client Group of the NASDAQ OMX Stock Market, Inc.  In this position, Mr. Griggs is responsible for managing NASDAQ’s efforts to deliver the benefits of the exchanges superior market structure and value-added services to prospective listed companies. Mr. Griggs has helped NASDAQ attract over $170 Billion in market capitalization of transfers from its primary competitor. Prior to this current role, Mr. Griggs was a Managing Director in NASDAQ’s corporate client services group where he worked with currently listed NASDAQ companies.  Prior to his tenure at NASDAQ, Mr. Griggs worked for Fidelity Investments and a San Francisco based start-up.  Mr. Griggs graduated from Denison University in Granville, OH.

Robert Johnston
Founder & CEO
Executive Council

Robert Johnston is founder & CEO of The Executive Council – a unique innovation network and community of cutting edge senior executives, leaders, and thinkers who come together to explore the challenging issues impacting business and the world economy.The Executive Council represents members from sectors such as healthcare, media & entertainment, financial services and sustainability. The Executive Council produces full-day and more intimate events, as well as private-label events, for its members in Boston, New York, Silicon Valley, LA, Chicago, London and Dubai.

The Executive Council also operates the New York Venture Capital Association, which represents 100 top venture capital and private equity firms in the NY, NJ and CT region. The Executive Council is widely known for its annual Ten Awards gala, called "The Oscar's of Business" by CNBC, which honors ten extraordinary business leaders each year (http://www.tenawards.com). Mr. Johnston is an active angel investor, advisor to entrepreneurs and speaker at events. Mr. Johnston is also an advisor or director to the following organizations: Business Council for the United Nations (BCUN); Cohere Communications, a VoIP telephony company based in New York City; Lollipop Theater, which brings the magic of movies to hospitalized children; NYU Stern School's Venture Mentor; Columbia Business School's Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs; and Friends of Belfast, a non-profit organization that fosters business relations between Northern Ireland and the US.

Mr. Johnston is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and earned a law degree at Suffolk Law School in Boston, with a focus on intellectual property and high technology law. Mr. Johnston also completed certificates from The Program on Negotiation and The Program on Advanced Negotiation at Harvard Law School. He resides in New York City and Sherman, CT.

 

Raymond Kalustyan
President, Government Services
Fiserv Institutions Group

Raymond Kalustyan is a Corporate Senior Vice President in the Financial Institutions Group and is currently responsible for Fiserv’s government services unit. The charter of this unit is to work with both banking and housing related government agencies, GSE’s and quasi GSE organizations to assist them in addressing the issues that each are facing in today’s environment. Ray has been with Fiserv since July of 2007. In first joining Fiserv, Ray was the Managing Partner of two of Fiserv’s largest/ strategic clients, Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.  Prior to joining Fiserv, Ray was with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) from 2001 to 2007 and served as Managing Director of the NY/ NJ Financial Services Unit.  As the Managing Director, Ray was responsible for the overall P&L of the American Express and FDC/ Western Union EDS client portfolios and responsible for over 200 EDS personnel servicing these clients.

Ray’s experience spans 25 + years in technology and business services including all aspects of consulting, systems integration and outsourcing.  He has served in a variety of leadership roles at Getronics, Logica/Carnegie Group and Unisys and IBM. He brings a broad array of technology and managed services experiences to Fiserv as well as a significant general management skill set.  

Ray received his Masters of Business Administration/Finance from American University and a Bachelors of Science/Finance from Susquehanna University and has participated in executive education at the London School of Business.

Ray lives in Basking Ridge, NJ and works out of the Morris Plains, NJ facility. Ray, his wife Karen and twins Carter and Kendall enjoy spending time at the beach and traveling the United States and abroad. Ray also enjoys golf, tennis and sports in general. He currently coaches youth soccer and baseball for the township of Basking Ridge. Ray is active in the New York City business community and serves on the Board of The Executive Council as well as chairs the Financial Services Advisory Board of The Executive Council.

 

Robert Klein
Vice President, Strategic Accounts, Financial Services
UPS

As Director for Strategic Accounts Sales for UPS, Bob Klein was named to his current position in February 2006 and is based in Manhattan. He is responsible for worldwide sales and solutions for financial segment customers headquartered in the north east region of the United States. UPS is focused on deepening customer relationships to create one-to-one linkages that bring the company into its customersÕ business processes. This is achieved through integration of technology tools, creating and enhancing a broad product portfolio and by leveraging UPSÕ supply chain capabilities. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Klein joined UPS Canada business development group in 1990. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility within Canada. Prior to his current position, he was Director of Strategic Accounts Sales with responsibilities for business development and strategy for Canada and Latin America. He received a graduate degree in Political Science from York University.

Bruce Mosler
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cushman & Wakefield

Bruce E. Mosler, one of the most accomplished real estate executives in the U.S., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield. In his position, Mr. Mosler is executive in charge of the global real estate services firm, which has 11,000 employees, and 175 offices in 50 countries. Prior to being named CEO on January 1, 2005, Mr. Mosler served for four years as President of U.S. Operations. Mr. Mosler swiftly executed the initiatives he outlined upon his elevation to that position: creating national leadership roles in Industrial, Multifamily and Retail, and growing those brokerage practices. In particular, Mr. Mosler leveraged the firm's dominance in European retail real estate services, while creating a formidable U.S. retail platform. He also created the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance, which now numbers 18 firms, and Concordis Real Estate, the first and largest national minority and women-owned real estate services corporation and alliance. He spearheaded the merger with Cushman Realty Corporation into Cushman & Wakefield, and the acquisition of The Apartment Group and the firm's new hotel investment sales capability, which have increased the firm's national market share in multifamily brokerage and hotel investment sales. As a result of his bold and successful initiatives, in December 2004 Mr. Mosler was chosen in a poll of his peers as the Commercial Property News ÒBrokerage Executive of the Year.Ó In March 2002, CPN named Mr. Mosler as national "Property Services Executive of the Year". Prior to becoming President of U.S. Operations, Mr. Mosler was Executive Vice President of Cushman & Wakefield. He remains a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Immediately following September 11, 2001, Mr. Mosler became the New York real estate industry's leading spokesman on the need to quickly rebuild Lower Manhattan. His insights into major companies' real estate decision-making requirements and the need to expeditiously prioritize infrastructure rebuilding, particularly public transportation investment, has made him a much sought after opinion leader. Mr. Mosler has appeared on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, CNBC, Good Day New York and other broadcast and cable media. He is also quoted frequently in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and many other national and international publications. As a result of Mr. Mosler's leadership and articulation of the real estate industry's views after September 11, he was chosen by New York City Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff to be a member of the Professional Services Advisory Council of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the entity that is overseeing the development of Lower Manhattan. One of Cushman & Wakefield's corporate values is "citizenship: commitment to the communities in which we live and work". Mr. Mosler, who has volunteered for many organizations, embodies this value. In 2003, the Real Estate Board of New York presented Mr. Mosler with its annual Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award for his significant service to the community. In addition, he has been honored by: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Foundation for Fighting Blindness; Boy Scouts of America; Inside Broadway; Intrepid Air & Space Museum Ð Salute to Freedom; Lincoln Center Real Estate & Construction Council; Modell Foundation; New York Cares; New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund, Parker Jewish Hospital, and the United Way-NFL Partnership. Mr. Mosler is on the Capital Campaign Committee of the American Cancer Society and he is a member of the Board of the following organizations: Achilles Track Club; Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation; Fuqua Business School Ð Duke University; Intrepid Board of Directors; Intrepid Museum; Modell Foundation; Kingsbrook Hospital, and the Real Estate Board of New York.

Robert Schwed
Partner & Corporate Practice Leader
WilmerHale

Robert Schwed specializes in working with private equity firms and their portfolio companies in corporate finance transactions. Mr. Bob Schwed joined Hale and Dorr after twenty-four years in the New York office of Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt & Maynard, where he built a substantial practice working with private equity firms and their portfolio companies in corporate finance transactions. Mr. Schwed has been actively engaged in the private equity industry throughout his career, representing venture capital and buyout firms and other institutional investors in equity and subordinated debt investments, public and private buyout transactions and workouts, recapitalizations and other restructurings. Mr. Schwed earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and holds a B.A., cum laude, from Williams College. He is admitted to the practice in the state of New York. Mr. Schwed is a member of the Board of Directors at Project Reach Youth in Brooklyn, NY.

Ron Shultz
VP & GM, B2B Merchant Services
American Express

Early in 2007, Ron assumed responsibility for the B2B business in Merchant Services North America.  Ron has responsibility for key, high-growth B2B segments comprising over $60B in American Express Charge Volume.  Ron leads a Strategic Account Team that directly manages over 80 merchant partners, a Strategy and Business Development team that focuses on growth initiatives, and an Electronic Invoicing and Payments Team that is tasked with expanding AXP’s presence as a B2B payments provider.

During his 10 years at American Express, Ron also held the following positions:  Vice President, Head of North America Merchant Pricing & Value; Vice President, Everyday Spend Industries, Merchant Services North America; Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development.
 
Ron holds a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  Earlier in his career Ron was a Certified Public Accountant with Price Waterhouse and a Management Consultant with A.T. Kearney, Inc.  Ron lives in Tenafly, NJ with his wife Jennifer and three daughters, Molly, Sarah and Ruby.  In his free time Ron enjoys distance running, golf and poker.



Upcoming Executive Events

August 10, 2010
Meet The Players.  READ MORE

October 7, 2010
PITCH East (NYC).  READ MORE

November 8, 2010
2010 Ten Awards.  READ MORE