MILWAUKEE (Oct. 13, 2014) — Chad J. Cooper has been elected to the board of directors of ARI Network Services Inc., a software, website and data solutions provider.
Mr. Cooper will serve until the company's annual meeting in January 2016, at which time he will be subject to an election by shareholders, ARI said.
“Chad brings an extensive background in capital markets and institutional knowledge to our board,” said Roy W. Olivier, ARI president and CEO. “He was a key advisor regarding ARI's strategy to pay down high interest debt and clean up its balance sheet in 2013, and I am confident that he will do a fantastic job contributing to our strategic plan and representing shareholders in the boardroom.”
Mr. Cooper is currently the CEO of Digital Offering L.L.C., a technology-driven merchant bank. ARI said he has more than 15 years' experience in the investment banking and capital markets industry.
Prior to joining Digital Offering, Mr. Cooper was a managing director at investment banking firms Ascendiant Capital Group, Global Hunter Securities and B. Riley & Co. He also served as director of institutional sales and in other various capacities at Roth Capital Partners, an investment bank, from 2002 to 2011.
William H. Luden III, ARI's board chairman, said Mr. Cooper's “comprehensive understanding of how financial markets function and his deeply attuned ability to structure deals,” along with his “wide skillsets, solid beliefs and strong motivation,” will help strengthen the company's board.
Among its holdings, ARI operates 50 Below Sales & Marketing Inc., a provider of eCommerce websites to the tire and wheel aftermarket. The company recently acquired TCS Technologies, a provider of software, websites and digital marketing services designed exclusively for dealers, wholesalers, retreaders and manufacturers within the automotive tire and wheel industries.