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Our founders helped establish the mobile marketplace as we know it, and our diverse and talented team is committed to maintaining healthy digital marketplaces for consumers and brands.
Chairman
Colin Matthews joined the founders of WMC Global in late 2006 to take on the role of chief executive officer (CEO) and to chart the company’s strategic growth. More than 10 years later, that company has grown into an international group of companies serving clients in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Colin continues to drive the group vision while overseeing investment and capital strategy as well as corporate governance. In 2019 Colin stepped down as CEO to focus on his role as Chairman.
Colin’s international telecommunications experience spans more than 30 years in senior executive positions with the WMC Global Group, InphoMatch, Opera Telecom USA, The Denbridge Group, Sedona GeoServices, and Cubic Corporation. Integral to mobile commerce development in the United States, he coauthored Wireless Messaging Demystified (McGraw Hill, 2002), a guide for telecommunications professionals. As InphoMatch president and CEO, Colin established the first commercial SMS interoperability relationship in the United States, with T-Mobile, leading to SMS’ becoming the ubiquitous data transport mechanism it is today. He also has assisted several emerging companies with initial-stage development and has served as consultant to the board of advisors in primarily hi-tech and mobile (m-commerce) B2B startups.
Colin received his BS in Electronic Engineering from Robert Gordon University (Scotland).
President and CEO
Ian Matthews is the driving force behind WMC Global’s business initiatives, leading the team with in-depth industry knowledge and a clear goal in mind: protecting brands by preventing consumer harm. A co-inventor of in-market monitoring in the mobile environment and the visionary behind WMC Global’s spam and threat mitigation efforts, Ian has been instrumental in improving the messaging ecosystem through WMC Global’s success in market and threat intelligence and attack-infrastructure takedown. His work in identifying problems in the mobile market and conceiving product-based solutions has distinguished WMC Global as a world leader in promoting healthy consumer experiences that benefit brands and consumers alike.
A pioneer in consumer privacy solutions, Ian has worked with Fortune 500 companies and major industry associations on mobile threat detection, investigation, and takedown; digital content piracy identification; compliance standards development, monitoring, and enforcement; and consumer protection. Additionally, he has spearheaded product development, delivery, and promotion of multiple mobile apps across several leading platforms.
Previously, Ian cofounded and led a mobile ad consulting company to assist international content providers with their transition to the US market—helping them engage with carriers and facilitating program launch. He oversaw the development, management, and maintenance of national mobile ad campaigns, providing critical industry knowledge to enhance content provider revenue while improving the consumer experience. His work in SMS interoperability contributed to the successful launch of SMS as a major force in the United States in the early 2000s.
Managing Director and Group CFO
David Wadsworth oversees the WMC Global Group’s strategic financial direction as he plans, manages, and reports on group finances. His more than 40 years in financial management ensure the success of the group’s entrepreneurial endeavors. David brings extensive management and business development experience as a chartered accountant, having specialized in mobile technology, marketing and media, and property companies. His expertise in managing and resourcing business development for venture capital and investment finance groups enables him to evaluate markets and identify financial and business opportunities for the WMC Global Group—supporting its continued growth.
In his role as managing director, David leads his team in opening new opportunities in the United Kingdom as well as pursuing new opportunities and markets in Europe. David also manages the effective delivery of products and solutions to clients.
David earned his MA in History at the University of Oxford.
Vice President of Technology
In addition to building, implementing, managing, and securing the company’s IT infrastructure, vice president of network operations Ben Coon is responsible for developing mission-critical applications and technology to support the company’s long-term goals. Daily, Ben ensures that the company’s computer systems and networks achieve maximum uptime and remain stable. He also assumes responsibility for building, securing, and maintaining WMC Global’s internal development, quality assurance, and network production.
Ben brings to WMC Global extensive experience in intelligence and law enforcement, having worked previously on classified network intelligence, identifying potential security risks and conducting protocol analysis for the director of the Special Security Office of the National Security Agency. In addition, he served as a watch commander at the US Department of Homeland Security, where he maintained network SLAs.
In the private sector, Ben was employed as director of network operations and IT security at Grab Networks, a targeted ad placement facilitator, where he built and maintained the company’s worldwide network for video ad placement. Earlier, he took on the role of Opera Telecom USA’s vice president of network operations, building and managing the company’s network and helping grow the organization into a $22 million company in fewer than 24 months. He was employed as director of network operations at InphoMatch, as well, where he built and secured the carrier-grade network that enabled SMS interoperability.
Vice President of Finance
As WMC Global’s vice president of finance, Natalya Pochkhidze lends her expertise gained through more than 15 years in domestic and international accounting, financial reporting, and cash flow management. Her key responsibilities include developing financial controls, budgeting, streamlining expenditures, and managing staff and their development.
Before employment at WMC Global, Natalya served in several accounting roles for the Intercontinental Exchange, an American network of exchanges and clearinghouses for financial and commodity markets. Her responsibilities encompassed Hyperion system administration; financial reporting and consolidation; helping with preparation and review of 10K, 10Q, and earnings press releases; and staff management. Natalya’s reorganization efforts streamlined processes and increased efficiency in the Compensation, Fixed Asset Management and Reporting, and Accounts Receivable departments as well as in development of collection matrixes.
Earlier, while employed at Home Depot, Natalya worked with stock-based compensation, consolidation and financial reporting, and capital project accounting.
A certified public accountant, Natalya is fluent in Russian in addition to English and has intermediate proficiency in Romanian. She completed her BS in Accounting at Oglethorpe University (Atlanta), earning a four-year Oxford Scholarship.
Vice President of Global Business Development
David joined WMC Global in 2018 to drive growth for the company’s rapidly expanding suite of risk assessment and mobile threat intelligence products. Initially with a focus on expanding opportunities within the UK wireless carrier market, David’s purview now also includes exploring other geographies and channels for business growth.
Prior to joining WMC Global, David held a variety of senior positions in the cybersecurity industry, including serving as Vice President at AVG, one of the world’s leading anti-virus software providers. Working closely with carriers and handset manufacturers (OEMs), David was instrumental in educating the sector on the threats posed to consumers via the mobile device. In the past, David has also worked in the roaming disruptor space delivering solutions for major corporate clients—saving clients over 75% on the cost of mobile roaming. David has regularly served as a speaker at roaming conferences and Mobile World Congress.
Vice President of Global Operations
Overseeing threat intelligence and compliance teams across operational centers on three continents, Claire Matthews manages strategy for the company’s operational environment. She brings a wealth of knowledge of mobile threat mitigation and SMS compliance to her role, serving previously as senior manager of threat intelligence operations and manager of intelligence innovation at WMC Global, where she led a comprehensive redesign of threat and compliance operations processes and procedures to more effectively target high-risk consumer experiences in market. In addition, Claire spearheaded the development of the SpamResponse app to bolster the company’s in-market monitoring capabilities.
Before joining WMC Global, Claire worked in various roles within the Executive Branch of the US Government. Claire is active in several industry working groups, participating as a member of the Message Malware Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) and speaking at its industry events and forums in addition to being involved in The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Claire received her BA in History and in Politics from Mount Holyoke College, in addition to a certificate in International Relations from the Five College Consortium.
Director of Client Services
Ariel Reid oversees client services at WMC Global, building upon her previous roles in business development and account management with the company. Based in New York City, she is responsible for developing and maintaining client relationships and optimizing operational efficiencies across the company to drive quality support for clients and industry partners. She also works directly with the CTIA and its carrier members on the industry vetting and monitoring program, as well as being the chief ambassador for educating new and existing clients about WMC Global’s product portfolio. Her cross-carrier perspective makes Ariel a unique and valuable voice during development and strategy discussions both with clients and internal teams.
Prior to joining WMC Global, Ariel was an innovative force in the New York City restaurant industry. She wrote the service training manual for Eleven Madison Park when the restaurant was first awarded four stars by the New York Times, ran the private dining room for Robert DeNiro and Drew Nieporent at the Tribeca Grill, and produced culinary entertainment projects that were featured in publications like the Village Voice, Time Out: New York, and Playbill.