Reid French is the Managing Director of Essex Gate Ventures.
Operating Experience
He was chief executive officer for Applied Systems, the leading global provider of cloud-based insurance software, from 2011 until 2019, and served on its board of directors from 2011 until 2020. Prior to Applied, he was chief operating officer at Intergraph Corporation (Nasdaq: INGR), a global geospatial and computer-aided design software company. Early in his career, he was a strategic planner for the Walt Disney Company, and he managed investment banking transactions in the technology sector for Robinson-Humphrey. He was also served as a Fellow of the Watson Foundation, studying the financing of theatre in Europe. The Watson Foundation was formed in honor of Thomas Watson, who built IBM from its founding until his passing in 1956.
Board Experience
Software Firms
Today, French sits on the board of directors for two public software companies, design software leader Autodesk (Nasdaq: ADSK) and customer engagement software leader Verint (Nasdaq: VRNT). He also serves on the board of directors for two private equity backed software firms, the leading independent provider of maintenance support, advisory services, software, and financial tools to the business aviation industry, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), owned by private equity firms GTCR and Genstar, as well as legal software provider NetDocuments, owned by private equity firms Cove Hill Partners and Warburg Pincus. He also serves on the executive advisory boards of Cove Hill Partners and Noro-Moseley Partners, a growth equity firm.
Educational Institutions
French serves on the Board of Trustees of Davidson College, one of the nation's most highly ranked and selective liberal arts colleges. He is the Chair of the college's finance committee. French also previously served for five years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Lovett School, a highly respected K-12 independent school based in Atlanta.
Educational Background
French holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Davidson College, graduating valedictorian of his class. French also holds a master's in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.
Reid French 2020