A Media Software Company with an Eye on the Future

With more than 20 years of experience in the broadcast industry, Andrés Galván joined the Bitcentral team in 2015 with the acquisition of Fission Software, a company that Andrés co-founded in 2000. Fission Software specialized in the development of broadcast automation and integrated playout solutions. As CEO from its inception, Andrés led Fission Software as it created, developed, and sold state-of-the-art, software-based systems in North America, Asia, and Northern Europe through a network of regional partners and distributors and dedicated subsidiaries in Mexico, Hong Kong, and Scandinavia. In his role as Managing Director of Bitcentral México, Andrés oversees the operation of Bitcentral’s subsidiary and LATAM Headquarters, Bitcentral México, S. de R.L. de C.V. As Director of Sales Engineering and Account Relationships, he leads the sales efforts across Latin America and the Caribbean. Andrés received a scholarship in Economics from the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey University (ITESM-CCM), achieving the distinction of being the first undergraduate student to become a university professor at the age of 20, leading a Digital Content production class for six years. He also started his first company, a 3D-animation studio.

As Vice President of Sales, Diane Severns is responsible for generating new revenue in the News Production and Master Control/Automation product lines with direct sales into key and national accounts across the U.S. market. As an 18-year veteran at Bitcentral, she has combined entrepreneurial drive with business-management skills to drive gains in revenue, market share, and profit performance. Diane has focused on identifying key opportunities in a rapidly changing multi-platform environment by listening to the challenges of broadcasters nationwide and providing them with next-gen solutions that enable them to maximize the value of their media. From her previous roles as Sr. Account Manager and Manager of Inside Sales, she brings more than 10 years of broadcast television industry knowledge and relationship-building experience to her current role. Prior to joining Bitcentral, Diane was a key player in several multinational joint venture start-ups in both the aerospace and automotive industries. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Principia College and an MBA from Xavier University, both with honors. Diane was a finalist in the TechAmerica Orange County High-Tech Innovation Awards for her role in a start-up venture that provided real-time emergency notification solutions to the public safety market.

Fred Fourcher founded Bitcentral, Inc. in 2000, building a nationwide news distribution network for CBS Newspath, and another one for NBC News Channel in 2003. In 2005, Bitcentral entered the news production system business and pioneered the first large-scale, internet-based news aggregation and sharing platform called Oasis™.  Oasis is now used by more than 1,200 news organizations worldwide and distributes more than 40,000 stories per day. A recognized thought leader in the industry, Fred received an Emmy in 2017 for Bitcentral’s innovative use of the MOS Protocol in our news systems. Bitcentral now has more news production systems in TV stations than any competitors in the U.S. It is also one of the dominant providers of master control systems in Latin America. Fred’s vision of always designing and delivering efficient media workflows for customers has resulted in him being an innovator in digital streaming. Bitcentral's production, streaming, and monetization solution, is transforming the broadcast industry from appointment viewing to a dynamic viewing experience on any platform. A 4,000-hour private pilot and general aviation advocate, Fred received the Sharples award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in 2007 for the most significant contribution to aviation by an individual. He was instrumental in rallying non-commercial/general aviation pilots’ collective voices to convince Congress not to grant the airlines a monopoly over the nation’s airspace. As founder and board member of the SoCal Pilots Association, he remains very active in aviation-related issues. Fred also volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America and mentors budding entrepreneurs in Orange County. Fred is married and has two sons, both of whom are Eagle Scouts.

As a veteran of the Public Broadcasting Service, John King has 25 years of experience in commercial and public broadcasting, specializing in all areas of earth station technology, studio and facility design, satellite analysis, and field engineering supervision. John is Vice President of Sales Engineering for Bitcentral in the U.S. and Latin America, directing and managing Sales Engineering services related to the digital broadcasting customers of Bitcentral. He is responsible for building service revenue such as engineering, consulting, integration, installation, customer support, customer training, ongoing software maintenance support, and other technical support services. A 20-year veteran of Bitcentral, John has used his electrical engineering background to oversee field engineering implementation and tech support; and he now supervises the installation of Core News, Central Control, and OTT solutions in hundreds of TV newsrooms across the country. From procurement to go-live, nothing goes into the field without the hands-on involvement of his team. John volunteers weekly to teach youth and adults Judo, Jujitsu, and other martial arts.

Jonathan Clarke has more than 20 years of experience building organizations and processes that deliver software products. During his leadership tenure, he has built dozens of web-and device-based products in the media, automotive, and credit industries. His passion for technology drives him to develop a deep understanding of the details of products being built and allows him to identify opportunities for strategic advantage. These products have received numerous awards for their innovation, technical achievement, and aesthetic quality. Jonathan has been recognized as a regional leader in the industry. He was one of the three finalists among more than 275 nominees in the “Best Technical Manager” in Orange County category in Tech in Motion’s annual Timmy Awards contest. He received his Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University and his MBA from the University of Southern California. He enjoys working with youth groups such as the Boy Scouts of America and donating his time to coach soccer, baseball, and lacrosse for local youth and high school athletic programs.

As VP of Corporate Project Management, Ms. Gopal oversees all the Implementation Deployments and Upgrades of Core News Products. She also manages custom and crucial project release implementations, and project management processes. In her 30+ years’ experience, Ms. Gopal has managed all aspects of Software Development, including Development, Quality Assurance, Operations, Configuration Management, Project Management, and Business Analysis. Her forté is providing guidance with Project Life Cycle, Project Direction and Execution, Client Relationship, and Team Building. Ms. Gopal is actively involved in the community as member of UCLA Parent Council Leadership Team as liaison between the University and parents; Active participant as mentor for UCLA Bruins; Volunteer with Youth Employment Services helping students with job interview process; Volunteer with Saahas for Cause, a non-profit dedicated to helping South Asian Community by supporting initiatives like mental health, women wellness and older adults. Ms. Gopal holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Instrumentation Engineering from Bangalore University and M.S degree in Computer Engineering from L.S.U

Rick is the CFO at Bitcentral, and is responsible for all financial controls, compliance and governance. He began his career at General Electric, where he held several divisional CFO and FP&A positions. Rick previously served in other CFO and operational leadership roles with large multinationals such as CBS, iHeartMedia, and Tyco International, working in sectors ranging from manufacturing and engineering services to media. He also has over a decade of CFO roles with small cap and startup companies, primarily in advertising and media. Rick holds a JD/MBA from University of Connecticut.

As the newly appointed CEO of Bitcentral, Sam Kamel brings a dynamic blend of leadership, innovation, and strategic vision to the forefront of digital media solutions. Sam has navigated start-ups through to Fortune 100 companies, with milestones including multiple product launches, GM and CEO roles, two IPOs and numerous acquisitions. His diverse experience encompasses strategic planning, business development, and general management across global markets. At Netscape, he was at the vanguard of e-commerce, and at Microsoft, he was instrumental in launching OfficeLive, marking the company’s foray into cloud-based productivity. While at Fox, he worked on the international expansion of hulu, integrating ecommerce into MySpace and building Jamba into a leader in short-form video content. Before stepping into the tech world, Sam was an officer in the US Navy, and a consultant with McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. Outside the office, Sam embraces his community and enjoys tennis, skiing, and surfing along the Orange County shores, as well as the occasional game of Fortnite with his teenage sons.

As Chief Operating Officer Sam Peterson has direct control of the organization’s operations in accordance with Bitcentral’s strategic objectives and business plans. Sam is a career broadcast professional with more than 32 years of experience including over 20 years in various leadership roles at large, industry-leading corporations. He has held positions spanning product management, marketing, direct sales, and sales engineering. His broad experience spans all aspects of media production and distribution including automation, master control and playout, news gathering and production, post-production, signal management, and live production. He has successfully overseen the integration of several products from international acquisitions into the North American market. On the OTT side, Sam has extensive networking expertise in contribution and distribution networks for live streaming and video on demand. Sam received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Austin College. As an Eagle Scout, he has enjoyed giving back to the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster, assistant district commissioner, and a Wood Badge staffer. Sam also enjoys coaching youth lacrosse as well as training community emergency response for the C.E.R.T program and emergency communications for the Medical Reserve Corps.

As VP of Operations, Sameer Mohiuddin provides oversight and leadership across many functions and areas at Bitcentral.  These areas include procurement, product staging, implementation and training, technical support, systems operations, account management, digital workflow management, and internal IT.  Under his leadership, the Operations Team at Bitcentral strives for a well-coordinated and quality-driven effort around product delivery, on-site & remote training, 24/7 tech support, product upgrades, and customer relationship management. As a prior leader for quality assurance at Bitcentral and other organizations, Sameer brings a passion for quality and transparency in all areas of operations. His focus on quality and knowledge-centered support and communication enables Bitcentral to achieve some of the industry’s highest customer-satisfaction ratings for product delivery, training, and technical support. Before joining Bitcentral, Sameer was in software QA and release management at SunGard, HIS, and other technology companies, managing local and offshore QA and Support teams, and building new software testing procedures, software release methodologies, technical support processes, and SOPs. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He has a passion for education and literacy-based initiatives or organizations and has, for years, volunteered on various education committees in the local area.

As Vice President of Marketing Communications, Teresa Sarte leads the Marcom team in creating and executing a marketing strategy that aims to achieve the corporate objectives for both internal and external communications. Working closely with Sales and Product Marketing, her team’s main focus is generating demand, building brand strength, and telling engaging stories. Teresa has over 20 years of experience in corporate, employer, and product branding, leading internal marketing teams as well as running ad agencies. As an agency executive, Teresa held leadership roles managing new business, client service, creative, and digital strategy teams in an Omnicom employer branding agency, RR Donnelley’s Digital Marketing Division, and her own boutique ad agency. She was a trusted advisor to marketing and HR executives in Fortune 100 companies and start-ups in multiple industries, from technology to healthcare. She partnered with clients such as Qualcomm, LG Wireless, Nokia, Dignity Health, United Healthcare and BCBS.  Teresa’s broad marketing and communications experience has given her the ability to find creative solutions to unique marketing challenges under various budget parameters, but always with the mindset of achieving objectives and providing ROI.