By Justin Lee, theWHIR.com
September 23, 2008 — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web hosting provider Aplus.Net announced it has named Phillip Spencer the company’s chief executive officer.
Spencer will succeed Gabriel Murphy, who will remain president of Aplus.Net and take on a more tactical oversight role as the company’s new chief strategy officer.
Murphy played a pivotal role as Aplus.Net’s president and CEO during the company’s ownership transition in 2006, when it was acquired by New York-based venture capital group Catalyst Investors, as well as during its move from California to Kansas in 2007.
This is the first major appointment for Aplus.Net since October 2007, when the web host named Michael Howard and Ralph Munyan to the company’s CFO, and VP and general counsel, respectively. Spencer comes to Aplus.Net from Everest Connections, where he served a successful tenure as president and CEO of the Lenexa, Kansas-based cable, telephone, and Internet access provider.
Under Spencer’s leadership, the company grew to more than $60 million in annual revenues and was named as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Kansas City area in 2005 by Ingram’s Magazine and Ernst and Young. He was responsible for developing, overseeing, and guiding the execution of Everest’s business strategy, successfully leading the company from its start-up origins to a local industry leader with an enterprise value of more than $175 million. Spencer has also served in senior sales, marketing and business development positions with AT&T, Global Crossing, GE Capital Communications Services, and Advantech. “We are excited to have Phil join the already-strong Aplus.Net management team,” said Tyler Newton, chairman of the board of Aplus.net and general partner at Catalyst Investors. “Phil has a successful track record of profitably growing businesses. He is a high-energy, goal-focused leader that will help us grow the business by expanding our customer base and product offering.
