We are always grateful when we run across people who are both smart and great to work with - the perfect combination in a business partner. Meet Darren Cross, one of those people! We first met Darren when he was at Fandango, and we all grew our businesses together.
"During my tenure at Fandango, I relied heavily on IVA for creative video solutions as I explored new products and platforms. From the evolution of Fandango's HD Theatre, to expansion in mobile and across all the major smartphone OS's, to tablets and connected TVs, IVA's team was always a solid partner in finding the optimal video solution. And that partnership continues with Presidio as IVA continues to be my resource for all things video."
Darren is a founding partner at Presidio Mobile, which includes managing the company's business activities, client acquisition and advisory. Presidio Mobile offers various business development services (including distribution, monetization and content acquisition), as well as, project and account management. With extensive relationships that span the mobile ecosystem to include mobile ad networks and mediation players, designers and development shops, content and tools providers and many global OEMs and carriers / operators. Presidio can offer solutions and insight to most any mobile question.
In addition to mobile, as a recovering musician Darren has a deep interest in the entertainment business, including expertise in content acquisition, valuation and licensing, by virtue of his tenure as Head of Business Development at Fandango (NBCU/Comcast) and VP BD & Acquisition at ClickStar (a JV between Intel and Morgan Freeman's Revelations Entertainment), as well as valuation skills honed working with Michael Pachter (Wedbush Morgan) and Roy Salter (The Salter Group). Just old enough to know a time when cable was a luxury, he has a love for films of the past (even the ones without color).
We asked Darren to name a few of his favorites for us:
Favorite Movie: Young Frankenstein
Favorite Actor: Peter Sellers
Favorite Actress: Shirley MacLaine
Favorite Director: Stanley Kubrick
Favorite Sequel: Dark Knight Rises
Favorite Quote: "You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha..."
What He's Watching On His Tablet: My wife...that's usually as close as I can get to it ;)
All-time Favorite Band: Beatles
Says Darren - "Mobile is what the Internet was always meant to be: continuous and ubiquitous. At Presidio Mobile, we enjoy helping our clients develop winning strategies and tactics to make mobile work for them."
Darren is an Oregon native (yes, Go Ducks), but has spent half his life in Los Angeles. Perhaps a bit over served at the education bar, Darren has a JD from Hastings (licensed and active in California), an MBA from UCLA, and a BA in Economics from Cal State University Northridge. A married guy with one not so little one, in his free time you can usually find him at a golf course (keeping hope alive).