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Executive Team

Robert C. Sims - President, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors

As an international data storage, management and protection expert with more than 22 years of in-depth engineering expertise, Rob joined Crossroads Systems' development and operations team in 1999. Given his business track record and leadership, he rose quickly to the position of President, CEO and Board member of Crossroads Systems where he leads Crossroads' corporate vision and growth strategy. His industry knowledge and foresight have led him to become a sought-after industry expert on the topics of cloud computing, storage virtualization, disaster recovery, IT-based cost-containment and data availability. His hands-on experience in IT design, development, operational management, and engineering have led to several award-winning solutions and patents. Among his accomplishments, Rob is recipient of the technology industry's Most Valuable Performers Award, and has been honored with numerous other industry recognitions including being named finalist for the Stevie Award for Best Executive in the American Business Awards. Prior to joining Crossroads, Rob managed the advanced manufacturing and product test organizations at Kentek Corporation as well as managed the manufacturing, engineering and quality organizations at Exabyte. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University.

Brian Bianchi - Chief Operating Officer

Brian joined Crossroads in 1998 and has led the company in many successful product development efforts. Brian currently manages development and maintenance of Crossroads' solutions, which includes definition, delivery and ensuring superior customer support. He is highly committed to the development of new technologies that meet present and future customer needs. Before joining Crossroads, Brian held operational and product development roles at Hewlett-Packard and Convex Computer Corporation. Brian holds a B.A. in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Austin.

Jennifer Crane - Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Crane, CPA, joined the Crossroads team in 2003 and currently leads the company's financial and legal teams. An accomplished accounting and financial expert, Jennifer brings more than 15 years of hands-on experience in financial management and auditing. Prior to joining Crossroads, Jennifer held senior positions at leading firms such as Deloitte & Touche LLP and Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP. Jennifer is an active member of the Financial Executive Institute (FEI) association as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

David Cerf - Executive Vice President of Business and Corporate Development

David joined Crossroads in 2005, bringing with him extensive sales and corporate development expertise. He currently leads global efforts to expand Crossroads innovative solutions and develop relationships with key early technology adopters. Prior to joining Crossroads, David served as Vice President of Sales and Business Development at NexQL a leading provider of advanced database acceleration technologies; and was co-founder of 360World a national provider of video / imaging solutions. In 1988, as the Founder and Managing Director of the Dallas Business Incubator, he was responsible for the development and funding of more than 50 new high-growth startup companies.

Bernd R. Krieger - General Manager, Europe

With more than 30 years of experience in the data storage and backup industry, Bernd R. Krieger joined Crossroads in 2007 as the Head of European Sales. Previously, Bernd held general manager and CEO positions at several IT companies, gaining lengthy experience in sales and multi-country operations. He has served as General Manager, Sales and Marketing at Data Global GmbH, CEO of Entire Software AG, and Director of International Sales at Grau (ADIC). Bernd brings strong relationships with established partners and resellers throughout the IT industry, as well as Global 1000 companies.

Heather Painter - Vice President of Channel Sales & Marketing

Heather leads all of Crossroads' channel sales and marketing functions, including direct and indirect sales, product marketing, corporate communications, and customer service. With more than 19 years of experience in IT marketing as well as U.S. and international channel and OEM sales, she offers extensive expertise in successfully launching and promoting products, identifying strategic opportunities, and working with companies ranging from Fortune 100 to mid-size organizations. Heather began her Crossroads career in 1999 as Western Regional and International Sales Manager, and in 2009 was appointed Director of Channel Sales and Marketing, cultivating strategic accounts and playing a large role in enhancing Crossroads' sales and marketing operations. Prior to Crossroads, she served as National Account Manager for Kingston Technology, the world's largest independent manufacturer of memory enhancement products. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.