Igor Douplitzky

Alumni of Ecole Polytechnique and Sup Telecom, Paris – 31 years (10 in the USA) at France Telecom-Orange. Has held positions in strategic marketing and partnerships in B2C and B2B business units, as well as in innovation divisions. Launched technology scouting activity at Orange Lab Silicon Valley. In 2014, joined Orange’s Corporate program in charge of scouting-accelerating startups, focusing on e-health and cybersecurity startups, while acting as an interface with Orange Digital Ventures.

About me:

I was born and raised in France but my fathers' parents were Russian immigrants. I am bilingual French-English. I can read Russian and manage conversations in Russian to some level (I lack practice). I have traveled 6 times to Russia and I have been to many Eastern European countries as well. I have a keen interest in the Russian culture and high-tech scene.

Interests, competencies:

Business/market strategy, market research, communication skills, partnerships, open innovation programs, B2B sales, IT/telecom services, digital services, e-health/wellness markets, IOT infrastructure/solutions

Motivation::

I teach business and innovation strategy at engineering schools and I spent 2 years mentoring 2 French startups. I participate in several startup selection jurys in France. I enjoy very much putting my business experience at the service of entrepreneurs to help them gain a better understanding of their market, improve their business and sales strategies, identify strategic partners, and also better communicate with their partners and to the market place. I expect a harmonious and transparent relationship with my mentee company

Startups are interesting:

It can be a very early stage startup with not much more than a concept or a first prototype. It can be a more mature company which has strategic issues to sort out in order to grow further and internationalize. it can be a company in a lot of trouble that needs to pivot and reinvent itself. The mentee company must be involved with some form of digital services because this is the domain I have the most expertise in

Experience

• Director Business Development with Startup Orange Startup Ecosystem / Orange Group
• 29 years (11 in US) international telecom experience at Orange / France Telecom
• Bilingual French-English, advanced Russian
• Open Innovation with startups
• Strategic Marketing (consumer & business services) and Business Strategy (strategic plans for BUs): emphasis on market disruptions and disruptive services
• Partnerships and M&As (distribution, technologies & services)
• MARCOM (new service launch)
• Sales to Corporate Accounts
• Teaching (innovation & strategic marketing) at IT/telecom schools

Education

• Institut Supérieur du Marketing, Paris Business Planning 2009 – 2010
• HEC-CRC, Paris Corporate Finance Mechanisms 2002
• MarcusEvans Seminars Partnerships 2001
• Columbia University in the City of New York Strategic Marketing Executive Program 1995
• France Telecom Sales Training Sales to Major Accounts 1988
• Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécoms, Paris Diploma 1985 – 1987
• Ecole Polytechnique M.S. 1982 – 1985
• Marine Nationale Military Service in the French Navy, Brest 1983 – 1984