Robert Brazell

Robert V. Brazell (born July 28, 1958)[1] is an American businessman and entrepreneur.[2] He is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Talos Partners, a private investment firm managed and operated by him and Senator Robert W. Kasten, Jr.[3] Prior to founding Talos, Robert served as the Chief Executive Officer of Overstock.com,[4] now a nearly $1 billion a year online enterprise which he founded in 1997, as D2: Discounts Direct.[5][6]

He is the co-author of "The Idea Economy" (1995).[7] Rob served on the board of the Deseret Foundation, a medical charity that aims to provide predictable surgical care to children.[8][9]

Background

Robert Brazell was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration.[1]

Career

In 1994, Brazell was CEO of Freedom Communications, a Utah business with 170 employees. Freedom Communications sold "education and opportunities for home-business entrepreneurs".[1]

In May 1997, Brazell founded the online retailer Overstock.com, as D2: Discounts Direct.[10] Two years later, he approached Patrick M. Byrne to seek capital for his venture.[10] Byrne invested $7 million through his investment fund High Plains, in exchange for a 60% stake in the company; he believed "the financials were a joke", "but buried in all that was this billion-dollar idea".[11] In September 1999, Byrne stepped in as CEO after Brazell "failed to make enough progress",[11] and renamed the company "Overstock".[11] Overstock went public in May 2002, three years after Brazell resigned as CEO.[12]

Brazell served as chairman and CEO[13] of InStore Broadcasting Network (IBN), which he acquired in 2001[14] and was sold by Talos to POP Radio in June 2012.[15]

Personal life

Brazell has three children, Tyson, Brianna and Michael.[1] He lives with his wife, Oksana Brazell, in Salt Lake City.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Smart, Tom (15 May 1994). "Executive Focus: Robert V. Brazell, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Freedom Communications". Deseret News.
  2. ↑ "8 Things I Learned At 8500 Feet From 850 Incredible People". Forbes. Published 2013-07-30
  3. ↑ "Where is the former U.S. Senator Bob Kasten?". Fox Politics. Published 2010-08-03
  4. ↑ "Company Overview of In-Store Broadcasting Network, LLC". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2013-10-13
  5. ↑ "Top Earning Websites". Income Diary. Retrieved 2013-08-10
  6. ↑ http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130713/000091205702022360/a2081333z424b4.htm
  7. ↑ Yager, Ed (January 14, 1996). "Innovative Ideas Pave Way to Success". Deseret News.
  8. ↑ http://intermountainhealthcare.org/communitysupport/giving/researchmedicalfoundation/Pages/home.aspx
  9. ↑ http://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.robert.v.brazell
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Overstock.com, Inc. by Jeffrey Covell, in International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 77 (2006)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Stein, Nicholas (7 February 2000). "The Renaissance Man of E-Commerce Patrick Byrne has done more in his 37 years than most do in a lifetime. Will that make his company, Overstock.com, a success?". FORTUNE Magazine. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  12. ↑ http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130713/000091205702015487/a2072689zs-1a.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb503152.htm
  14. ↑ Martinez, Gemma (6 October 2009). "Robert Brazell, el misterioso amigo americano de Prisa". Expansión. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  15. ↑ http://www.talospartners.com/press-release/14/