the chairman and CEO of Tempe, AZ-based Limelight Networks (Nasdaq: [[ticker:LLNW]]), an Internet content delivery network with Web-based technology that improves the delivery of streaming video and other data-intense content. Lunsford joined Limelight in 2006, and presided over Limelight’s $240 million IPO in 2007.
With Lunsford’s experience in managing the initial public offerings at two previous companies, an obvious question is whether Tealium likewise faces an IPO in its future.
With Tealium’s revenues growing rapidly beyond $100 million annually, “it makes sense,” Lunsford said. “But there’s no rush. We want to build a big and important company, and an IPO depends on market conditions.”
Lunsford says his more immediate goal is continuing to build out Tealium’s team, advancing product development, and getting to 1,000 customers.
In a statement issued recently by Tealium, co-founder Ali Benham had high praise for Lunsford: “We had a chance to work with him [Lunsford] very closely at WebSideStory and we know what type of leader he is, and what type of results he can achieve.”
In fact, Lunsford’s arrival could be construed as a WebSideStory alumni reunion. All but one of the nine management executives listed on Tealium’s website worked previously at WebSideStory, and the sole exception—client services vice president Greg Weekley—was a senior account manager at Omniture, which acquired WebSideStory in 2008 (after it had changed its name to Visual Sciences).
“I was the first angel investor in the company, when there were just two employees—Ali and Mike,” Lunsford said, referring to Tealium co-founders Benham, who is now president, and Mike Anderson, the company’s chief technology officer. Joining Tealium wasn’t predetermined, Lunsford said, “but it was always an idea we had. They’re doing a fantastic job.”
