The Team

Management

Itai Ben-Gal, CEO and Co-Founder
Itai holds degrees in both Management Information Systems (MIS) and Management from the University of Michigan, where he founded his first company, Cube Systems, an IT service provider. In 2004, Itai joined Cognitens, Inc. as an IT Manager and Application Engineer. Following Cognitens’ acquisition by Hexagon Metrology, Itai joined Perceptron, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRCP) and focused on the implementation of large-scale, laser-based computerized measurement systems. While at Perceptron, Itai implemented innovative distributed measurement solutions.

Itai has always had a love for movies and home theater. In 2003, the journey began to build his home theater after a local home theater club meet. After years of learning and assisting others with their own theaters, Itai designed and built his own home theater. The theater incorporates several unique solutions, earning him a feature in the DVD series “Home Theaters Revealed”.

Following the completion of his theater, Itai was dissatisfied with existing control systems and began researching new solutions. After discussing with his friend Victor the “Internet in the living room”, cloud computing, and smartphone and tablet platforms, iRule was founded.

Victor Nemirovsky, CTO and Co-Founder
Victor studied computer science at Hadassah Technology College in Jerusalem, Israel. During his studies, he served as technical support for an Internet service provider. His graduation project was an email server that converted incoming emails and sent the messages over a fax machine.

With a degree in computer science, Victor began working as a software engineer in a startup company developing client-server applications. Later, Victor joined Cognitens, Ltd., where he developed applications for 3D vision measurement systems. Four years later Victor was promoted to a team leader and sent to Michigan to lead highly customized software engineering solutions for Cognitens’ customers. Following Cognitens’ acquisition by Hexagon Metrology, Victor led the design and development of robotic automated solutions. In 2009, Victor’s drive to explore and use new technologies, together with fast learning abilities, earned him a promotion to project leader.

Joseph Ben-Gal, Chairman and CFO
Joseph has over 30 years of business experience with small-medium-size high tech companies. As CFO, Joseph raised over $250 million and led multiple IPO’s on NASDAQ, the London Stock Exchange and TASE. Joseph led business development efforts resulting in numerous joint ventures and partnerships with fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and Asia. Joseph also has vast experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Joseph received his B.A. in Economics from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MBA from the Technion in Haifa. Joseph is a Board member of the Detroit Chapter of the American Technion Society (ATS) and of MIBB (Michigan Israel Business Bridge).

Steven Crabb, Marketing Director
Steve has nearly 20 years of experience in publishing, content creation, communication design, and marketing. He studied design, journalism, and communication arts at Iowa State University, and after receiving his degree in Art & Design, he joined Des Moines firm Brooks Borg Skiles Architecture Engineering to create marketing and communication materials. Steve then joined consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH), where he developed e-learning and strategic communication products for corporate and government clients. After nearly nine years at Booz Allen, Steve joined iRule in 2011.

Steve’s love for home theater began in the eighties watching Vacation and Tron on LaserDisc in his childhood home, and continued as a professional. After dreaming for years of having his own home theater, he transformed an unfinished basement into his own dream home cinema in 2006. Also dissatisfied with existing remote control solutions, Steve found remote control nirvana as a beta tester and customer of iRule long before joining the team. Steve’s theater was also featured in the “Home Theaters Revealed” DVD series.

Board of Directors

Joseph Ben-Gal (see above)

Itai Ben-Gal (see above)

Victor Nemirovsky (see above)

Paul Czarnik
Mr. Czarnik is an Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Compuware Corporation (NASDAQ: CPWR) where he provides leadership for the company’s technical strategy and innovation delivery. A programmer at heart, Paul has spent his career focused on technical performance, coding everything from music-keyboard controllers to medical-laboratory interfaces. Paul leads a team of 'proficient and prolific' consultants who deliver world-class Compuware innovation to customers and startups. Paul serves on the leadership team of Compuware Ventures and on the boards of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, iRule, and Motown Museum.

Ulrich Herter
Mr. Herter founded INCAT in 1989, as an independent international provider of engineering and design (E&D) and IT services and solutions to the world's largest automotive, aerospace and durable goods manufacturers. In 2004, Mr. Herter led the then $117 million company to an IPO on London Stock Exchange - AIM, and grew it organically and via M&A to $160 million by the end of 2005.

In 2006, he led the sale of the company in an all-cash transaction, to India based Tata Technologies. In mid 2007, after 18 years as INCAT’s CEO, Mr. Herter retired. At that time, INCAT had revenues of $250 million, a combined global work force of over 3,000 employees in 11 countries, serving clients worldwide from facilities throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.