Irdeto is the world leader in digital platform cybersecurity, empowering businesses to innovate for a secure, connected future. Building on over 50 years of expertise in security, Irdeto’s services and solutions protect revenue, enable growth and fight cybercrime in video entertainment, video games, and connected industries including transport, health, and infrastructure. With teams around the world, Irdeto’s greatest asset is its people and diversity is celebrated through an inclusive workplace, where everyone has an equal opportunity to drive innovation and support Irdeto’s success. Irdeto is the preferred security partner to empower a secure world where people can connect with confidence.
The Opportunity
Irdeto is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and results-driven VP of IP Licensing to join the team. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing the company’s high value licensing strategy, including outbound licensing initiatives. He / She will collaborate with Group operating entities and business units to ensure alignment of licensing goals and strategies, and drive revenue growth through the licensing of our IP portfolio. This role will be expected to lead licensing engagements, negotiations, and business partnering discussions as well as business development, patent acquisition and patent sales transactions that support Group objectives.
Reporting to the General Counsel, the VP IP Licensing Executive will have the following main accountabilities:
- Develop and implement an effective licensing business plan, patent strategy, licensing programs, and related activities to drive revenue growth in alignment with Irdeto’s business objectives;
- Work closely with Irdeto business units to understand their strategic needs and ensure that the patent licensing strategy supports their goals;
- Build alliances with companies, brokers, investors, law firms, and intermediaries to promote and advance the Irdeto business as well as with the internal Irdeto senior leadership team and business unit management;
- Initiate conversations and build relationships with potential customers, licensees, licensors and business partners by leveraging personal contacts, existing Irdeto relationships, and other creative ways to open communications;
- Explore and negotiate potential patent deal structures including license scope, term, and fields of use, price, technology collaborations, patent assignments and acquisitions;
- Lead patent licensing, acquisition and patent sales engagements from identification, strategy development, engagement and negotiations to closure. Establish and lead cross-functional teams and manage negotiations with licensees to achieve successful licensing agreements;
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including legal, finance, and R&D, to ensure that licensing agreements are executed in compliance with company policies and guidelines;
- Stay current with industry trends and market developments to identify new licensing opportunities and stay ahead of competition;
- Regularly scan the marketplace for opportunities and make business case recommendations to Leadership regarding patent-based acquisitions or partnerships;
- Support IP initiatives, licensing programs, projects and deals, including litigation, by assisting with patent analysis and patent case development both offensively and defensively;
- Drive IP capture programs (such as idea submissions, to patent prosecution processes, to claim development through continuations/divisionals, etc.)
- Ensure account planning and execution activities emphasize strategies and actions that will effectively manage the deal cycle, timeline and closing efficacy; provide full visibility and transparency of deals;
- Maintain a high state of knowledge and awareness of the industry including market trends, key players, technology trends, active patent litigation and licensing programs, other patent licensing business models, and available patents for purchase.
- Develop strong and deep relationships with the industry. An external voice and advocate for the Irdeto IP portfolio;
- Work as an effective member of the Irdeto Legal team and be able to balance driving to individual goals with helping the team achieve its overall goals;
- Serve as ambassador in the organization for instituting an innovation-first mindset.
The Candidate
A successful candidate should possess:
- Relevant patent licensing experience, a deep understanding of licensing, patents, and complex transactions within the technology industry;
- Strong track record of leading the negotiation of complex patent licensing and acquisition/divestiture transactions in excess of $5M. A summary of deals led to completion or as a member of the team will be required as part of the interview process and a discussion of these will be used to gauge the candidate’s actual experience and potential for the role;
- Demonstrated industry contacts within companies who are potential customers and partners of Irdeto including large, multi-nationals, service providers, internet and e-commerce, media and content, communications, and consumer electronics companies worldwide;
- Must be a creative problem solver and a role model with a results-orientation approach. Must display a vision on how to move engagements through roadblocks to reach a successful conclusion;
- Experience negotiating patent litigation settlements with a deep understanding of the unique restrictions or legal ramifications when negotiating the settlement of litigation;
- A multi-dimensional thinker who operates not only based on important past experiences, but in light of new approaches and developments that occur in market. Strong financial acumen to effectively shape licensing agreements that bring the full value to the customer and create lasting partnerships;
- Able to build rapport and establish creditability. Has sufficient presence and expertise to impact the business in a powerful way and the confidence to act quickly and rally a team around an initiative;
- Capacity to isolate and prioritize issues and apply focus on implementing both top-level, strategic solutions as well as the day-to-day tactics necessary for winning in the marketplace;
- Demonstrates an executive presence;
- Well organized and energetic, a self-starter who is able to proactively solve problems, and show a passion for his/her work.
- Highly intelligent, decisive and displays courage of his/her convictions;
- Leadership capabilities to build out (and manage) a team as may be necessary for the initiatives;
- Bachelor’s degree (preferably graduate degree) in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or other technical discipline or economics is required. An MBA or JD from a top business or law school is highly desirable;
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally a significant amount of time (approximately 30%);
- Languages: Fluent English essential; other languages are a plus.
