Industry Leaders Align to Invest in Communications Market Innovation to Drive Growth and Create Shareholder Value
Chicago, IL, May 30, 2024 – Durham Black, Inc. (OTC Pink: AFFU), a publicly traded holding company focused on asset light connectivity and applications, today announces the appointment of Mary Stanhope, as the company’s President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Board Member, effective immediately. Mary will have responsibility for operational oversight and strategy of the holding company and its subsidiaries. She will also serve as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.
Today, Durham Black also announces the expansion of its Board of Directors from three to six members, underscoring the company’s commitment to enhancing expertise and governance as well as driving sustainable growth. Robert Pollan will join the Board as an independent director, stepping into the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors; and recently announced CEO and Board Director, Patrick Shutt, will take on the role of Vice Chairman.
The newly expanded Board of Directors brings together a diverse group of accomplished professionals with extensive experience across the connectivity market in operations, investment, and revenue. The new board members will play a pivotal role in providing strategic guidance, overseeing corporate governance, and executing Durham Black’s overall vision to drive digital transformation across the global communications market by providing highly innovative asset light software and solutions.
This forms part of the company’s ongoing strategy to add operating and industry experience in order to drive growth and expansion throughout the business, and in turn create shareholder value.
“Mary is an ideal leader to shape Durham Black’s operations and to align the overall strategic direction into a successful operating system,” says Patrick C. Shutt, CEO of Durham Black Inc. “With her world-class commercial experience, and proven leadership and oversight of companies including SchlumbergerSema and Unitas Global, her steadfast approach to leading teams through periods of growth, will be an asset to the growing list of acquisition targets within Durham Black.”
Shutt adds, “We have brought together a great team, these new director appointments bring a fresh perspective and renewed commitment to the Board and our company. Their collective expertise and insights will be instrumental as we navigate our next phase of growth and expansion. With hundreds of years of combined experience among the group, we are well-positioned to transform the global connectivity industry by pioneering innovative AI-enabled, data-centric solutions with service excellence.”
Robert Pollan, an experienced executive with more than 35 years of global investing, operating, and board experience, shares, “I am excited to join the Board of Durham Black as Chairman of the Board of Directors and to help steer the company toward fulfillment of its vision. From the time at Internet Capital Group investing in unique businesses with differentiated intellectual property (IP) to championing automation, optimization and IP investments at Universal Access, Global Capacity and Unitas Global, I have been passionate about helping businesses achieve their potential. At Internet Capital Group, we created a highly valuable model where we invested in experienced, knowledgeable operators and management teams that were subscale, to create highly innovative companies that created value in the markets they serve. We have an incredible opportunity to repeat that strategy in the global connectivity market with Durham Black, utilizing this public vehicle to make an impact in the industry and create meaningful shareholder value.”
Mary Stanhope, an executive passionate about technology innovation with over 30 years of global mergers and acquisition experience shares, “I am honored to take on the role as President, Chief Operating Officer and Board Member, and look forward to working closely with our talented team to drive operational excellence and strategic growth across our subsidiaries,” said Mary Stanhope. “The company’s vision to transform the global connectivity market through AI-enabled and asset-light solutions aligns perfectly with my expertise in scaling technology innovation. Together, we will leverage our collective experience to identify and capitalize on new opportunities, foster growth, and expand our market presence. This is an exciting time for Durham Black, and I am thrilled to be part of this journey.”
The robust team brings unique perspectives and strategic insights that align with Durham Black’s objectives to unlock new markets by expanding the company’s addressable market into the $1.7 trillion global communications market, to invest in asset-light innovation, and create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
About Durham Black Inc.
Durham Black Inc. (OTC Pink: AFFU) is a public holding company focused on creating value through strategic investments and acquisitions in asset-light, innovative, and AI-enabled software and services for the global communications market. The public holding company serves as an acquisition and growth vehicle, aiming to acquire, build, and grow innovative companies that are subscale, which in turn enables the $1.7 trillion global communications market to embrace digital transformation.
For more information on Durham Black Inc. and investment opportunities, please visit www.durham-black.com or contact:
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: general economic business conditions, competitive and technological factors, markets, services, products and prices, availability and the cost of capital, success of growth initiatives, limited operating history and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commissions. Additionally, this release may not be considered as legal, accounting, or investment advice, and is not, and may not be considered, a solicitation for the purchase of any securities.
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