Management Team

John D’Anna
Chief Executive Officer

Bringing more than 25 years of industry experience to the role, John D’Anna is Chief Executive Officer of Empirix, Inc. Prior to joining the company; John served as senior vice president of global sales and services for JDSU’s Test & Measurement Product Group. Under John's leadership, JDSU’s Communications Test & Measurement sales organization built strategic relationships with some of the world’s largest communications service providers and equipment manufacturers. In addition, John led the company’s global services group, a multinational organization focused on delivering services in support of JDSU’s Systems & Software solutions for deployment and maintenance, product support services, consulting and educational services.

John joined JDSU in August 2005 with the acquisition of Acterna, where he was executive vice president of global sales and services. Before joining Acterna, John was field sales representative for Hewlett-Packard’s Test & Measurement Group from 1984 to 1990.

John is a member of the Advisory Board for the Newark College of Engineering, the engineering college of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and received a Masters of Business Administration in finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Ray DeZenzo
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations

Ray DeZenzo brings more than 28 years of diversified financial and operational experience to his role with Empirix.

Before joining Empirix, Ray served as Chief Financial Officer, VP of Operations and General Manager at Tatara Systems, building products for the mobile convergence market. Prior to Tatara, he was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Quallaby Corporation, delivering carrier class network performance software which was acquired by Micromuse. Well versed in technology environments, Ray has extensive knowledge of strategic financial planning, operations, and financial reporting across a variety of companies. Previously, he also served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Cadia Networks. Earlier in his career, Ray held a number of middle management to executive levels positions with Xyplex, Unitrode Corp., Edwards High Vacuum International, and Dresser Industries.

Ray holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University.

Jim Towey
Vice President, Engineering

As Vice President of Engineering for Empirix, Jim Towey is responsible for directing the company's product development work across the globe.

Prior to joining Empirix, Jim was most recently at Starent Networks (acquired by Cisco) where he led the strategic development of products used in mobile data networks that helped drive the company's impressive growth. With over 20 years of experience Jim has driven worldwide product development efforts for both large and small organizations including Cisco, United Technologies, Lucent Technologies, and Cetacean Networks where he developed patented IP network technologies.

Jim received an MBA from the University of Connecticut, an MSEE from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and a BSEE from the University of Connecticut. He holds six patents in the area of real-time control and communication systems.

Franco Messori
Vice President, Marketing and Strategy

Franco Messori is a leading authority on network protocols. His extensive experience includes building strong design teams, creating innovative test equipment and bringing new technologies to market.

In 2009 he took the leadership of Mutina Technologies, providing quality assurance technologies for mobile, next-gen, IPTV and IP core networks. He grew the company until it was acquired by Empirix. During his tenure, the company also launched a ground-breaking hand-held device for advanced, real-time testing in the field.

Prior to Mutina, Franco founded Pro.tel Srl, one of the first companies to offer VoIP monitoring solutions. It was acquired by Sunrise Telecom in 2000 and Franco served as CEO of the Sunrise Telecom Pro.tel Division for six years. He then consulted with international telecommunications companies on network architecture, security, management and troubleshooting issues.

Before his entrepreneurial work, Franco served as managing director of Ascom Italia from 1991-1996 and became CTO of Tele Communication Systems (TCS) in 1981. Before he served Telecom Italia former SIP in data transmission department.

Franco earned his degree in telecommunications in 1977.

Tim Moynihan
Vice President, Marketing

Tim Moynihan serves as vice president of marketing at Empirix. In this role, Tim is responsible for strategic business planning and product revenue growth strategies as well as expanding Empirix's position as the market leader in service quality assurance solutions for enterprises and service providers. These responsibilities include providing executive leadership, managing their individual business units on both an internal and external basis as well as overseeing marketing objectives worldwide.

With a specialty in technology marketing in both U.S. and international markets, Tim served as vice president of global marketing and channels at Envox Worldwide prior to Empirix, where he developed and implemented company product management and product marketing and channel strategies for advanced inbound and outbound voice communications solutions. Prior to Envox Worldwide, he served as director at Intel Corporation where he created and implemented worldwide product launches and ecosystem and awareness building programs for rapid market adoption.

Tim earned his bachelor's degree at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and received his MBA from Purdue University.

Bob Hockman
Vice President, Product Management

Bob Hockman has more than 25 years of experience in the communications industry. In his current role as VP of Product Management at Empirix, Bob directs the product management efforts for the company’s IP multiservice, unified communications, fixed line, and mobile test and monitoring offerings.

Prior to joining Empirix Bob consulted various startups in the communication test industry regarding market and product strategy. He has held General Management, VP, Director, and Manager positions with many of the leading communication test and monitoring companies (including Acterna [now JDSU], TTC, W&G, and Atlantic Research). During that time he led the creation and commercialization of many successful test and monitoring products.

Bob has a degree in Avionics Engineering from the US Naval Aviation Engineering Institute.

Brigid MacDonald
Vice President, Human Resources

Brigid MacDonald brings to the company more than 23 years of experience in Human Resources management. Brigid has spearheaded and executed organizational change and development across Empirix for more than eight years.

Prior to Empirix, Brigid served as the Director of Human Resources for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. While there, she created a strong Human Resources strategy, guided organizational development, managed all recruiting activities, and improved the benefit plan design while reducing costs. Brigid has also driven human resources programs for The Picker Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, and Bankers Trust Company.

Brigid has a BA in Finance from St. Mary’s College and a Master of Science in Management from Boston University.

Gerhard Auer
Vice President, EMEA Sales

With over 15 years of experience in sales, sales management and solution design expertise in the telecom industry, Gerhard serves as Vice President of Sales, EMEA at Empirix. In this role Gerhard is responsible for bringing Empirix testing, monitoring and analytic solutions to market across EMEA, for both Enterprises and Service Providers.

Prior to Empirix, Gerhard most recently served as the Executive Director and General Manager of EMEA East and Emerging Markets for JDSU. There he managed both the direct and channel sales teams and was responsible for architecting and implementing strategic sales plans with both key accounts and channel partners. Previously, Gerhard held direct sales and solution specialist positions within the company.

Prior to joining JDSU, Gerhard worked in key accounts management at Alcatel Austria. He developed his strong telecom, data and communications background with earlier appointments at Elekom, HMC and Philips.

Matthew Ainsworth
Vice President, Enterprise Solutions

With 20 years of industry experience, Matthew Ainsworth has worked globally with Contact Centers and Unified Communications solutions in sales and strategic business leader roles. He is currently responsible for Enterprise solutions strategy, sales, P&L ,and global Alliances. Prior to Empirix, Matthew held a number of sales positions, including Sales Leader for Financial Services at Cognos (now IBM) in the UK. He earned a BA Hons Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lincolnshire.