Purple Wifi casts its net further with key hire

ENTREPRENEUR Gavin Wheeldon is targeting the Asia Pacific region with a strategic hire for his latest venture, Purple WiFi.
Mr Wheeldon who previously built up and sold translation business Applied Language Solutions to Capita, has hired experienced sector specialist Allen Pan, who will be based in Shanghai and as vice president of Asia Pacific, look to expand the social Wifi company there.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne Purple Wifi operates a cloud-based technology that offers businesses such as cafes and retailers guest WiFi hotspot software, enabling them to capture data and market to their customers, who access free wifi from them in exchange for a social media ‘like’.
Mr Pan joins Purple WiFi from WiFi network provider, Boingo, where he built the company’s entire Asia Pacific business unit and pperations from nothing. Within this role he secured major carrier partnerships in a number of countries including China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.
In his new role he will identify venue WiFi marketing and analytics opportunities.
Mr Weeldon, said: “The wealth of technical and sales experience, combined with the knowledge of both the Asian business community and WiFi industry that Allen brings to the role means we will be exceptionally well placed to expand in the region.
“There are huge opportunities within this part of the world to increase our footprint and build strong relationships with both carriers and WiFi manufacturers, in addition to providing a secure guest WiFi service to venues of all sizes and Allen is in such a strong position to be able to achieve this for us.”