Barry Rowan has over thirty years of leadership experience in C-suite roles building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communications space. He currently serves as the CFO for Gogo, the inflight internet company with over $800 million in annual revenues. He was previously CFO for Cool Planet Energy Systems, a renewable energy company located in Denver, Colorado. From 2010-13, Barry served as EVP, CFO, and chief administrative officer for Vonage Corporation in Holmdel, New Jersey, where he was part of the leadership team that successfully turned around this $900 million internet communications company.
After starting his career in the finance department for a division of Hewlett-Packard, Barry joined Comlinear Corporation after graduating with an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He began as its CFO and was later promoted to president at age thirty-two. In 1992 he joined Fluke Corporation (NYSE) as vice president and CFO. In 1995, he became vice president and general manager of the verification tools division, and in 1996, he was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of the newly-created networks division. Fluke's stock price more than tripled during Barry's six years with the company. From 1999 to 2001, he served as CFO at Velocom Inc. and subsequently served as CEO of Vesper, the company's Brazilian subsidiary.
From 2003-2006, Barry was with Nextel Partners, serving as its EVP, CFO, and treasurer. From its founding in 1999 in Kirkland, Washington, Nextel Partners grew into a Fortune 1000 company, reaching $1 billion in revenues in its first five years. Fueled by this rapid growth, the equity value of the company grew from $2 billion to over $9 billion during Rowan's tenure, culminating in its sale to Sprint for $10 billion in June of 2006.
Barry has served as a director for public companies, including ICO Global Communications and ARIS Corporation, has also served on the boards of privately held companies. Motivated by his belief in giving back to the community and investing in the next generation of leaders, he has also served as a trustee for Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the board of advisors for the Honors Program in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Gonzaga University, and as president of Bellevue Christian School. He has served on the InterVarsity board of directors and chairs the board of a Harvard Business School Christian Fellowship and Alumni Association. He has taught university courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and is a frequently requested speaker at a wide-variety of forums.
Barry is married to Linda, his best friend and wife of over forty years, and they have two adult sons. An avid reader and lover of the outdoors, he enjoys skiing, hiking, golf, and most sports.