Executive Bios

Michael J. G. Gleissner Chairman of the Board

Michael started pioneering companies in the areas of technology, media, and business process outsourcing at the age of 18. His first company ArtData Systems introduced the CD-ROM as a state-of-the-art retrieval media which was then used by majority of the booksellers in Germany. He also pioneered eCommerce in 1991 based on BBS systems - long before the commercial success of the Internet - and web hosting.

With business process outsourcing, he started a call centre in Namibia/Africa for German customer service in 1997, at a time where such intense use of technology was vastly unusual.

He relocated to the U.S. in 1996 after selling both of his companies to two large corporations, VERIO (which later became NTT) and Amazon.com (which he later served as Vice President).

After his resignation from operational duties, he acquired Bigfoot - a former email directory - to tap on the brand's equity gained from the early adopters of the Internet - and extended it to several of his main business activities. Michael now chairs the board of the Bigfoot Group of Companies with core businesses in communications, business process outsourcing, learning and entertainment.

Recognising the desire to learn English with the use of ever-increasing modern technology, Michael founded Cleverlearn in 1999, Santa Monica, California, USA. Cleverlearn Ltd. is a leading provider of English web based learning solutions, and focuses on addressing the hurdles today's professionals have to overcome when learning English as a Second Language (ESL). Cleverlearn leverages the widespread use of technology in modern everyday life by working across multiple platforms - from web to PDAs - in order to deliver and reinforce English instruction: www.cleverlearn.com.

Realizing his passion for entertainment, he started Bigfoot Partners by setting up a film fund to finance emerging filmmakers and their projects. He also took on the role of an Executive Producer in two feature films in 2004. 'Three Needles' (Lucy Liu) and 'East Broadway' (Margaret Cho), and is the screenwriter and Director of a feature 'Irreversi': www.bigfootentertainment.com

Movielearn: Entertainment + Education = Edutainment

Given Michael's background in technology, education and entertainment, Movielearn fuses all these experiences and interests into one innovative edutainment product to teach English with movies on the computer.

JOSEPH JOHN MERCADO Chief Executive Officer

Joe Mercado comes from a strong technology background having graduating in Computer Science in the US, and then went on to becoming a veteran in the telecommunications industry. With 10+ years experience in executive management roles, Joe brought invaluable experience in mobile technology into the ESL field. Spearheading Cleverlearn, a leading English learning web based solutions provider, Joe has now further expanded the combination of ESL and technology based learning to Movielearn.

In Telecommunications, Joe started his career in 1993 with Luxemburg-based Millicom International Cellular as Head of Sales for their Philippines property. He headed nationwide sales and launched the first pre-paid cellular service in Asia. Before joining Cleverlearn Ltd., Joe was the Vice President for Isla Communications Co., Inc. (Islacom), a Deutsche Telekom-owned company. As Head of Islacom's mobile service and wholesale/carrier relations, he led the Islacom team during the vital Merger Integration process between the Philippine telecom assets of Deutsche Telekom and Singapore Telecoms.

As CEO of Cleverlearn, Joe spread the use of technology to teach and reinforce English in modern everyday life by working across multiple platforms - from web to PDAs - with a variety of products. Cleverlearn also now operates schools and English learning centres in Vietnam and China, incorporating completely the Cleverlearn method of learning and putting into practical use Cleverlearn's technology-based learning tools and services.

Now managing Movielearn, this is by far the latest most innovative method of teaching English on the computer.