Jim Spare

Growth & Transformation CEO | Multiple exits | Leads strategic transformation | Bridges growth stage & enterprise | Board Member

New York, New York, United States

About

I am a senior operating executive with deep experience scaling, transforming and leading software, data and platform businesses. In my career I’ve served as CEO, COO, President and Chief Product Officer, driving revenue growth, margin expansion, acquisition integrations, and leadership team development at a global scale. I’m equally comfortable leading a growth-stage business through rapid value creation, guiding an established division within a larger enterprise through transformation with full P&L accountability, as well as partnering with investors and boards to build value in a roll-up or PE portfolio. My strength is in aligning strategy, product & go-to-market, and operations and building high-performance leadership teams that execute. I thrive on complexity, scale, change and making measurable impact. I'm adept in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for competitive advantage and working with a wide range of technologies and businesses, from SaaS to hardware, and am deeply accomplished in creating impactful commercial relationships between startups and market-leading enterprise partners.

Experience

  • Executive Advisor to the CEO at A.Team
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    Advising the CEO and leadership team of A.Team, a leading AI-native systems integrator, on strategic growth initiatives, team alignment, and operational execution to accelerate enterprise-scale adoption and revenue growth.

  • IDC (New York, New York, United States · Remote)
    • Chief Product Officer
      Apr 2025 - Jul 2025 · 4 mos

      Leading the evolution of our global product line of AI-powered digital platforms, data and analytics products, subscription research, custom solutions, and more.

    • Senior Vice President and General Manager (SVP & GM)
      Apr 2024 - May 2025 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Building a new, artificial intelligence (AI) based digital business, empowering strategic decisions through data, as part of the broader digital transformation of this Blackstone-owned market research and technology data leader.

  • CEO in Residence, Board Member, Advisor at Impactful tech growth companies
    Feb 2011 - Apr 2024 · 13 yrs 3 mos

    I coach and mentor visionary founders and teams in building impactful technology businesses. Companies on which I've served as a Board Member have been acquired by Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Foxconn, Twitter, and others.

  • President at eko
    Jun 2014 - Jun 2022 · 8 yrs 1 mo

    Eko provides a SaaS for interactive video based e-commerce that delivers engaging customer experiences that help e-retailers sell more. With over 28 granted patents, eko's open platform allows creators to easily create experiences that are seamlessly delivered across the web, mobile web, mobile apps, social networks, and connected devices. Additional applications exist in advertising, streaming video entertainment, corporate training, and more; the possibilities are endless. Eko's investors include Sequoia, NEA, Innovation Endeavors, Intel Capital, Walmart, MGM, Sony, Warner Music Group.

  • Chief Executive Officer at Canesta (Acquired by Microsoft)
    Aug 2001 - Jan 2011 · 9 yrs 6 mos

    Canesta invented and produced a revolutionary sensing technology that enables everyday devices to “see” in 3D so they can understand and interact with their surroundings. The company was supported by investment from The Carlyle Group, Venrock, Honda Motor Company, Quanta Computer, and others. Canesta was acquired by Microsoft in fall 2010 and its technology is currently shipping in Xbox One Kinect. Served as Canesta's VP Sales & Marketing prior to being promoted to CEO in 2006.