Com Laude, a leading global provider of internet domain name management and online brand protection to many of the world’s foremost brands, announced the appointment of Ben Crawford as Chief Executive Officer and Director. The news follows Com Laude’s recent strategic growth investment from pan-European private equity firm PX3 Partners.
Com Laude also announces Nick Wood’s reappointment to the Board of Directors. Nick Wood was co-founder of Com Laude and served as its CEO until 2017 and as Executive Chairman from 2017 to March this year.
Ben Crawford joins the company after leading CentralNic Group PLC (recently renamed Team Internet PLC), which as its CEO, grew from $2M turnover in 2012 to $728M in 2022. On his appointment to Com Laude, he said: “I first tried to acquire Com Laude back in 2017, so it’s a dream come true to join the company as CEO. Com Laude’s exceptional expertise and customer-focused culture always made it the industry leader in my mind, so I want to further invest in and extend the expert advice and valuable services we provide to our existing and future clients while maintaining stability and continuity in our people and our ways of working.”
Nick Wood said: “I’m delighted to re-join the Com Laude Board and to work with Ben, our team, and our clients, to navigate the changes ahead in domain names and online brand protection. Ben and I are looking forward to developing some exciting new initiatives with our old friends and colleagues.”
Glenn Hayward will leave Com Laude after 6 years as CEO as part of the transition. His many achievements in that role culminated with the successful sale of the company to PX3 Partners in March of this year. Chairman Chris Donegan said, “We thank Glenn for his dedicated service to Com Laude and his tireless efforts to ensure the smooth transition of the business from its founders and earlier investors to PX3 Partners. We wish him continued success with his future endeavours.”
