Lorne Abony

The grandson of Holocaust survivors,{{cite news |last1=Spiro |first1=James |title=New $50M Texas defensetech fund established to help Israeli companies penetrate US markets |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkv4zp9or |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=CTech |date=2024-07-22}} Abony was born and raised in Toronto.Pachner, Joanna. [http://www.profitguide.com/article/28250--born-to-run-really-fast--page0 Born to run — really fast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721193406/http://www.profitguide.com/article/28250--born-to-run-really-fast--page0 |date=2011-07-21 }}, Profit. June 1, 2011 (accessed 1 June 2011) After graduating from the University of Windsor law school in 1994, Abony practiced corporate and securities law at the Toronto firm Aird & Berlis.[https://archive.today/20120717173910/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8074284&ticker=FMN:US Lorne Abony: Executive Profile & Biography – BusinessWeek] (accessed 16 February 2011) Abony earned an MBA from Columbia Business School,{{cite web |author= |date=December 11, 2008 |title=Executive Profile |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8074284 |accessdate=2008-11-16 |work=BusinessWeek Magazine |format=Executive Profile}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} an LL.B/J.D. from the International Law Center at the University of Windsor and a B.A. from McGill University.

Abony is the former CEO of Mood Media Corporation, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. He co-founded FUN Technologies in 2001 and in 2004 as CEO of FUN became the youngest CEO of a listed company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).{{cite web |last=Pachner |first=Joanna |title=Born to run — really fast |url=http://www.profitguide.com/manage-grow/success-stories/born-to-run-%E2%80%94-really-fast-30174 |publisher=Profit Guide |date=June 1, 2011 |accessdate=2012-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110081050/http://www.profitguide.com/manage-grow/success-stories/born-to-run-%E2%80%94-really-fast-30174 |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Thomas |title=Fun and Games: at 35, Lorne Abony is a young, ambitious—and very accomplished—CEO |url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/13682--fun-and-games-at-35-lorne-abony-is-a-young-ambitious-151-and-very-accomplished-151-ceo |publisher=Canadian Business |date=January 9, 2006 |accessdate=2012-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722083709/http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/13682--fun-and-games-at-35-lorne-abony-is-a-young-ambitious-151-and-very-accomplished-151-ceo |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |first4= |date=2014-01-08 |title=Mood Media CEO dumping his Palm Beach manse |url=https://nypost.com/2014/01/08/mood-media-ceo-dumping-his-palm-beach-manse/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |language=en-US}}

In January 1998, Abony quit his job as a lawyer and founded online pet-supply business Paw.net in San Francisco. Together with Andrew Reisman, the company raised $300,000 from friends and family, $150,000 from EcomPark, and later, $9 million from TCV.{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Luisa |title=Dog fight |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/0705/6401137a/ |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Forbes |date=1999-07-05}} The company, which was eventually renamed Petopia.com, grew to 200 full-time employees within two years and raised over $114 million in financing. Petopia.com was sold to Petco in 2001.[http://news.cnet.com/Petco-laps-up-the-assets-of-Petopia.com/2100-1017_3-249456.html Petco laps up the assets of Petopia.com] (accessed 16 February 2011)

Abony's next venture was Columbia Exchange Systems Software PLC, an Internet gaming company co-founded with Andrew Rivkin after the two raised C$1.8 million from investors.{{cite web |url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/strategy/article.jsp?content=20060109_105602_4640 |format=Newspaper Article |title=Fun and Games: at 35, Lorne Abony is a young, ambitious—and very accomplished—CEO |work=Canadian Business |author=Thomas Watson |date=March 14, 2005 |accessdate=2009-06-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629000141/http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/strategy/article.jsp?content=20060109_105602_4640 |archivedate=June 29, 2006}} Later renamed FUN Technologies, Abony became the company's CEO and the largest individual shareholder. In 2003, FUN completed an IPO on the London Stock Exchange raising over $11 million. When FUN listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2004, Abony became the youngest person to serve as CEO of a company on the exchange.{{cite news |last1=Lam |first1=Eric |title=The 2011 Bossies |url=https://financialpost.com/financial-post-magazine/the-2011-bossies |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Financial Post |date=2011-11-01}}

Liberty Media acquired a majority interest in FUN Technologies in 2005[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-138972803.html FUN TECHNOLOGIES PLC – Acquisition]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} (accessed 8 December 2010) and purchased the remainder in late 2007[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200711/ai_n21097813/ Liberty Media Corporation to Acquire FUN Technologies Inc. for GBP 1.75 per Share] (accessed 8 December 2010) at a valuation of nearly C$500 million.[http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20071001_110036_110036 The New Masters Of The Universe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306023244/http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20071001_110036_110036 |date=2012-03-06 }} (accessed 9 December 2010){{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Beth p |date=2005-11-22 |title=Liberty has a go at games on Web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/11/22/liberty-has-a-go-at-games-on-web/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}

In 2013, Abony purchased the Orange County Breakers of the World Team Tennis professional tennis league and relocated the team to Austin. He sold the team in February 2017.{{cite web |title=NB Tennis Team Sold |url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2017/feb/08/nb-tennis-team-sold/ |website=ocbj.com|date=8 February 2017 }}{{Cite news|last=Szabo |first=Matt |date=2013-11-22 |title=Breakers moving to Texas |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports/tn-dpt-sp-1122-oc-breakers-tennis-move-20131121-story.html |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=L.A. Times |language=en-US}}

Abony is the former CEO of Mood Media Corporation ("Mood Media").{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/business/muzak-background-music-to-life-to-lose-its-name.html | title=Muzak, Background Music to Life, to Lose Its Name | work=The New York Times | date=5 February 2013 | last1=Sisario | first1=Ben }} Mood Media provides in-store media to over 575,000 locations worldwide, including clients such as McDonald's, Gucci, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Hilton Hotel and AT&T. Mood Media has offices in 48 countries employs over 2,700 employees and plays over 115 million songs and 10 million on-hold and on-premise messages daily.{{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.com/cafluid-music-completes-acquisition-of-mood-media-group-5441959/02|title=Fluid Music Completes Acquisition of Mood Media Group|website=www.newswire.com}}{{cite web |url=http://sedar.com/DisplayCompanyDocuments.do?lang=EN&issuerNo=00025303 |format=Annual Information Form |title=Annual Information Form Year Ended December 31, 2009 |work=Fluid Music Canada Inc. |author=Fluid Music Canada Inc. |date=March 31, 2010 |accessdate=2010-08-03}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703784004576220473535657098?mod=WSJ_Deals_MIDDLTopStories |format=Newspaper Article |title=Mood Media to Acquire Muzak for $305 Million |work=Wall Street Journal |author=Anupreeta Das|author-link=Anupreeta Das|date=March 24, 2011 |accessdate=2011-03-24|url-access=subscription}}

In 2011 Mood Media was named Canada's fastest growing company by Profit.[http://list.profitguide.com/rankings/profit200/2011/DisplayProfile.aspx?profile=1 PROFIT 200 – Canada's fastest-growing companies] (accessed 1 June 2011)

In January 2013, Abony was featured in the CBS series Undercover Boss.

File:Green dot logo.svg

Abony was part of the private equity syndicate that acquired Der Grüne Punkt (The Green Dot) "DSD" from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/kkr-dsd-idUSLDE6AA0NA20101111 |work=Reuters |first=Maria |last=Sheahan |title=KKR sells German recycling group DSD |date=2010-11-11 |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2011-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318082101/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/11/11/kkr-dsd-idUSLDE6AA0NA20101111 |url-status=live }} in 2011. Abony sits on the board of DSD and is one of its largest shareholders.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/corporate/company/advisory-board.html |title=Advisory Board - der Grüne Punkt |access-date=2011-06-12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802045732/http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/corporate/company/advisory-board.html |archive-date=2012-08-02 |url-status=dead }} DSD was founded in 1990 and was the first company to introduce a dual take-back system in Germany, in response to the Packaging Ordinance & Waste Act. The Green Dot is the license symbol of a European network of industry-funded systems for recycling the packaging materials of consumer goods. The logo is trademark protected worldwide. DSD employs 247 people in Germany,{{Cite web |url=http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/corporate/company/facts-figures.html |title=Facts & Figures - der Grüne Punkt |access-date=2011-06-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130211084636/http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/corporate/company/facts-figures.html |archive-date=2013-02-11 |url-status=dead }} and is considered the largest dual take-back systems provider in Europe. In 2009, DSD recovered approximately 2.75 million tons of sales packaging, saved 60 billion megajoules of energy and reduced CO₂ emissions (and its equivalents) by 1.5 million tons. According to Reuters, DSD a former non-profit organization, had 2009 sales of 684 million euros.

In November 2017, Abony became the CEO and founder of Nuuvera, a Canadian company that focused on health and wellness products. In March 2018, Aphria Inc. agreed to buy Nuuvera for $826 million CAD in cash and stock.{{Cite news |title=Aphria Buys Nuuvera for $670 Million as Pot Deals Heat Up |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-29/aphria-to-buy-nuuvera-for-670-million-in-latest-marijuana-deal |access-date=2024-03-23 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=29 January 2018 }} Abony continued working with Aphria to help grow the medical products globally with his international connections.{{Cite web |title=SEC - Aphria |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1733418/000110465918062598/a18-26052_1ex99d76.htm |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.sec.gov}}

Since 2020, Abony has been one of the shareholders of EMMAC, a European independent medical wellness and nutrition company. Abony helped EMMAC become a global leader in life sciences as their Executive Chairman.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-23 |title=European Cannabis Leader EMMAC Gets Lifted Through a SPAC |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/interview-european-cannabis-leader-emmac-231850459.html |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}} In 2021, EMMAC was valued in a cash and share deal at approximately $345 million (USD).{{Cite web |date=2021-09-29 |title=Law firm doubles up on value of deals completed in first half {{!}} TheBusinessDesk.com |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2086235-law-firm-doubles-up-on-value-of-deals-completed-in-first-half |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=North West |language=en}}

Pluri is an Israeli based leading biotech company that transforms cells into solutions that promote wellbeing and sustainability. In 2023, Abony joined the Board of Directors of Pluri.{{Cite web |title=Pluri (PLUR) Appoints Lorne Abony to its Board |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=21903497&gfv=1 |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.streetinsider.com}} In 2024, cultivated meat company Meatable named Abony to its board of directors.{{cite news |title=Meatable Appoints Industry Execs to Board of Directors, Ramps up for 2024 Market Launch |url=https://vegconomist.com/company-news/meatable-appoints-industry-execs-to-board-of-directors-2024-market-launch/ |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Vegconomist |date=2024-02-20}} In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Abony co-founded Texas Venture Partners (TVP), which closed its first $50 million venture fund to invest in Israeli defense tech startups on 10 July 2024.{{cite news |last1=Wrobel |first1=Sharon |title=New $50 million Texas fund to scout for battle-tested Israeli defense tech |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-50-million-texas-fund-to-scout-for-battle-tested-israeli-defense-tech/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=Times of Israel |date=2024-07-25}}

Abony and his wife Valerie donated $500,000 to The Weiss School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The donations funded the Abony Family Kindergarten Wing, which broke ground in 2012.{{cite news |title=School News: Weiss School breaks ground on The Abony Family Kindergarten Wing |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/education/2012/05/17/school-news-weiss-school-breaks/7420649007/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=Palm Beach Post |date=2012-05-17}}

The Abonys are listed as founders of the University of Austin, a non-profit private liberal arts university located in Austin, founded in 2021 as an institution "dedicated to the pursuit of truth and open inquiry." The Abonys donated at least $100,000 to the university.{{cite news |last1=Ufberg |first1=Max |title=Inside the University of Austin, America’s new ‘anti-woke’ college |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91150660/university-of-austin-anti-woke-school |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Fast Company |date=2024-07-30}}

• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (nominee)
• Financial Post "Bossies" (2011)
• Canada's Top 40 Under 40 (2006){{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-40-under-40/article1099082/?page=all |title=Canada's Top 40 Under 40 |work=Globe & Mail Report on Business |author=Kathy English |date=May 2, 2006 |accessdate=2006-05-06 |location=Toronto}}
• Ambassador for the Province of New Brunswick{{cite web |author=Ryan |first=Donaghy |date=October 19, 2007 |title=Ambassador program reaches 100 members |url=http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/bnb/2007e1358bn.htm |accessdate=2007-10-19 |work=Press Release}}
• University of Windsor's Odyssey award (2006){{cite web|url=http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/alumni/honours.nsf/inToc/D49D5BBD82C00B5C85256F0F006FAB6F?OpenDocument|title=Odyssey award|access-date=2008-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313052112/http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/alumni/honours.nsf/inToc/D49D5BBD82C00B5C85256F0F006FAB6F?OpenDocument|archive-date=2009-03-13|url-status=dead}}

Abony is a competitive tennis player. He was a member of the Team Canada men's tennis team [http://www.maccabicanada.com/maccabicanada/myweb.php?hls=10388 Tennis Masters Men] (accessed 17 February 2011) which competed in the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He also competes in both the ITF and USTA men's over-40 divisions in both the state and national level in both singles and doubles. Abony's doubles' partner in the men's over-40 category is Jared Palmer,{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/connecticut/norwalk/norwalk-scores-and-standings-sept-13|title=Norwalk Scores and Standings: Sept. 13|date=12 September 2011|website=Norwalk, CT Patch}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/central-coast/ci_19051844 |title=Local roundup: SC's Young falls short at Oakley World Pro Junior Bali - San Jose Mercury News |access-date=2011-10-07 |archive-date=2014-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317003809/http://www.mercurynews.com/central-coast/ci_19051844 |url-status=dead }} formerly the world #1-ranked doubles player and Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles champion. As of July 3, 2012, Abony, along with tennis partner Jared Palmer, is ranked #2 in the USTA's National Men's over-40 Team Doubles rankings.{{cite web|url=https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/rankings/rankinghome.aspx?page=rankinglist&listid=1067216&playerid=&year=&type=searchresults|title=USTA Tournaments Home|website=tennislink.usta.com}}

In March 2014, Abony and doubles partner Robert Kendrick reached the finals of the USTA National Hardcourt Championships in the men’s over 30 category .{{cite web|url=https://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=140025|title=USTA National Men, Women & Mixed 30's Hard Court Championship: Home|website=tennislink.usta.com}}

In August 2012, Abony was selected as one of two Players Representatives on a 6-member Competition Committee of the ATP. The committee was composed of members of the international tennis community including former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek and was created to "explore new and creative ideas for enhancing the competition and presentation of the sport."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/1996-wimbledon-champion-richard-krajicek-5-others-appointed-to-new-atp-competition-committee/2012/08/24/8a61f51c-ee1c-11e1-b624-99dee49d8d67_story.html] (accessed 05 September 2012) {{Dead link|date=September 2018}}

In June 2014, Abony and doubles partner Robert Kendrick won the USTA National Indoor Championship in the men's over 35 category.{{cite web|url=https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=139993|title=Midcoast Tennis Association USTA National Men's 35 Indoor Championship: Home|website=tennislink.usta.com}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abony, Lorne}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Businesspeople from Toronto

Category:Canadian chief executives

Category:Jewish Canadian sportspeople

Category:Columbia Business School alumni

Category:Competitors at the 2009 Maccabiah Games

Category:Living people

Category:McGill University alumni

Category:University of Windsor alumni

Category:Lawyers in Ontario

Category:Canadian media executives

Category:20th-century Canadian philanthropists

Category:21st-century Canadian businesspeople

Category:University of Windsor Faculty of Law alumni

Category:Participants in American reality television series

Category:21st-century Canadian philanthropists