Michael Malone (businessman)
{{Short description|Irish/Australian technology entrepreneur and business executive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michael Malone
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}} {{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
| birth_place = Ennis, County Clare {{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
| education = Postgraduate Diploma in Education,
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
| alma_mater = The University of Western Australia
| occupation =
Director NBN Co 2016-current
Director Seven West Media 2015-current
Director Wisetech 2021-current
Director Speedcast 2014-2020
Director Superloop 2014-2020
Director Dreamscape 2015-2017
Chairman of Diamond Cyber Security 2014-2020
Managing Director of iiNet 1994-2014
| known_for = ISP Entrepreneur
Internet consumer rights
Technology pioneer
businessman
| website =
}}
Michael Malone is an Irish/Australian technology entrepreneur and business executive. He was the founder and managing director of the Perth-based telecommunications provider iinet starting the business in his parents' garage. He is a pioneer of dial up access back in 1993 before the Internet became mainstream. Over the years he has been an advocate for Internet consumer rights as well participating in the metadata debate. He was appointed as a non executive director of the NBNco in 2016.
Early life
Malone was born in, County Clare, Ireland and migrated to Australia in 1978 with his parents and two brothers.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/9-irish-australians-who-made-it-big-in-business-2014-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702144002/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/9-irish-australians-who-made-it-big-in-business-2014-6|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2014|title=9 Irish-Australians Who Made It Big In Business|first=Billy|last=Cantwell|date=2014-06-27|newspaper=Business Insider Australia|via=Irish Echo|access-date=2017-01-13}}
Education
Malone attended Christian Brothers College Leederville (now Aranmore Catholic College).{{Cite web|title=Aranmore Catholic College - Aranmore Catholic College|url=https://www.aranmore.wa.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1044:principal-s-message-19-june-2020&catid=22|access-date=2021-12-03|website=www.aranmore.wa.edu.au}} He has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from The University of Western Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/media-releases/Michael-Malone-appointed-to-nbn-Board.html|title=Michael Malone appointed to nbn Board|website=www.nbnco.com.au|access-date=2017-01-13}}
iiNet (Telecommunications Company)
Michael Malone and Michael O'Reilly founded iiNet in 1993, starting the business in a suburban garage in Perth, Western Australia as iiNet Technologies Pty Ltd. It began as one of the first Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer TCP/IP Internet access, as opposed to the store-and-forward techniques (such as MHSnet) that were then in use at other ISPs. It claims it was the first ISP to offer PPP access in Australia, and to be the first to base operations on the then new Linux operating system.
The company outgrew its suburban home in 1995 and moved to Perth CBD office accommodation yet its early growth during the Internet boom was hampered by the ability of Telstra (not releasing Bigpond as an ISP until 1997) to cope with the demand of needed telephone lines, and by the sheer competitive pressure in the Perth market, which had a comparative oversupply of low-cost providers. In 1996, iiNet successfully expanded into the Adelaide market under the name light.iinet.net.au (named after Colonel Light), in partnership with locals John Lindsay and Leigh Hart.
iiNet listed on the Australia Stock Exchange in September 1999.{{Cite web|date=April 16, 2004|title=ihug Parent, iiNet, to list on NZSX|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0404/S00159.htm?from-mobile=bottom-link-01|access-date=2021-12-03|website=www.scoop.co.nz}}
During his executive tenure at iiNet, Malone aggressively grew iiNet by acquiring other leading ISPs all over Australia. He grew the company to become the second largest ISP in Australia. He was also a passionate advocate for Internet consumer rights in regards to privacy as well contributing to the metadata debate.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/business-spectator/malone-on-metadata-laws-they-suck/news-story/cc03ff44369ef1777abbd4e97c0cff0d|title=Malone on metadata laws: 'they suck'|date=2015-03-27|access-date=2017-01-13}}
Malone was a lead witness and spokesperson in the Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd
copyright case that was successful in the High Court of Australia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/iinet-defeats-afact-in-high-court-case/|title=iiNet defeats AFACT in High Court Case|date=2012-04-20|access-date=2017-03-28}}
Malone stepped aside as managing director in early 2014 after taking a three-week holiday in Argentina which was supposed to be a three-month to six-month sabbatical.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/long-dark-road-ahead-iinet-boss-michael-malone-walks-away-after-20-years-20140320-356f4.html|title='Long dark road ahead': iiNet boss Michael Malone walks away after 20 years|last=Ramli|first=David|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-13}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.itwire.com/it-people-news/people-moves/63500-michael-malone-resigns-from-iinet|title=iTWire - Michael Malone resigns from iiNet|last=Philipson|first=Graeme|website=www.itwire.com|access-date=2017-01-13}} In 2015, iiNet was acquired by TPG Telecom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.itnews.com.au/news/tpgs-iinet-takeover-is-bittersweet-for-michael-malone-408176|title=TPG's iiNet takeover is 'bittersweet' for Michael Malone|website=iTnews|access-date=2017-01-13}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/iinet-founder-michael-malone-finally-backs-tpg-telecom-takeover-20150727-gilbhd.html|title=iiNet founder Michael Malone finally backs TPG Telecom takeover|last=Ramli|first=Tess Ingram and David|date=2015-07-27|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-13}}
Business Career
After leaving iiNet, Malone co-founded and was chairman of Perth-based information security company Diamond Cyber,{{Cite news |last=Tucker |first=Harry |date=2016-04-22 |title=Former iiNet CEO and founder Michael Malone has joined the NBN board |newspaper=Business Insider Australia |url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/former-iinet-ceo-and-founder-michael-malone-has-joined-the-nbn-board-2016-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422143649/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/former-iinet-ceo-and-founder-michael-malone-has-joined-the-nbn-board-2016-4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2016 |access-date=2017-01-13}}{{Cite news |title=Our Company: Security Through the Offensive Lens {{!}} Diamond Cyber Security |language=en-US |newspaper=Diamond Cyber Security |url=https://diamondcyber.com/company/ |access-date=2017-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803112750/https://diamondcyber.com/company/ |archive-date=2020-08-03}} which was sold to CyberCX in 2020.{{Cite web |title=CyberCX steps up Western Australia play |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/683999/cybercx-steps-up-western-australia-play/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.arnnet.com.au}}
He joined the board of NBN Co in 2016.
Malone has served on the board of Seven West Media, SpeedCast, Superloop, Axicom, and Dreamscape Limited.{{Cite web |title=iiNet co-founder joins Superloop's board |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/621052/iinet-co-founder-joins-superloop-board/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.arnnet.com.au}}
Malone was appointed to the board of ASX Listed logistics software company WiseTech Global.{{Cite web|title=Wisetech Global|url=https://www.wisetechglobal.com/who-we-are/about-us/}} in 2020{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/business/boards/iinet-founder-michael-malone-joins-board-of-wisetech-global-ng-b882052313z|title = Malone adds fire power to WiseTech board|date = 25 October 2021}} and hif Health Insurance in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |title=Malone joins HIF board |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Malone-joins-HIF-board |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Business News |language=en}}
Awards
Malone was named as 2006 First among Equals in the 40 under 40 Awards,{{Cite web |date=2006-03-02 |title=Malone's emotional journey revealed at 40under40 awards |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Malones-emotional-journey-revealed-at-40under40-awards |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Business News |language=en}} Australian "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2011{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Michelle |date=2011-11-17 |title=iiNet founder Michael Malone named Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/advice/startupsmart-growth/iinet-founder-michael-malone-named-entrepreneur-of-the-year/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=SmartCompany |language=en-AU}} and the Charles Todd Medal in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Charles Todd Medals awarded to Michael Malone and Mike Quigley - Media Releases - Channel Asia |url=https://www.channelasia.tech/mediareleases/17624/charles-todd-medals-awarded-to-michael-malone-and/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.channelasia.tech}}
References
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Category:Australian business executives