Sean Howard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sean Howard is an Australian entrepreneur, founder of OzEmail, at one time Australia's largest Internet company.
In the 1980s Howard developed the email service, Microtex. He also founded Australian Personal Computer, Australia's top-selling computer magazine.
In 1988 he became an original investor in ISYS Search Software, one of the pioneer search engine products.
In 1992 he sold his publications business to Australian Consolidated Press but retained Microtex. Microtex then became Oz-E-Mail.
In 1994 businessmen Malcolm Turnbull and Trevor Kennedy invested and the business was relaunched as OzEmail, with range of Internet services. In 1996 OzEmail was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. In 1997 OzEmail phone was launched and in 1998 the company was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
In December 1998 American telco WorldCom took a 14.9% stake in OzeMail and in February 1999 WorldCom completed the acquisition. In July 2002 WorldCom declared bankruptcy.
In 2000 Howard joined the board of the telco Optus. As of 2005 he was a non-executive director of the WebCentral Group, a web and application hosting company.
