Rich Williams

Education
 
Rich Williams has had a remarkable journey, displaying a blend of technical education and versatile career achievements. He studied aerospace engineering and political science at the University of Southern California from January 1992 to January 1996.

Career at Experian
 
Rich began his career at Experian, where he held multiple roles from June 2001 to December 2007, including Vice President positions in Marketing, Strategy Development, and Sales. During his tenure, he honed his skills in marketing and strategy, setting the stage for his future leadership roles.

Career at Amazon
 
In January 2008, Rich moved to Amazon.com, serving in the World Wide Marketing & Advertising department until June 2011. Here, he developed scalable software systems to manage Amazon’s marketing and advertising programs, contributing significantly to the company's growth.

Career at Groupon
 
His next major career move was to Groupon, starting in June 2011 as SVP and Global CMO. Over nearly a decade, he held various senior roles, including President of North America, COO, and eventually CEO. Rich's leadership significantly restructured Groupon, driving innovation and substantial growth. This period saw Groupon becoming one of the most recognized online brands globally.

Entrepreneurial Ventures
 
Rich's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Stage Left Cellars in January 2005, where he served as a winemaker until July 2018. This venture highlighted his ability to diversify his professional endeavors.

Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp.
 
In November 2020, Rich took on the role of CEO at Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp., successfully raising over $575 million and bringing Babylon Health to the New York Stock Exchange. This achievement underscored his knack for strategic growth and investment.

Current Roles
 
Currently, Rich holds multiple roles, including Founder & CEO at Works Capital LLC and CEO at The Value Studio LLC since July 2020. He is also actively involved as a board member at Payoneer, Built Technologies, and Shift One. Additionally, he serves as an advisor at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and is a member of Park City Angels.

Personal Pursuits
 
Outside of his professional life, Rich enjoys personal pursuits such as cycling, flying (working on his commercial rating), and playing the guitar. His career showcases a strong blend of leadership, operational expertise, and strategic insights across various industries.