Independent IP (IIP), an independent technology innovator for the digital media industry, has secured an additional €0.5 million from private investors in its latest round of funding for a total of €1.6 million raised, and appointed new CEO Albert Slendebroek to its management team, the company announced today.
IIP will use the funding to fulfill its vision of becoming the global standard for digital content for the digital media industry with the company’s next generation digital music asset and supply chain platform – FUGA™. Since its founding in 2006, IIP has already attained a strong presence in the music industry with the pre-release of FUGA attracting interest from distributors representing more than 1500 independent labels, as well as major labels.
As the digital media industry faces increasing complexity, content owners are challenged to service their markets dealing with proliferation of channels, product combinations and business models. IIP believes content creators should focus on creation and commercial exploitation of content and not on building technology that organizes the supply chain and facilitates financial reconciliation across the value chain. IIP’s goal is to provide the standard that enables content
owners to do business with content distributors through this core platform that connects all parties in the music industry.
“Independent IP is positioned to change the face of digital music distribution by connecting and empowering the music industry in the most efficient and effective manner,” said Martijn Tjho, chairman and founder of IndependentIP. “With this funding and solid management team and advisory boards in place, the company is ready to move to the next level with its commercial launch of FUGA later this year.”
New IIP CEO Albert Slendebroek’s extensive management experience and background includes more than 20 years in the music industry, most recently serving as an independent consultant for media company clients that include Sony BMG, The Entertainment Group and BNN TV. Prior to that, he was president of Warner Music Group in the Benelux for almost 10 years. Slendebroek also spent many years in various music industry positions for Polygram Germany, where he managed the Metronome label, as well as Chrysalis Records, Phonogram International (now Universal) and Ariola Benelux. During his years in the industry he worked together with artists such as Elton John, INXS, Genesis, Dire Straits and many others.
Rounding out the new IIP management team are: Martijn Tjho – Chairman and Founder of IIP, Cris Merritt – Co-Founder, Robert Bor – Chief Technology Officer, Joe Correia – Chief Financial Officer and Rebecca Driessen – Chief Operations Officer. With the addition of new CEO Albert Slendebroek, IIP’s management team brings a combined 85 years of experience that spans the music, technology, software development, finance and start-up sectors, as well as proven track records of establishing and leading successful businesses.
In addition to the leadership of the management team, IndependentIP is backed by a strong network of passionate individuals driving the company through active, hands-on consulting. IIP’s supervisory and international advisory boards are composed of business, financial, marketing, consumer goods and entrepreneurial experts who are internationally recognized for their successes. Board members include:

• Professor Rene Tissen, PhD – chairman and founding partner with more than 25 years ofexperience in managerial and executive positions in international companies, currently a full time professor of management at Nyenrode Business School, The Netherlands.
• Chris Devries – recently retired country head at Citigroup in various European countries.
• Morten Lund – founder of LundKenner, one of the first private investors in Skype and an internationally recognized authority on Web applications and viral marketing.
• Søren Kenner – founder of LundKenner, internationally recognized master marketer and former chairman of McCann MRM Europe.
• Pier Baarsma – former managing director of Coca-Cola in The Netherlands and an in-demand consultant well-known in the European consumer-goods business world.
• Richard van Leeuwen – a successful entrepreneur, investor and business owner.