Martijn Tjho, Founder & CEO

An enthusiastic ideas man, negotiator and dealmaker.

Martijn combines more than 14 years of business experience in technology, interactive and entertainment industries. In 2001, Martijn co-founded mobile gaming company, Overloaded Pocket Media BV. Overloaded acquired by Endemol, in 2003, is a subsidiary of Spanish telecom provider Telefonica.

Martijn sits on the board of the Dare to Share Foundation.

You can connect with Martijn at

Martijn Meijer, Operations Director

Martijn Meijer is FUGA’s Operations Director. He has been responsible for setting up the technical infrastructure from the start of Independent IP and is now is responsible for maintaining the connections to the DSPs and ingestions of back catalog from labels.

Previous to joining Independent IP, he worked at Picopoint, investigating networking issues for wireless ISPs. He is an alumnus of the University of Amsterdam and holds Master degrees in Artificial Intelligence and System/Network Administration.

Marijn Meijles, CTO

Marijn is a seasoned and versatile software professional, capable of designing, building and maintaining complex IT systems.

He has a background in electrical engineering and computer science. Passed gigs include building Freeler, developing a computer for the elderly and work on OpenLDAP.

Dave Driessen, Client Services

Dave’s your first point of contact once you’ve signed up with FUGA. He’s responsible for training all new clients to use the FUGA system. Interfacing between our clients and the FUGA technical team, he answers all questions and requests from FUGA customers regarding the FUGA platform. Prior to life at IIP, Dave worked for Dynamic Resources’ start up called Fortescue Metals, as a Heritage Coordinator in Western Australia. He was involved in surveying and protecting aboriginal archaeological sites from impact during exploration activities interfacing between traditional owners, government agencies and mining operations.

He relocated to Amsterdam two years ago to follow his heart bringing his communication skills from this unique work experience to Independent IP.

Anne Jenniskens, IIP-DDS Director/ In-house Legal Councel

Anne is originally from Maastricht where she studied Criminal Law, International Trade and Company Law. Her combined talents within the company include legal affairs and managing IIP-DDS a new aggregation service offered through FUGA.

Anne has 6 years of experience working in various roles within the music industry. From a booking agent to legal counsel to publishing manager.

In her capacity as IIP’s in-house legal counsel and IIP-DDS director, she’s able to combine her interest in Copyright Law and the Internet with her love for music.

You can wake her for up for sushi anytime, and she’s a passionate follower of Internet law blogs and courtroom gossip.

Christiaan Kröner, Client Support Manager

Chris is support engineer at FUGA and deals with any questions you might have about the FUGA system.

He comes from pioneering music-crowdfunding website SellaBand where he was involved from the beginning of the company in 2006. Apart from helping with setting up the company his experience lies in guiding artists to record their music and handling the (digital) release of new albums.

He will use his experience from a label side of the business to help and improve FUGA’s system.

Umur Özkul, Senior Developer

Umur can be described as “a software developer with a passion”.

He decided to move from Istanbul after an Earthquake in 1999. Although he’s very happy in Holland with his family, he still feels Istanbul to be his home.

Umur worked as a lecturer at the Bogazici University until 1996. He later started his PhD at Stanford University in America, but soon realized he did not want to become a Scientist but more of an Engineer.
He has spent years on genetic analysis and facilitating scientists in trying to find cures for cancer. His biggest challenge during that time was his stay in India due to the difficulties in communicating with local software engineers.

When he’s not in front of the computer, Umur loves to read science fiction, Russian and South American literature. He also plays classical guitar.

Pavan Kumar Shreepaathy

Born in Hyderabad, India.

Pavan is FUGA’s product manager and translates all the ideas and requirements in functional designs. He holds a Masters degree in Information Technology with specialization in networking.
Previous to his Masters in IT, Pavan was a biologist and did a Masters in Bio-Informatics from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Martijn Tjho (CEO, Independent IP), Ravi, Naveen and my beloved wife Ewa are the people behind my success. I love to play cricket (I play with “De-Kikkers”) and watching movies.

“It’s not the place but it’s the people that always make me happy”

Gabriel Hallé, French Office

Gabriel joined the record industry in 2000 to specialize in the digital music area.
For years, he was in charge of digital sales for a leading independent music company in France and had the opportunity to work on all the aspects of digital. His responsibilities were the interfacing between DSPs and sub-labels, handle the technical processes, account business reviews, set up marketing campaigns and work on albums release strategies.

In 2009, he founded – TEAMS – to help indie artists with their digital activities by building social websites, recruiting fans, and providing a comprehensive solution to get a direct to fan business set up. He recently joined IIP with the mission to expand the Fuga network in France and interfacing french-speaking labels with the Fuga technical team.

Chad Tait, USA Office

Based out of New York City, Chad handles FUGA’s Business Development for North America.

He is a life long Music Industry professional, who began his career in 1995 with Atlantic Records, and proceeded to work with such outfits as: Sony Music, Polygram Records, EMI Music, and Caroline Distribution. Chad pioneered EMI’s digital sales and marketing efforts, as he was EMI’s first Digital Account Manager in the US. From that position he was recruited to build and oversee Caroline Distribution’s
Digital Music Business.

You can connect with Chad via email at chad at independentip.com
phone him at 1 (201) 888-4824

Eleonora Kleijn, Marketing Director

Eleonora has recently joined our team as the Marketing Director in charge of communication, marketing strategies, event promotion and public relations. She began her career as a Management Trainee, working her way up to the position of Category Manager for L’Oreal. With a Masters degree from Nyenrode Business university, she now benefits the company with her experience, enthusiasm and positivity, utilizing her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to accept new challenges by developing marketing strategies for this young and ambitious company.

Renato Cardoso, Designer

He joins the company from Brazil where he studied Computer Science, shortly after the internet craze hit Brazil in 1996. He later worked as an Art Director with several internet companies located in Brazil, Portugual, Italy and Holland.

Renato’s passion for computers, radio control models and graphic design combined with his love for music and bicycles, provides IIP with the expertise needed to help create new guidelines for our software interfaces.

Recently relocated to Amsterdam, we’ve already seen his talent and dedication hard at work. We’re as excited to have him on board as he is to be to here.

Karolina Stanevičiūtė, Junior Financial Controller

Karolina is currently interning at Independent IP (IIP) in our Finance Department and will soon be receiving a degree in MSc of Economics.

She was born in Lithuania, but always felt the inner desire to travel, get to know people and explore different cultures and lifestyles.

The reason she settles in Amsterdam for now (in her own words) is because…”this city is so cool”.

Her love for music combined with her interest in Finance makes IIP the perfect place for her to develop her business skills and be a part of an enthusiastic, friendly and creative team.