The TravelShark Team

Meet the creative professionals behind TravelShark’s innovative internet marketing strategies. Don’t worry—we don’t bite.

Executive Management

• Surname
• Leppan
• Given Names
• David
• Title
• Chairman & Co-Founder
• Location
• Singapore, Singapore
• Hometown
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Favorite TravelShark Site
• hotellondon.com
• Preferred Travel Activity
• Yachting

< Leppan << David <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

David Leppan, Founder and Chairman of the Board

David Leppan started his first Web-based venture, World-Check in late 2000. World-Check is the leading global provider of highly structured risk intelligence, servicing 5,400 clients, including 49 of the 50 largest banks, in over 160 countries worldwide. In 2007 he sold a majority stake in the business to Spectrum Equity and HarbourVest Partners. In 2011, after four years in which Mr. Leppan served as Chairman, the company was sold to Thomson Reuters.

In 2007 Mr. Leppan invested in VRE Global Ltd, later to be renamed Internet Search Marketing Ltd, a company with a strong SEO background and successful in the United Kingdom in the area of business marketing online. With a firm belief in e-commerce he looked to expand his interests globally and along with Graham Easton founded TravelShark Pte Ltd in 2008.

Subsequently he has invested in a number of start up ventures including Wealth-X, the leading provider of information and insight about wealthy people.

Mr. Leppan is a British national, grew up in South Africa, studied in Austria and lives in Singapore.

• Surname
• Heilbronner
• Given Names
• Sue
• Title
• Chief Executive Officer
• Location
• Singapore, Singapore
• Hometown
• Miami, Florida, USA
• Favorite TravelShark Site
• SydneyHotels.com
• Preferred Travel Activity
• Endless urban walks or rugged hikes

< Heilbronner << Sue <<<<<<<<<<<<

Sue Heilbronner, Chief Executive Officer

Sue Heilbronner has been at the forefront of direct marketing since the early years of the web.

Before joining TravelShark in 2010, she was Chief Marketing Officer at Campus Direct, where she leveraged her online marketing, product development, and social media skills in the distance learning sector. She also served as President of WEbook, Inc., the largest online writing community in the world.

Previously, Ms. Heilbronner was executive vice president of sales and marketing at TIG Global, the leading provider of interactive marketing services in the hospitality industry. She drove TIG Global to repeated annual sales increases in excess of 150-200%, resulting in the company being named the 10th fastest growing firm in the DC region. Ms. Heilbronner spoke routinely on Internet trends and co-authored a respected industry book, Profits and Pitfalls in Online Marketing: A Legal Desk Reference for Travel Executives. In 2006, she was named one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing by the HSMAI.

Ms. Heilbronner began her work in the internet at the international cable TV company, Discovery Communications. Before joining Discovery, she built and sold a successful e-commerce company. She began her career as an attorney--working last as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ms. Heilbronner received a bachelor’s degree in government from Oberlin College and both a law degree and a master’s degree in public policy from Duke University.

• Surname
• Easton
• Given Names
• Graham
• Title
• Chief Operating Officer
• Location
• Singapore, Singapore
• Hometown
• LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
• Favorite TravelShark Site
• singaporehotels.com
• Preferred Travel Activity
• Trying local food

< Easton << Graham <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Graham Easton, Chief Operating Officer

Following a 21-year banking career with the Bank of England, FSA, Bank of Bermuda, and HSBC, Graham Easton founded UK company VREGlobal Ltd, now Internet Search Marketing Ltd. ISM is a leader in providing geo-targeted search engine optimization (SEO) solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses in the UK.

Teaming up with David Leppan in 2008, Mr. Easton went on to co-found and develop TravelShark Pte Ltd, which is the largest provider of travel and hospitality websites in the world.

Graham Easton is a director of Swiftrank, and is Chief Operating Officer and the lead SEO at TravelShark.

• Surname
• Wilson
• Given Names
• Mark
• Title
• SVP Strategy and Innovation
• Location
• Boulder, Colorado, USA
• Hometown
• Evergreen, Colorado, USA
• Favorite TravelShark Site
• HotelSanFrancisco.com
• Preferred Travel Activity
• Hiking and Kayaking

< Wilson << Mark <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Mark Wilson, SVP Strategy and Innovation

For the five years prior to beginning work at TravelShark, Mark Wilson was a consulting Chief Architect for Chubb, a UTC Fire & Security Company responsible for custom software solutions for the fire and security divisions for the United States.

The last 10 years of Mr. Wilson's 14-year software engineering and architecture career was spent as an independent consultant leading and implementing a variety of software projects and web-based applications at companies such as Jones Cyber Solutions, Level3 Communications, Valtech, Qwest, Source Precision Medicine, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, Red Hawk, and UTC Fire & Security.

Mark Wilson received a Masters degree in Information Systems from the University of Colorado.

• Surname
• Onder
• Given Names
• Ali
• Title
• Head of Coding
• Location
• Ankara, turkey
• Hometown
• Ankara, turkey
• Favorite TravelShark Site
• HotelsMiami.com
• Preferred Travel Activity
• Fine Dining

< Onder << Ali <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Ali Onder, Head of Coding

Ali Onder studied in the UK and has Advanced levels in Mathematics and Computer Science. He has held the role of analyst/programmer for more than 10 years for multi national companies such as Fiserv Inc, Eli Lilly Plc, Corporate Software Ltd, Virgin Records Plc, Reebok International.

Mr. Onder started his own internet software company in 1999 specializing in PHP/MySQL technologies. He has been with TravelShark since its beginnings.

Team TravelShark

• 
  • Surname
  • Baskin
  • Given Names
  • Bernie
  • Title
  • Editor & Curator, Asia
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • hochiminhcityhotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Adventure Motorcycling and Eating

  < Baskin << Bernie <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Bradford
  • Given Names
  • Kay
  • Title
  • Marketing Associate
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • berlinluxuryhotel.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Art Museum Visits or Snorkeling

  < Bradford << Kay <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Easton
  • Given Names
  • Paula
  • Title
  • Customer Services Manager
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • Newcastle, England, UK
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • phukethotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Snorkeling

  < Easton << Paula <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Hakman
  • Given Names
  • Irmak
  • Title
  • Software Engineer
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • Ankara, Turkey
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • LasVegasHotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Mountain Hiking

  < Hakman << Irmak <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Jackson
  • Given Names
  • Celia
  • Title
  • Account Manager, APAC
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • Clitheroe, UK
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • RomeHotel.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Experiencing places, cultures, food

  < Jackson << Celia <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Karamah
  • Given Names
  • Huwaina
  • Title
  • Finance Manager
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • MelbourneHotel.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • People watching

  < Karamah << Huwaina <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Lee
  • Given Names
  • Sam
  • Title
  • Director of Marketing and Product
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Potomac, Maryland, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • OrlandoHotel.net
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Learning about other cultures

  < Lee << Sam <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Leffers
  • Given Names
  • Mark
  • Title
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • vancouverhotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Flyfishing, Hiking

  < Leffers << Mark <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Lloyd
  • Given Names
  • Chris
  • Title
  • Operations Manager
  • Location
  • Singapore, Singapore
  • Hometown
  • York, UK
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • FlorenceHotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Photography

  < Lloyd << Chris <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • London
  • Given Names
  • Philip
  • Title
  • Business Analyst
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Columbia, Maryland, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • bangkokhotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Climbing, Hiking

  < London << Philip <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Marsh
  • Given Names
  • Daniel
  • Title
  • Web Developer
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • parishotel.net
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Getting Lost

  < Marsh << Daniel <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • McKitterick
  • Given Names
  • Erika
  • Title
  • Director of Business Development
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Dayton, Ohio, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • BeijingHotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Trying New Foods

  < McKitterick << Erika <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Miner
  • Given Names
  • Phoebe
  • Title
  • Content Coordinator
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • austinhotels.net
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Wandering around, people-watching

  < Miner << Phoebe <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Naslund
  • Given Names
  • Brian
  • Title
  • Director of Content
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • MontrealHotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Hunting down unique souvenirs

  < Naslund << Brian <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • O'Block
  • Given Names
  • Katie
  • Title
  • Video Content Producer
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Durango, Colorado, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • hotelsminneapolis.net
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • learning local culture, cycling

  < O'Block << Katie <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Ocal
  • Given Names
  • Ilter
  • Title
  • Software Engineer
  • Location
  • Ankara, Turkey
  • Hometown
  • Konya, Turkey
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • NewYorkHotel.net
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Exploring the area by car

  < Ocal << Ilter <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Sanal
  • Given Names
  • Kutay
  • Title
  • Software Engineer
  • Location
  • Ankara, Turkey
  • Hometown
  • Ankara, Turkey
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • seattlehotels.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Swimming

  < Sanal << Kutay <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Schwartz
  • Given Names
  • Becca
  • Title
  • Content Associate
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • New York City, New York, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • bestbarcelonahotel.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Learning to dance like a local

  < Schwartz << Becca <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

• 
  • Surname
  • Wellman
  • Given Names
  • Kaie
  • Title
  • Editor-In-Chief / Creative Director
  • Location
  • Boulder, Colorado, USA
  • Hometown
  • Portland, Oregon, USA
  • Favorite TravelShark Site
  • hotelstokyojapan.com
  • Preferred Travel Activity
  • Exploring a city's nooks and crannies

  < Wellman << Kaie <<<<<<<<<<<<<<