Markforged Nominates Alan Masarek to Board of Directors
Markforged announced that Alan Masarek will join its Board of Directors as Chairman following the completion of its business combination with one (NYSE: AONE) expected in mid-July. Masarek brings over 25 years of experience, having previously served as CEO at Vonage, where he quadrupled its market capitalization. His expertise in transforming companies aligns with Markforged's goals to expand its Digital Forge platform in the additive manufacturing market. This leadership change aims to enhance growth and innovation in manufacturing solutions.
- Alan Masarek brings over 25 years of experience in technology, which could enhance Markforged's strategic positioning.
- Masarek's previous success at Vonage, where he significantly increased market valuation, suggests potential for similar growth at Markforged.
- The transition in leadership may create uncertainty among employees and stakeholders during the integration phase.
- Concerns may arise regarding the continuity of strategic initiatives during the change in board leadership.
Markforged, (“Markforged” or “the Company”), creator of the integrated metal and carbon fiber additive manufacturing platform, The Digital Forge, today announced that Alan Masarek will join its Board of Directors (the “Board”) as Chairman, and begin serving immediately following the closure of Markforged’s business combination with one (NYSE: AONE), expected to occur in mid-July.
Alan Masarek has more than 25 years of experience in communications, information technology, and business services companies. Masarek most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Vonage (Nasdaq: VG), where he led Vonage’s transformation from its legacy focus providing VoIP-based home phone service into a global business cloud communications company. During his tenure, Vonage completed eight acquisitions, and market capitalization nearly quadrupled to more than
“Alan has spent his career disrupting legacy thinking — exactly what Markforged is doing for manufacturing,” said Shai Terem, President and CEO of Markforged. “His experience building and growing companies that transform the way things are done will be a great asset to us as we grow our customer base and revenue and reinvent manufacturing.”
Masarek’s deep experience in growing companies aligns with Markforged as it looks to expand adoption of the Digital Forge in the growing additive manufacturing market and position itself for robust growth in the years ahead.
“Markforged is at an exciting inflection point as it prepares to go public this summer, and as the manufacturing industry demands more creative solutions to the dynamic challenges it faces,” said Masarek. “I’m looking forward to using my experience to help the company achieve its goals.”
Masarek earned his MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and his BBA, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Georgia.
For more information about Markforged, please visit www.markforged.com.
About Markforged
Markforged transforms manufacturing with 3D metal and continuous carbon fiber printers capable of producing parts tough enough for the factory floor. The Markforged Digital Forge brings the power and speed of agile software development to industrial manufacturing, combining hardware, software, and materials to eliminate the barriers between design and functional parts. Engineers, designers, and manufacturing professionals all over the world rely on Markforged metal and composite printers for tooling, fixtures, functional prototyping, and high-value end-use production. Founded in 2013 and based in Watertown, Mass., Markforged has more than 250 employees globally. Markforged has been recognized by Forbes in the Next Billion-Dollar Startups list, and was listed as the #2 fastest-growing hardware company in the US in the 2019 Deloitte Fast 500. In February 2021, Markforged announced it entered into a definitive agreement to merge with one (NYSE: AONE), a special purpose acquisition company founded and led by technology industry veteran Kevin Hartz. The transaction is expected to close in the summer of 2021, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals, and other customary closing conditions. The combined company will retain the Markforged name and be listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “MKFG”.
About one
one is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by A* formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination with one or more businesses in the innovation economy. one completed its initial public offering in August 2020 raising
Participants in the Solicitation
one and Markforged and their respective directors and executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the potential transaction described in this document under the rules of the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Information about the directors and executive officers of one and Markforged are set forth in one’s Proxy Statement and Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424B(3) with the SEC on June 24, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”), and other filings with the SEC that are available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: one, 16 Funston Avenue, Suite A, The Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94129, Attention: Secretary. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the one shareholders in connection with the potential transaction are set forth in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Non-Solicitation
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of one, the combined company or Markforged, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although Markforged believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, Markforged cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by it and its projections of the future, about which it cannot be certain. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed business combination, including the timing and structure of the transaction, the anticipated contribution of the members of Markforged’s board of directors to Markforged’s operations and progress, the functionality and applications of Markforged’s products, the expected growth of the additive manufacturing industry, the expected growth of Markforged’s revenue and customer base, the impact of Markforged’s products on its financial conditions and results of operation, and the integration of Markforged’s products into the additive manufacturing market. Markforged cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, general economic, political and business conditions; the inability of the parties to consummate the business combination or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the effect of COVID-19 on Markforged’s business and financial results; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the business combination; the risk that the approval of the shareholders of one for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction; the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the amount of redemption requests made by one’s shareholders; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the combined company's securities following the business combination; costs related to the business combination; and those factors discussed under the header “Risk Factors” in the Registration Statement and those included under the header “Risk Factors” in one’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that Markforged will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent Markforged’s views as of the date of this press release. Markforged anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Markforged may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Markforged has no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing Markforged’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
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FAQ
Who is Alan Masarek and what will his role be at Markforged?
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