SAN ANTONIO----Rackspace® Managed Hosting, a leading global
provider of managed hosting services, today announced the company’s
founders and top executive were named Entrepreneur of the Year®
by Ernst & Young LLP. Lanham Napier, president and CEO; Graham Weston,
executive chairman; Patrick Condon, co-founder; and Dirk Elmendorf,
co-founder, were honored by the professional services firm for their
demonstration of excellence and extraordinary success in innovation,
financial performance, and personal commitment to Rackspace and its
employees.
“For 21 years, Ernst & Young has recognized
outstanding entrepreneurship through our Entrepreneur Of The Year
program,” said Don Calvin, Partner and Program
Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program in
Austin. “This year’s
award recipients are truly an inspiration to all. We salute them for
their drive, determination and hard work – and
congratulate them on their success.”
Rackspace was founded in 1998 when Weston invested seed capital in an
idea presented by three Trinity University students, including Elmendorf
and Condon, with a deep interest in and understanding of technology.
Their concept of web hosting was ahead of the curve, providing a
lucrative business that has grown in revenue by approximately 50 percent
each year. Napier joined the team in 2000 as CFO, steering the company
through the technology downturn with a steady hand and long-term
financial outlook that proved to be the point of difference between
Rackspace and its competition. Through a common goal of building one of
the world’s greatest service companies, the
four entrepreneurs have generated a growing demand for web hosting
backed by Fanatical Support™, the renowned
customer service experience at Rackspace.
“Word of mouth has driven our growth to 1,600
Rackers in eight years. Our customers love the service focus —
our Fanatical Support — which would not be
possible without the dedication our Rackers bring everyday,”
said Graham Weston, executive chairman, Rackspace Managed Hosting.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program was created 21 years ago to
celebrate great entrepreneurs and heighten awareness of the economic
impact of entrepreneurial ventures. Napier, Weston, Condon and Elmendorf
were selected by an independent panel of judges comprised of local
community and business leaders. The judging criteria includes a thorough
assessment of recent financial performance, strategic direction and
product or service innovation, company leadership including personal
integrity, values and key employee initiatives, and community
involvement.
The Rackspace honorees will be inducted into the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame and become eligible for the
national Entrepreneur Of The Year award in November.
About Rackspace Managed Hosting
A recognized leader in the global managed hosting market, Rackspace
Managed Hosting delivers enterprise-level managed services to businesses
of all sizes. Serving more than 12,000 customers in eight data centers
worldwide, Rackspace integrates the industry’s
best technologies for each customer need and delivers it as a service
via the company’s award-winning Fanatical
Support™. Through trusted relationships,
Rackspace serves as an extension of its customers’
IT departments, enabling them to focus on their core business. Since its
inception in 1998, Rackspace has grown more than 50 percent a year. For
more information, please visit www.rackspace.com,
or call 800-961-2888.
About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
The Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards program
was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young
LLP. As the first award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of
The Year® Award recognizes outstanding
entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing
businesses. The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006,
honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award
programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to
enhancing the public’s trust in professional
services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 114,000
people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality,
and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services
centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and
transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach
to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives.
Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst
& Young Global Limited, a U.K. company limited by guarantee, each of
which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited does not
provide services to clients. Ernst & Young LLP is a U.S. client-serving
member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.