Disclosure statement – Updated June 21st 2010: As a specialist on Cloud Computing and software as a service (SaaS), Ben is sometimes paid by companies for advice and speaking engagements. While these relationships could prove challenging when it comes to writing about those companies, Ben strives to retain his editorial independence at all times. Notwithstanding this independence, Ben considers transparency in these matters to be crucial. To this end here follows a full disclosure of Ben’s interests.
Ben is a Director of Diversity Limited, a business owned by the Kepes family that is a vehicle for investment, analysis and consultancy. Diversity has holdings in manufacturing, property and technology companies and undertakes advisory work. A full list of current and previous Diversity clients follows:
- Diversity has consulted to Telecom New Zealand
- Diversity has consulted to MYOB
- bizchat – Ben was co-founder of bizchat, a community site for small and medium businesses in New Zealand. Bizchat is a not for profit but obtained start-up sponsorship from Telecom New Zealand
- designindustry – Ben has contracted to designindustry as a design strategist
- LeftClick – Ben has previously advised LeftClick
- Intuit – Diversity has worked with Intuit and the Intuit Partner Platform
- Diversity has consulted to Xero
- Ben has consulted to Environment Waikato
- Mindtouch – Diversity has written a whitepaper supported by Mindtouch
- Zuora – Diversity has consulted to Zuora
- Ben was on the advisory board for the Glue conference in 2010
- Ben was an adviser to the 2C Light Company
- Zuora, Aria, Monexa and Vindicia supported the creation of a Diversity Analysis whitepaper
- Intacct supported the writing of a Diversity Analysis whitepaper
- Rackspace supported the writing of a Diversity Analysis whitepaper
- NetSuite contributed towards Ben’s travel and expenses to attend the 2010 SuiteCloud event.
- Ben has written case studies and spoken at an APAC presentation for NetSuite
- Learning Source – Ben is an adviser and a shareholder
- Ben is co-editor of CloudAve – CloudAve is solely sponsored by Zoho
- Cactus Climbing – Diversity is a shareholder in, and Ben is a Director of, Cactus Climbing, a business manufacturing backpacks and outdoor clothing
- Diversity is a consultant to Zendesk
- Ben is an adviser to WaveAdept
- Ben curates the Business Insight website for IBM New Zealand
- Ben is the Australia/New Zealand organizer for CloudCamp
- Ben is an adviser to Patch Productions
- Ben is an adviser to the 2010 defrag conference
- Dell Inc has provided some sample hardware for Ben to trial on a long-term basis
- Ben is an adviser to Connect2Field
- Box.net is a Diversity Analysis Client
- Ben sits on the advisory board of billFLO
- Ben is n adviser to RPM Retail
Current clients – The following are current client of Diversity Limited or Ben:
- RPM Retail (advisory board)
- billFLO (advisory board)
- Connect2Field (advisory board)
- Zendesk (blogger)
- Patch Production (advisory board)
- IBM New Zealand (blogger)
- Cactus Climbing (shareholder/director)
- LearningSource (shareholder/blogger)
- MYOB (consultant)
- Ben is also a regional organizer for CloudCamp but is not paid for this work
Ben is also a freelance print journalist. His work has appeared in several publications. On occasions these publications have contributed towards Ben’s travel and accommodation expenses to attend various events.
In his role as an industry commentator, Ben often receives free software from vendors. This is standard in the industry and Ben does not consider that these various arrangements require disclosure.
Ben is always interested in talking to organisations that could utilise his skills and experience – contact is welcome;
E ben@diversity.net.nz | M 021 2384136
skype ben_kepes | twitter | LinkedIn listing
Ben Kepes is an analyst, an entrepreneur, a commentator and a business adviser. His business interests include many industries from manufacturing and property to technology. 
Krishnan Subramanian is an entrepreneur, cloud computing analyst and consultant, open source researcher and evangelist, one of the industry’s most prolific bloggers. 
