Meet the team

  • Gary A. Rayner, MBA, M. Eng. Sci

    Founder

    Gary Rayner is a serial entrepreneur and visionary inventor. Over the past 17 years, Gary has successfully started and grown four different USA-based high-tech ventures whose products have grossed over $800 million in revenues. These include DriveCam Video Systems, recently ranked #30 ‘Top Ranked Venture Backed Company’ by the Wall Street Journal. Gary has plied his natural leadership skills in roles as Founder, Chairman of the Board, CEO and Director.

    Gary has been awarded five international patents and has several others pending. He received his Masters of Business Administration (Concentration Marketing) and his Masters of Engineering Science from one of Australia’s top universities - Queensland University of Technology.

  • Ed Andrew

    Chief Operating Officer

    Ed Andrew is an accomplished executive with expertise in team building and strategic planning, along with a proven record of profitably managing change and growth. He has a strong global manufacturing and product development background with many well known and market proven consumer goods products. Prior to joining LifeProof, Ed held top executive positions with a number of companies and is an alumnus of Ernst & Young.

  • Tim Van Linge

    Chief Financial Officer

    Tim Van Linge comes to LifeProof with extensive strategic and international financial planning experience at high-growth companies. His broad base of experience includes international planning, budgeting and reporting for multiple entities. His experience includes financial and accounting positions at Greatcall, Cricket Wireless and Omni Life Science. Tim also financially led Websense and NuVasive, to successful IPOs.

  • Alan Cohen

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Alan Cohen comes to LifeProof with over 15 years CMO experience in both traditional and digital marketing channels. Prior to his arrival at LifeProof, Alan served as CMO at Global REIT Westfield, Gemstar-TV Guide and Napster.

    Alan has been recognized by Advertising Age as one of the Top 100 Marketers in the US. He received a BS from Northern Illinois University and his MBA from Indiana University.

  • James S. Nolan, BA, BS (Neurobiology) J.D.

    Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

    James Nolan has worked with various Am 100 Law Firms and worked as an in-house attorney for large corporations. Specializing in the growing of company valuation through the development of strong intellectual property portfolios, James has successfully drafted, prosecuted and defended several high-tech patent platforms that have become the seminal technologies in their respective fields.

  • Akbar Paydar

    Senior Vice President of Engineering

    Akbar Paydar is a successful technical and business executive. With more than 20 years experience in product development and R&D, Akbar has developed automated solutions for the consumer, enterprise business and medical equipment industries. His broad multi-industry technical expertise includes embedded electronics, integration of complex electro-opto mechanical systems and business specifics of implementation.

    Prior to LifeProof, Akbar was the Senior Director of Engineering at Omincell Corporation. He’s held senior management positions at Verari Systems, Sun Microsystems, Proxima Corp and Apple computer. Akbar holds a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the City University of New York and holds several patents.
  • Peter Armstrong, BS, MBA, EPSE

    Vice President of Engineering

    Peter Armstrong is accomplished in all phases of product development, from concept to launch. His background includes 20 years of experience in R&D, skilled leadership of multi-disciplinary teams, and innovative technical contributions for medical device, commercial, and defense products.

    Prior to LifeProof, Peter was the Engineering Project Manager at SeQual Technologies and held engineering positions with Overland Storage and Medtronic, among others. Peter has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC San Diego, an M.B.A. from San Diego State University and an Executive Perspective for Scientists and Engineers (EPSE) diploma from UC San Diego. He has been granted several patents and is a registered professional engineer.

  • Fredrik Torstensson

    Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development

    Fredrik Torstensson comes to LifeProof with over 20 years of executive management experience in the consumer electronics, wireless, ecommerce and enterprise/B2B industries. Prior to joining LifeProof, Fredrik held top executive positions at Skinit, Comarco Wireless, Kyocera Wireless, OZ Communication and Ericsson.

    Fredrik was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, and an MBA in International Management from the University of Texas.

  • Randy Waynick

    Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Domestic

    Randy Waynick is a sales and marketing specialist, having held senior executive roles at Sony, VIZIO, and Aura Sound. Randy is a well-known and respected industry leader with experience in sales, marketing, aligning strategy, resources and development of new products and services across all product categories/devices.

    He’s received multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. in organization and management and has been an active professor at multiple universities.
  • Kurt Kemppainen

    Vice President of Business Development and Sales, International, APAC

    Kurt Kemppainen brings over 20 years of cross-cultural sales and marketing experience to LifeProof. Over the span of his career, Kurt has filled a variety of roles in Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Operations. His experience includes brand development and product launches for USA, Europe and Australia. Kurt has spent long stretches of time in greater China working with and for companies based in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the mainland.

    As Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Bell Sports, Kurt played a role in significantly increasing business unit revenue and led the start up of Bell’s Hong Kong office.
  • Stephen Daverio

    Managing Director, EMEA

    Stephen Daverio joins LifeProof with a successful track record in international sales and marketing. Before LifeProof, Stephen held executive management positions at global brands including Swatch, Logitech, SanDisk and Gear4.

    Stephen was awarded a BS in Chemistry from UCLA in Los Angeles, and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Would you like to join our team? Check out current LifeProof Career opportunities.