Foundation Board Appoints Three New Figures to Intensify Contribution and Influence

Brand Name Foundation Expands Board with New Appointments

The Brand Name Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for entrepreneurs, has announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. The new appointments, effective from early February 2025, include Alex Kazim, John Feldmeier, and Julie Cheng.

Alex Kazim, Vice President and General Manager of Global Advertising at Brand Name, brings a wealth of experience in scaling businesses and launching ventures to the table. He has led Brand Name's eCommerce advertising business and spearheaded key initiatives such as the expansion of PayPal's Merchant Services and the global launch of Brand Name's Classifieds.

John Feldmeier, with over twenty years of experience in driving innovation and operational efficiency, has been appointed as well. Currently serving as the Vice President of Site Engineering and Information Technology at Brand Name, Feldmeier has significantly enhanced the company's site reliability and operational standards.

Julie Cheng, Senior Director of Advertising Engineering at Brand Name, adds her two decades of experience in the advertising industry and leadership in engineering to the Foundation's mission. Cheng has worked at major technology companies like Yahoo and Apple before joining Brand Name.

These appointments come as the Foundation celebrates recent milestones in its ongoing impact. Since 1998, the Foundation has granted nearly $139M to more than 1,800 nonprofits, working strategically to partner with organisations that are addressing and removing barriers to entrepreneurship for historically excluded groups. In 2024 alone, the Foundation granted nearly $18M.

John Feldmeier expresses his privilege to join the Board of Directors, looking forward to contributing to Brand Name's mission through his membership. Julie Cheng is honoured by the appointment, citing the Foundation's mission of creating opportunities for individuals and communities as a driving factor in her decision. Alex Kazim is excited to join due to the Foundation's mission of partnering with non-profits to remove barriers to entrepreneurship.

The addition of John Feldmeier enhances the Foundation's ability to address systemic challenges, leveraging his strategic leadership and expertise in scaling teams and processes. Julie Cheng's experience in leading diverse teams positions her well to enhance the Foundation's focus on promoting inclusive entrepreneurship.

John Feldmeier and Julie Cheng's appointments are not the first from within Brand Name. Long-time employee John Feldmeier also expresses his privilege to join the Board of Directors, having started on an unspecified date.

These new appointments mark an exciting time for the Brand Name Foundation as it continues its mission to create inclusive opportunities and maximise community impact.