For the latest installment of Executive Suite we hop across the pond, email style, to check in with Ben Jelloun, the CEO of InterClimax.
InterClimax's headquarters are in delightfully sinful Amsterdam. Founded in 1997, the company currently employs over 55 employees, is set up with specialized departments and focuses on a variety of business tasks, which includes Live Content, TV, Mobile, Hosting, Billing and advance platforms for streaming.
Tripp Daniels: Regarding content, do you see its value decreasing in the future or will content remain a precious commodity?
Ben Jelloun: The sex industry drives on producing fresh content, without content we have nothing to offer the end users. In my past experience as a stockbroker in the NASDAQ market, commodities make the market very strong and very profitable assets.
Tripp: Is more niche-specific content the wave of the future, specifically tailoring content to webmasters and surfers?
Ben: The future of content varies from different companies. It's very important to create content that is new and more variety tailored to niches. As the Internet connection is getting faster and faster with a great demand of live and interactive content from the end users, this automatically puts more pressure on companies like us. Next to this it is imperative to concentrate on the technology behind the high streaming platform. This, and top quality content tailored for Webmaster will convert their traffic because the end users will get what they are looking for.
Tripp: What's the biggest difference between the adult Internet industry in Europe and the business in America?
Ben: For a few years the US has been leading the sex industry over the European market. By having more companies with a lot of experience and especially with a large database of webmasters to drive the traffic. But the time is changing; in recent years more stable companies have come out of Europe. Businesses with great imagination and drive, especially with mobile content and the platform they need to succeed. Right now we have a lot of telecom companies in Europe who are interested and already involved in our industry. This is good news for all of us even with the Telco's taking a large piece of the pie for now.
The future is good by having mainstream companies involved and making profit from our industry, this gives us a good clean image, which is very important for the future.
Tripp: What's the best thing about working in Amsterdam?
Ben: I have been in Amsterdam for over 7 years. Before I came here I was born in London and from there I was based in Barcelona, Paris, Manila, Jakarta and Fort Lauderdale and let me tell you there is no other place like Amsterdam. Working in this city, especially in our industry, gives us a great advantage over our friends in the business. Since the rules and regulations aren't as stringed as elsewhere. And its 100% party proof, if you know what I mean.
Tripp: Do you have a favorite getaway destination for rest and relaxation?
Ben: As most of people in this industry we are always working…24/7, so I have a clear understanding with my family especially with my 2 kids. With Sara (5) and Adam (4) we spend the last weekend of every month in Paris, as we love the romantic feeling of the city and the elegance of French.
Tripp: What's the best/worst advice you've ever gotten?
Ben: I've known a lot of people in my life and during that period you will get a lot of advice from people. The best advice I ever got was; you have to speculate to accumulate. The worst advice I got was never work in sex industry.
Tripp: Is there a CEO at a mainstream, or adult, company that you admire for their business insight or what they have achieved?
Ben: If I had to choose a man who I admire for his drive and imagination with business insight it would be Mr. Bill Gates.
Tripp: Looking back to when you started in this business, is there anything you would have done differently?
Ben: I would not change anything I have done in the past in this business. I have made a lot of friends and business partners. The best thing about our industry is networking. You get to know a lot of people with a lot of ideas.
Tripp: Have any advice for future business leaders out there?
Ben: For new companies or webmasters who are coming in to this industry they should plan their business properly and market their product the right way. We need fresh ideas that will produce new content not copies of what already is online. That's not business wise.
Tripp: Where do you see Interclimax five years from now?
Ben: InterClimax concentrates on so many different fields, as I mentioned before. This automatically means we have many opportunities using a range of channels. This way we do not put all our eggs in one basket. So in the next five years I see InterClimax keeping the lead in developing the more advanced technology, also deploying this to the mainstream market.
Tripp: If you were to one day appear on the cover of Forbes what would you like the headline to read?
Ben: 'Ben Jelloun was given honorary knighthood in July 2010 for his contribution to the sex industry'
