Alan Feld and Ted Strauss Join Bazaarvoice Board of Advisors

Bazaarvoice, the market and technology leader in hosted social commerce applications that drive sales, today welcomed Alan Feld and Ted Strauss as its newest advisors. The illustrious executives, icons in the Texas business community, will provide strategic guidance to Bazaarvoice as the company continues to post record global growth and expand its social commerce suite to help the largest brands in the world transform sales, product, marketing, and customer service based on the customer voice. Mr. Feld and Mr. Strauss join Jeffrey Dachis, Mike Maples Jr., Josh Kopelman, Mike Herring, and over 20 other members of Bazaarvoice’s distinguished Advisory Board, which includes the most influential executives, business experts, social media stars, and thought leaders in business today. The members of this multi-disciplinary team of strategists deeply understand the power of the customer voice in building a successful global brand, and are committed to offering guidance to Bazaarvoice as it brings social commerce to brands worldwide.

“Alan and Ted are widely acknowledged for their vision and leadership in business, finance, and law, as well as their deep commitment to civic and community affairs,” said Brett Hurt, CEO of Bazaarvoice. “It is a tremendous pleasure and honor to welcome them to the Bazaarvoice Advisory Board, where their strategic insights will be especially beneficial as we continue to expand into new markets, bringing social commerce success to leading brands across the globe.”

Mr. Feld, who has more than 40 years of experience in corporate finance and securities law, is one of four senior executive partners at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, one of the world’s largest law firms. He was appointed by the governor to the Texas State Securities Board in 1985 and served as the board's chairman through 1991. In 1998 he was honored by the Southern Methodist University School of Law with the establishment of the Alan D. Feld Professorship, and he is presently chairman of the law school's executive board. He has served on the American Bar Association Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in its Profession and is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the District of Columbia Bar, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Dallas Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Feld has been a lecturer at the Southwestern Medical School and Practicing Law Institute and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Citizens Council.

“Bazaarvoice combines a first-class corporate culture with a very strong business and passionate client base,” said Mr. Feld. “They have all the ingredients for tremendous success, and I am pleased to lend my insight and experience during the critical months ahead as they continue to evolve their operations to keep pace with accelerating demand and market growth.”

Mr. Strauss is widely regarded not only as a leading business visionary, but a true legend, serving as a beacon of business, civic, and philanthropic activity for over 50 years. In 1951, Mr. Strauss co-founded Susan Crane Packaging, a high-end specialty packaging business for department stores and luxury goods manufacturers, which he grew from a small manufacturer of gift wrap into a multi-million dollar global business. Strauss is also one of the founders of Texas Capital Bank, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE), Hollywood Casino Corp, and Sizeler Property Investors. He was married to Annette Strauss, former Mayor of Dallas, for over 50 years until her death in 1998.

Most recently, Mr. Strauss served on the Board of BBVA Compass Bank. Just prior to that position, he served as Chairman of the Advisory Board, Dallas Region, for Texas State Bank. Between 1985 and 2005, he served as Senior Managing Director at Bear, Stearns & Co. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Strauss Broadcasting; Chairman of the Board of Texas Fine Arts Commission; member of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Commerce in Dallas; Chairman of the Board of United National Bank of Dallas; and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of First City Bank of Dallas. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors of First City Bancorporation.

“I’ve seen many companies and many success stories during my five-decade career in banking and business, and Bazaarvoice is one of the most promising that I’ve seen in years,” said Mr. Strauss. “They’re changing the way brands in every industry interact with their customers, bringing companies and customers closer together to drive measurable and meaningful business results. I’m excited to offer my expertise to Bazaarvoice as it continues to rapidly evolve into a large global company that is changing the way that people shop for and buy products and services.”