For 25 years, computer engineer and executive Ash Patel has moved up through the corporate ranks from software and web development to senior-level management, and he holds a history of success at companies based in the United States and abroad. At present, Ash Patel contributes his expertise as a member of the Board of Advisors at Permuto, Inc. in Palo Alto, California, which connects ecommerce buyers and merchants through online acquisition channels. In addition, Ash Patel recently became an active angel investor. His recent invests include the Silicon Valley-based technology startup and web development firm Vurve, as well as video encoding company Zencoder, Inc. and OtherInbox, Inc., “the cure for the email overload.” Ash Patel arrived at his current endeavors after 14 years with Yahoo! Inc. During this time, Ash Patel rose through the ranks to become a senior member of the executive management team at Yahoo! Inc. before resigning in 2010 as the Chief Technology Evangelist and Executive Vice President of the Audience Product Division. Prior to these roles, Ash Patel served as Executive Vice President of the Platform and Infrastructure Division and the Advanced Development Division, Chief Product Officer, and Senior Vice President of Platform Engineering. Overseeing the development of such popular products as Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Mail, MyYahoo!, and other platforms for individuals and businesses, Ash Patel contributed substantially to the long-term growth and expansion of Yahoo! Inc. Joining Yahoo! Inc. in April 1996 as a Technical Yahoo, Ash Patel came to the company after periods with such companies as Oracle Corporation; Team 1 Systems, Inc.; and Legent Corporation. A 1986 graduate of Westfield College at the University of London (since incorporated into Kings College London and other colleges), Ash Patel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Ash Patel lives and works in the Silicon Valley area.