Mike Pugh

“Mike and I were long-time colleagues and friends during some great times at j2 Global. We launched and ramped a whole new product line together, and Mike was often the "voice or reason" to offset my heated freneticism. His character and even keel demeanor proved extremely valuable and effective time and time again. ”

“There are many commendable attributes of Mike that make him an inspiring leader; he exudes optimism, treats everyone fairly, is extremely approachable and friendly but perhaps the most impressive is his uncanny way of believing in people maybe even before they believe in themselves. He is committed to bringing the best out of individuals and empowers his team to shine while also challenging and pushing them forward. His leadership style results in employees trusting in his judgment and direction and wanting to fulfill expectations by working harder. As Mike looks forward to the next chapter in an already remarkable career his integrity, loyalty, honesty, dedication and commitment to the company will be missed but not forgotten. His lead from the front ways were very motivating and will stay with me for my entire career and for that I will always be thankful to him. ”

“I had the pleasure of working with Mike at j2 Global. I first interacted closely with Mike when he volunteered to be my executive sponsor for a project I conceptualized. Subsequently, we coordinated on several other initiatives together. I found Mike to be a strong critical thinker and a student of his craft. Mike is adept at building strong relationships through collaboration while concurrently driving hard to get things done.”

“Few people have the opportunity to work with an influential, passionate leader like Mike. I had the pleasure of working for him for over two years at j2 Global. Mike's ability to build and motivate a talented, high-performance marketing team was unlike anything I've seen or experienced. He cultivates an environment that encourages big ideas while keeping a laser focus on revenue.”

“I truly enjoyed working on Mike's marketing team at J2. He didn't micro-manage the team, he empowered them. He created a great culture of happy hard working marketers who wanted to do great things. Mike was kind and cared for his team and would often go the extra mile for them. I experienced this personally, when he sent a gift to our hotel during my Hawaii vacation with my girlfriend (now wife). This simple gesture is just one example of why it was great to work for Mike. When you know your leader cares for you, there is nothing you wouldn't do to help him in return. And my loyalty and willingness to return the favor whenever I can is still strong, almost 10 years since I last worked for Mike. Great people like Mike inspire that type of ongoing loyalty.”