Charlie Harris is an investor and consultant with over 30 years of experience in management, investment banking, financial and legal roles focused on positioning companies to achieve growth and shareholder value. He is Managing Director of Sylva Ventures LLC, an investment and consulting firm, and a Director of Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ).
Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Intellon Corporation (NASDAQ), a semiconductor company with global leadership in powerline communications. Beginning as an investor and director of the company in 1994, Charlie moved into management following the crash of the tech market, becoming Chairman and President in 2001 and Chief Executive Officer in 2002. At Intellon, he led a 2003 recapitalization and the 2007 IPO of the company, growing annual revenues from $6 million to over $75 million and increasing shareholder value from under $5 million to over $250 million, culminating with a successful sale to Atheros Communications, Inc. in December 2009.
In earlier management roles, Charlie served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of Vistana, Inc. (NASDAQ), managing global strategy, finance and resort development and Vistana’s successful sale to Starwood Resorts and Hotels Worldwide, Inc. He was also Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mid-State Federal Savings Bank (NASDAQ), where he led a sweeping restructuring of the company during the thrift crisis and a later successful sale to AmSouth Bancorporation. Charlie also served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Sun Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ), managing the company’s legal, investor relations and corporate administration functions during the its statewide expansion.
In his consulting roles, Charlie served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Synagen Capital Partners, Inc., a merchant banking and consulting company, and Allen C. Ewing & Co., an investment banking firm, where he led Ewing’s corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions practice.
Prior to forming Synagen, Charlie practiced law, focusing on securities, mergers and acquisitions, banking and technology matters. He also served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Law. He is the author or co-author of three books on business negotiations, including Computer Contract Negotiations and Business Negotiating Power, as well as a number of articles on business and legal topics.
Charlie earned his B.A. from the University of Florida with high honors and his J.D. from Harvard Law School cum laude. He resides in Winter Park, Florida.
