<b><i>Online Extra:</b></i> Kroll Ontrack Hires Former Legal Tech Exec as SVP, Legal Technology Sales

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Craig Carpenter has been around the legal technology industry, having worked as a vice president at Recommind, chief marketing officer of AccessData, and president and chief operations officer of AccessData spinoff Resolution1 Security, among other jobs. But now is what he says is his greatest challenge: Returning Kroll Ontrack to the 'gold standard.'

On Nov. 16, e-discovery and data recovery products and services provider Kroll Ontrack named Carpenter as the company's senior vice president, legal technology sales. Most recently, Carpenter worked for Resolution1 Security for about one year since its spinoff from AccessData Group. He was previously with Recommind between 2006 and 2013.

Carpenter says that while he was working with competitors, Kroll was considered the gold standard in the industry. 'The prospect of working for a company that is still doing quite well, but in some people's minds isn't necessarily the gold standard in the same way it was before, and getting it back to that level is very attractive,' he said.

There's one key that he plans on focusing on: the client experience. Often, he said, many software companies focus on the innovations that come from products, such as with predictive coding. But client service, in its own way, can be a disruptive, innovative force, as long as the vendor realizes where it adds value.

'All of that is the means to the end, which is, what is the client's experience? What sort of return do they get on the investment of working with us?' Carpenter explained.

He noted that Kroll Ontrack has a lot going for it with its global reach, the people, technology that is used, partnerships and hunger to move forward. At times, things have gone the way the company or clients had not wanted, Carpenter added, but the company has rededicated itself to moving forward.

'Most of those times here took place years ago, but it takes a while to regain the trust of clients,' he said. 'I'm comfortable and confident that we're on the upswing there. But we're really only going to get there by over-delivering and making sure clients get the full value of what they expect.'

Sales in particular has drawn his interest because it is the 'center of the action.' Carpenter likened the sales role to the bacon, 'where you gave your life to feed someone breakfast,' rather than the eggs, which can help control the breakfast but aren't beholden to the final numbers as strictly. 'So this is an opportunity where I can show how I can help a team that is already doing quite well and take them to the next level.'

And, he added, he believes the Kroll Ontrack sales team is already on its way. 'I don't think it's going to take a Herculean effort by any means,' Carpenter said. 'It's going to take instilling discipline and attention to detail that is really starting to run rampant in other parts of the business and have it take hold in sales as well.'

Zach Warren writes for'Legaltech News, an ALM affiliate of'Internet Law & Strategy.

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Craig Carpenter has been around the legal technology industry, having worked as a vice president at Recommind, chief marketing officer of AccessData, and president and chief operations officer of AccessData spinoff Resolution1 Security, among other jobs. But now is what he says is his greatest challenge: Returning Kroll Ontrack to the 'gold standard.'

On Nov. 16, e-discovery and data recovery products and services provider Kroll Ontrack named Carpenter as the company's senior vice president, legal technology sales. Most recently, Carpenter worked for Resolution1 Security for about one year since its spinoff from AccessData Group. He was previously with Recommind between 2006 and 2013.

Carpenter says that while he was working with competitors, Kroll was considered the gold standard in the industry. 'The prospect of working for a company that is still doing quite well, but in some people's minds isn't necessarily the gold standard in the same way it was before, and getting it back to that level is very attractive,' he said.

There's one key that he plans on focusing on: the client experience. Often, he said, many software companies focus on the innovations that come from products, such as with predictive coding. But client service, in its own way, can be a disruptive, innovative force, as long as the vendor realizes where it adds value.

'All of that is the means to the end, which is, what is the client's experience? What sort of return do they get on the investment of working with us?' Carpenter explained.

He noted that Kroll Ontrack has a lot going for it with its global reach, the people, technology that is used, partnerships and hunger to move forward. At times, things have gone the way the company or clients had not wanted, Carpenter added, but the company has rededicated itself to moving forward.

'Most of those times here took place years ago, but it takes a while to regain the trust of clients,' he said. 'I'm comfortable and confident that we're on the upswing there. But we're really only going to get there by over-delivering and making sure clients get the full value of what they expect.'

Sales in particular has drawn his interest because it is the 'center of the action.' Carpenter likened the sales role to the bacon, 'where you gave your life to feed someone breakfast,' rather than the eggs, which can help control the breakfast but aren't beholden to the final numbers as strictly. 'So this is an opportunity where I can show how I can help a team that is already doing quite well and take them to the next level.'

And, he added, he believes the Kroll Ontrack sales team is already on its way. 'I don't think it's going to take a Herculean effort by any means,' Carpenter said. 'It's going to take instilling discipline and attention to detail that is really starting to run rampant in other parts of the business and have it take hold in sales as well.'

Zach Warren writes for'Legaltech News, an ALM affiliate of'Internet Law & Strategy.