Phil Soran

Phil Soran most recently served as president of Dell Compellent until his retirement in March 2012. He co-founded NYSE-listed Compellent Technologies, Inc. in 2002 where he was president, CEO and director until the company was acquired by Dell for $960 million in 2011. Prior to that, he was the co-founder, president, chief executive officer and a director for data storage products maker, XIOtech Corp., which was later acquired by Seagate for $360 million. Soran was also a cofounder of Flipgrid, which was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in June 2018.

Soran is a director of SPS Commerce, Inc., Spineology Inc., Origina and Foodsby Inc., a member of the board of trustees for the University of St. Thomas, a trustee for the University of Minnesota Foundation, and a director for Great MN Schools.

In 2016, Soran was inducted into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame. Twin Cities Business recognized him with its 2017 Outstanding Directors award. The Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal also selected Soran as its inaugural Lifetime Achievement inductee to the Titans of Technology Hall of Fame. He was recognized as the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, 2007 El Dorado Ventures Entrepreneur of the Year and 40 Minnesotans on the Move in 2009.

Soran holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Northern Colorado.