Addison M. Fischer

Biographical Information
"Addison M. Fischer has been a computer entrepreneur since creating his first high-tech startup company in 1973, and has been involved in seed venture capital investing since the early 1980s.

"Mr. Fischer founded Fischer International Systems Corporation, a communications software provider to the Global 2000 and presently serves as its Chairman. As a major owner of RSA Data Security, he also founded VeriSign, the internationally recognized standard of Internet commerce integrity. In addition to his business interests, Mr. Fischer is actively involved in preserving, for future generations, the planet and its precious resources. In 2008, Mr. Fischer co-founded the Planet Heritage Foundation (PHF) with Cindy Mercer. Mercer has managed a variety of private foundations and public charities since 1992 and serves on the board of The Philanthropy Workshop West - an executive leadership program for individual donors and families working together to create lasting positive social change. PHF primarily funds in the areas of oceans, biodiversity conservation and climate change, with a heavy emphasis on building and supporting strategic collaborations. In April 2010, the foundation supported Sylvia Earle and the TED Conference’'s Mission Blue voyage, which brought together 100 influential leaders in the Galapagos Islands to seek smart, strategic collaborations and solutions to restoring and protecting the ocean. It was aboard this voyage that Oceans 5 was born."


 * Director, Oceans 5