MARINA DEL RAY, CA – Leading adult transaction processor Epoch (aka Paycom) has announced that Joel Hall has been named chief executive officer of the company and that Clay Andrews, another of the company’s founders, has stepped down as the president of the company in order to start a new company.Hall, along with Andrews, started Epoch in 1996. Since then, the company has blossomed into “the largest and most successful Internet Payment Service Provider (IPSP) in the adult entertainment industry,” according to a company press release.
With Hall moving into the role of CEO, the position of chief technical officer is now in the hands of long-time Epoch tech, Manish Poddar.
“We’ve gone through a lot of changes in recent years,” says Hall, “but the next evolution of our company is just around the corner. Epoch has always been a leader in this industry by being the first to provide real-time stats and sales reports, as well as the industry’s first affiliate program. We are poised to address the future needs of the adult business as never before. I think the adult entertainment community will be extremely pleased with the direction in which we’re going.”
According to the company press release, a manufacturing company started by Andrews has experienced such growth over the last year that it was necessary for him to step down as president of Epoch and to manage the other company full-time.
The company also stated in its release that Andrews is “still closely involved in decisions regarding Epoch’s long term objectives,” but that he has “turned over most of the managerial duties to other members of Epoch’s board of directors.”
The executive team at Epoch now breaks down as follows: Esther Martinez, chief operating officer; Manish Poddar, chief technical officer; Mike Costanza, vice president of sales and marketing; Jeff Thaler, director of business development; Harmik Gharapetian, director of customer service; Rand Pate, director of communications; and David Bonsukan, director of risk management.
“Most members of our team have been with Epoch for nearly eight years” says Hall. “We have more combined expertise in the adult processing industry that any other billing company in the US.”
VP Mike Costanza, the newest addition to the Epoch executive team, has a background in the telecommunications industry and brings with him more than 10 years of sales and marketing experience, according to a company press release.
“Epoch has always focused on providing its clients with the tools they need to maximize their profits,” says Hall. “We’ve had great success providing the adult entertainment community with as much flexibility as possible. Our main objective is to manage transactions, credits and chargebacks while providing around-the-clock customer service. We have excelled by approaching our business as both art and science and providing the best through-put possible. We are working on new ways to take that to the next level.”
