News

Who's Who: Mike Hudson brings global vision to NCR EasyPoint

October 9, 2006

In 1992, Mike Hudson was at a turning point. He had worked 18 years for Dallas-based Southland Corp., now the parent of 7-Eleven, and was ready for a change.

Hudson, who at the time was the company's New York and Washington, D.C., divisional manager, had two young children, and he did not want to become the absent dad. He was looking for an opportunity that would help him grow professionally, too. So he decided to leave the company to expand his horizons.

"Leaving 7-Eleven in 1992 was the most difficult decision that I ever made, because it was the only career that I had ever known," Hudson said. "I fell victim to the belief that it was the only thing I could do."

Mike Hudson

His transition to unemployment wasn't easy, but it was made with the bigger picture in mind.

"We knew at the time we were going to look back and say it was such a pivotal point in our lives," said Cheryl Hudson, Mike's wife of 24 years. "We knew there was a reason for it; we just didn't know why it was happening. As it turned out, we ended up going to California and he ended up getting into the ATM business."

Hudson said the decision was tough, but professional doors quickly began to open.

Hudson received a job offer as president of Convenient Automated Trans Systems, also known as Money Quik, an independent ATM network formed through a partnership between 7-Eleven, Electronic Data Systems, Bank of America and Co-Op Financial Services, formerly Co-Op Network.Most of the company's machines were deployed in 7-Eleven stores, just one of many ties Hudson would link to his former 7-Elevenl roots throughout his career.

Hudson, along with the Money Quik's chief financial officer, developed a business plan for the company's growth and expansion. But in 1993, EDS purchased Money Quik, and Hudson opted not to stay. He then accepted a position with Tidel Engineering LP, now NCR EasyPoint LLC, as senior vice president of sales and marketing. He was familiar with Tidel, again because of his days with 7-Eleven.

"When I look back on my career, I have worked for four companies since school, and three of them were closely tied to 7-Eleven," Hudson said.

A new plan

Mike Hudson takes a break in Sydney, Australia.

Hudson was hired at Tidel because he shared the company's vision, said Mark Levenick, Tidel Technologies Inc.'s interim chief executive officer and director. (Tidel Technologies in December sold Tidel Engineering to NCR Corp. Read also, A marriage made in heaven.)

Levenick hired Hudson in 1992-1993, a time when Tidel was expanding its ATM footprint in the off-premises market. The new position moved Hudson's family to Plano, Texas, where they still reside.

Levenick said between 1993 and 1999, Hudson helped the company sell more than 12,000 ATMs.

"He's unique in that he's been on both sides (of the business)," Levenick said. "He knows ATMs from all perspectives. You don't find that in many people."

Hudson and Levenick have worked together for 13 years, and both have seen the industry, and their company, undergo several changes. (Converging product lines: NCR meets Tidel.)

Hudson is now NCR EasyPoint's general manager, and he's focusing his attention on the global expansion of the company's off-premises lines.

"All told, the off-premises segment continues to offer opportunities and challenges," Hudson said.

And so does working for a company like NCR.

Hudson believes NCR's global presence provides an intuitive advantage for the former Tidel. But NCR EasyPoint's global growth hasn't reached company expectations.

"My ambition over the next several years is to grow the (NCR EasyPoint) global market dramatically," Hudson said.

Moving forward

Hudson said the industry's biggest obstacle lies in maintaining respect for product integrity.

"The minute the consumer loses confidence in what we do, we are all going to suffer," he said.

As a member of the ATM Industry Association's executive board, Hudson hopes to make an ever bigger difference in the ATM industry.

"There's a huge population within this industry that can bring a lot to ATMIA, and that ATMIA can bring a lot to," Hudson said.

His philosophy of the association mirrors the relationship-building philosophy he has held during his time in the industry, said Dale Dentlinger, president of EDS.

"I think he generally tries to care about people, and I think he tries to have fun in whatever he's doing," Dentlinger said. "He always has a smile on his face and is always engaging. He's been around a long time, during good times and not-so-good times."

Included In This Story

---

ATM Industry Association (ATMIA)

The ATM Industry Association, founded in 1997, is a global non-profit trade association with over 10,500 members in 65 countries. The membership base covers the full range of this worldwide industry comprising over 2.2 million installed ATMs.

Request Info

Learn More