Biography of Derek Harrar: Founder and CEO of Algoworks -Entrepreneur
Biography of Derek Harrar:
Early Years and Academic Foundation (1984–1992)
Derek Harrar’s journey began in Abington Senior High School,
where he studied from 1984 to 1988. He then pursued a Bachelor’s degree in
Business Management and Accounting from Washington and Lee University,
graduating in 1992. This strong educational foundation helped shape his
analytical mindset and business acumen early on.
Stepping into Finance and Technology
Derek kicked off his career as an investment banker with
Morgan Stanley, gaining valuable exposure to the financial and corporate world.
This experience was crucial in developing his strategic thinking, understanding
of complex markets, and ability to lead businesses through pivotal phases.
Building from the Ground Up – The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Not content with just working behind the scenes, Derek went
on to found two startups, demonstrating his ability to build and lead from
scratch. These ventures sharpened his skills in innovation, product
development, and team building, ultimately preparing him for greater leadership
roles.
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Leading at Scale – Comcast and Beyond
One of Derek’s most significant corporate achievements was
leading Comcast’s $19 billion video division as its General Manager, where he
managed a Fortune-50 level operation. His ability to handle such a massive
P&L made him a standout leader in the tech-media-telecom (TMT) space.
A Trusted CEO and Operating Partner (Multiple Tenures)
Derek has been appointed CEO of four companies, a PE
Operating Partner twice, and a Board Member of two public companies. Across
these roles, he helped reposition companies, integrate cultures, launch new
products, and drive significant revenue growth, especially during critical
transition periods.
Joining FROM and Preparing for a Merger (2024)
In 2024, Derek took over as CEO of FROM – The Digital
Transformation Agency, a firm backed by Trivest Partners. His mission was to
lead a strategic transformation by blending digital customer experience with
AI-powered technologies to help large enterprises modernize efficiently.
The Birth of a New Company – Merging FROM and Algoworks
(2024–2025)
Later in 2024, FROM merged with Algoworks Solutions, and
Derek was chosen to lead the newly integrated company, now known simply as Algoworks
Inc. As CEO and Board Member, Derek drove a complete integration—aligning
teams, merging cultures, and streamlining operations to build an AI-native
engineering and experience transformation powerhouse.
A New Vision for
Algoworks (2025)
Under Derek’s leadership, the newly relaunched Algoworks
introduced a fresh brand identity and mission. He reshaped the go-to-market
strategy, focused aggressively on AI and digital transformation, and guided the
company to record-breaking performance in 2025, both in revenue and global
expansion.
A Global, Human-Centric AI Leader
Algoworks, now serving Fortune 500 clients across North
America, Europe, APAC, and Latin America, offers engineering services in AI,
Salesforce, Cloud, DevOps, and Mobile. The firm emphasizes human-centered
design, aligning technology with real-world user needs to drive adoption,
satisfaction, and ROI.
The Everyday AI Approach
A cornerstone of Derek’s strategy at Algoworks is the Everyday
AI methodology. This approach starts by embedding small, impactful AI tools
into current workflows. As teams see quick wins, the solution naturally scales
to other areas, creating a clear, sustainable AI roadmap that increases
productivity and reduces costs.
Engineer for Business, Build for People (Present Day)
Today, Derek continues to lead Algoworks with a philosophy
that blends technical excellence and human empathy. His career reflects a
commitment to innovation, transformation, and leadership, built on decades of
experience navigating startups, global corporations, and complex private
equity-backed businesses. His track record includes multiple exits, three
software patents, and a reputation for building companies that thrive at the
intersection of people and technology.
Timeline Summary:
- 1984–1988:
Abington Senior High School
- 1988–1992:
Washington & Lee University (B.S. in Business Management &
Accounting)
- 1990s:
Began career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley
- 2000s:
Founded 2 companies; Served as GM of Comcast’s $19B video division
- 2010s–2020s:
Operating partner for PE firms; Board member in tech companies
- 2024:
Appointed CEO of FROM
- Late
2024: Merged FROM with Algoworks under Trivest ownership
- 2025:
Relaunched Algoworks with new vision, brand, and AI-native focus
