Investors in Ateliere Creative Technologies, the actor formerly known as OwnZones Media Network, have been desperate for updates, having been left in the dark for months as the media technology company grapples with scandal after scandal.
But now the wait is over.
A series of recent communications sent to shareholders by what remains of the media asset management vendor have scratched an itch or two (though still the general consensus among investors is mass confusion).
In the first of a series of emails seen by Faultline, it was announced internally last week that Mitchell Berman, a strategic advisor in pushing early to mid-stage companies towards acquisition or IPO, has stepped in as interim CEO of Ateliere Creative Technologies. Berman toasted his new position with a statement describing a period of “unprofessionalism, instability, and immature conduct” from the current board.
In a candid letter to investors, Berman criticizes the board for interference, unfulfilled promises, and operational missteps, while claiming that recent company achievements were largely the result of his own work alongside discredited founder Dan Goman and other key executives in the family, including Flavius and Adrian Goman.
However, Berman has expressed deep concern over a recent board email that used his name to oppose a shareholder-led initiative, calling the communication “disrespectful, offensive, and deeply disappointing.”
This comes in response to a coalition of shareholders, controlling over 10% of voting shares, launching a written consent campaign aimed at removing most of the current board, expanding it from five to seven directors, and establishing a non-voting advisory board.
The group argues that Ateliere’s operational, financial, and reputational challenges over the past year require fresh leadership to restore accountability, rebuild stakeholder confidence, and protect shareholder value.
Proposed new directors include Florin Maidaniuc (construction background), Kevin Kelly (refrigeration industry background), William Redinger (owner of a rehab center), Joseph Dantuono (criminal justice background), Flavius Goman (currently Solutions Architect Lead at Ateliere), Christina Daniels (medicine and mental health background), and John Strong (energy and biotech background).
Insiders note that while two current board members have resigned, the shareholder email pushing for board expansion—from 5 to 7 directors—did not come directly from the board.
The Shareholder Written Consent Form proposes the removal of four current directors. Unfortunately, public credentials or Ateliere-links for all four individuals are ambiguous and unclear, underscoring the governance concerns raised by the latest shareholder initiative.
Some investors have been unsettled by the message, questioning its transparency and accuracy given past communications. Meanwhile, Flavius Goman reportedly met via Zoom with local investors, though details of the discussion remain unclear.
Overall, sources describe Ateliere as a “mess,” with the interim leadership and shareholder coalition actively working to resolve the company’s structural and operational challenges.
Nevada law and Ateliere’s bylaws give shareholders the authority to act by written consent, meaning the initiative could legally reshape the board without prior approval from the current directors.
With shareholder confidence in question, Ateliere faces a pivotal moment that could determine whether the company stabilizes or continues to unravel.
We understand that founder Dan Goman, who is currently operating in various unspecified roles at Ateliere, has a vague plan to rebuild the company by cleaning house—i.e. removing names of executives, board members, or shareholders which have been associated with SEC investigations or other activities that are too unsavory for publication.
The irony is that Goman himself has been under SEC investigation. But worse still, the company is facing a pile of unpaid bills and lawsuits. This is like building the foundations of a new company on quicksand.