Robert Cohn

This article is about the Canadian businessman. For the American journalist, see Bob Cohn. For the character in Hemingway's 1926 novel, see The Sun Also Rises.
Robert Cohn
Born
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
OccupationFounder of Octel Communications

Robert Cohn is a Canadian born entrepreneur and businessman known for founding Octel Communications, the company that commercialized voice mail and was largely responsible for making it ubiquitous on cell phones, in companies and on residential phones.[1][2]

In 1982, Cohn founded Octel Communications Corporation. He served as Chairman and CEO of Octel from its inception in 1982 until the company was purchased by Lucent Technologies in 1997. He then served as an Executive Vice President of Lucent Technologies, Inc. and retired April 30, 1999. From 2002 to 2004, Cohn was a partner with Sequoia Capital. He currently mentors and advises select first-time CEOs and rising stars in technology businesses.

Before Octel, Cohn held positions with McKinsey & Company, and Banque Rothschild in France.

He has a BS degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Florida and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

  1. ^ Investor's Business Daily, February 17, 1989, “Investors Waking Up to Octel’s Leadership”; 19.
  2. ^ San Jose Mercury News West Magazine, September 28, 1997, pp. 28-31 and p. 34, “Speaking With the Operator – For Robert Cohn, whose Octel Communications helped make voice mail ubiquitous, the message is the medium”, by Joel Shurkin.