https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Thylmann

Fabian Thylmann (born in 5 June 1978 in Aachen, Germany) is a businessman who was managing partner of the adult website conglomerate Manwin (now MindGeek). In October 2013, he sold his stake in the company, which was at the time the largest adult entertainment operator in the world. Since then he acts as an Angel Investor for young Startups in Brussels, Belgium where he also operates a Co-Working & Incubation space, SN-Cube. In late 2015 he acquired Frontback and is focusing on revamping the popular social photo sharing app.

Biography

Thylmann is married with two children, and he started computer programming when he was 17. His breakthrough came in the late 1990s when he developed software called NATS (Next-generation Affiliate Tracking Software), which enabled website operators to track users clicks on advertisements and links so that they could be paid commission. Thylmann used the money he made with NATS to buy various companies in the adult industry, and he later established Manwin.

Sale of Manwin

It was reported in October 2013 that Thylmann had stepped down and sold Manwin for €73 million. The reason for selling the company remains undisclosed.

Upon the sale of Manwin, Thylmann wrote in a letter to employees:

“ It is with a sad heart that I have to announce that I have decided to sell Manwin to Manwin's top management team. Please believe me that this decision has been one of the hardest in our lives for both my wife and myself. [...] Both myself and Manwin are at a stage where I can no longer add significant value to the best of my ability. I hope I have taught all of you and management the right values to be able to continue the company in the best possible way and I am looking forward to following its development.”

Extradition and indictment

In December 2012, he was extradited from Belgium to Germany on suspicion of tax evasion. Thylmann did not contest the extradition order, although he reportedly denied avoiding paying tax.

In April 2015, Thylmann was indicted by the Cologne, Germany federal prosecutor on tax evasion charges. The charges were dropped when he paid 5 Million Euros but he still faces a suspended sentence in another case.