James Montgomery today announced that Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, has joined the list of speakers at OASIS: THE MONTGOMERY SUMMIT. OASIS--an invitation-only event featuring top entrepreneurs and investors, senior level media and technology executives, and leading industry visionaries--will be held March 5-6, 2014 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman, Google (Photo: Business Wire)

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman, Google (Photo: Business Wire)

Joining Schmidt on the OASIS stage will be Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas and co-author, with Schmidt, of the book "The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business." Schmidt and Cohen will be interviewed by Rich Kaarlgard, business author and Forbes magazine publisher, on March 5 at the OASIS Summit.

From 2001-2011, Schmidt served as Google's chief executive officer, overseeing the company's technical and business strategy alongside founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Under his leadership, Google dramatically scaled its infrastructure and diversified its product offerings while becoming one of the world's most innovative - and successful - companies.

Before launching Google Ideas, Cohen received multiple honors while serving four years in the State Department under Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. A leading expert on terrorism, counter-radicalization and the impact of connection technologies, Cohen was named by Time magazine in 2013 as one of its 100 most influential people.

Schmidt and Cohen join the list of distinguished OASIS speakers that include John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry; Deepak Chopra, America's preeminent expert on alternative medicine and holistic health; Paul Maritz, the former Microsoft executive and current CEO of data firm Pivotal; Ashish Thakkar, named World's Best Young Entrepreneur by the World Entrepreneurship Forum; and Brazilian mining billionaire Bernardo Paz, who will talk about the importance of creativity and innovation through the context of his world-famous art retreat in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

For OASIS founder James Montgomery, the addition of Schmidt and Cohen as speakers is part of an ambitious vision. "Our team at OASIS is on a mission to make this year's conference a one-of-a-kind gathering of innovation thought-leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs who want to change the world," said Montgomery. "We want to do an event that's unlike anything seen before in Los Angeles." Montgomery is well known for investing and coaching a generation of successful entrepreneurs.

An outgrowth of the hugely popular Montgomery Technology Conference, OASIS makes its debut this year with 145 exceptional presenting companies. These companies will fall into three categories: "First Look" companies that generate less than $10 million in yearly revenues; "Emerging" companies with revenues between $10 million and $50 million; and "Growth" companies whose yearly revenues exceed $50 million. Prior conferences have provided early looks at Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Splunk, Marketo, Meraki, Exact Target, Rocket Fuel, and other breakout companies.

In addition to the above-mentioned panels, New York Times tech reporter Quentin Hardy will moderate an OASIS panel on the future "math-based" currencies. Other panels will include senior executives from Facebook, Turn and Axciom; as well as leading venture investors and entrepreneurs. The conference will conclude with "Moneyball," which promises to be the largest prize business competition ever held as top venture investors will select one early stage company for a significant investment which will include participation by qualified investors in the audience.

ABOUT OASIS: THE MONTGOMERY SUMMIT

OASIS will feature exclusive gala receptions, world-class food, and special evening entertainment. Over 1,000 participants from around the world are expected to attend the inaugural OASIS Summit. Presenting sponsors for OASIS include the Signal Hill and Macquarie Capital. Additional sponsors include Telesystem Media, Vantage Media, Ernst & Young, Citrix, Telesign, Silicon Valley Bank, Liquidnet, Gibson Dunn, NS Solutions, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Cooley LLP, City National Bank, Pritzer Group Venture Capital, TruCar, and August Capital. The conference will be held March 5-6, 2014 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. http://www.fairmont.com/santa-monica/

To inquire about an invitation for OASIS: THE MONTGOMERY SUMMIT, visit us at www.oasis-summit.com or email info@montgomerysummit.com.

earlier coverage: Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-18/banker-in-myspace-sale-eyes-davos-type-conference-in-l-a-.html and BusinessWire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140124005119/en/OASIS-Summit-Heralds-Expanded-Vision-Top-Technology#.Uwr0tfldVIF

for OASIS: THE MONTGOMERY SUMMIT
Ross Johnson, 310-854-4780
ross.johnson@johnsonpublic.com