NEW MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT iSYNDICATE EUROPE
London/Hamburg (ots)
iSyndicate Europe, the joint venture between the Bertelsmann Content Network and iSyndicate Inc, the leading provider of syndicated content on the Internet, today announced the appointment of Peter Bichara as its Chief Executive Officer, along with Christian Cramer as Vice President of Finance and Administration. Additionally, Tim Heath was named as the new Managing Director for the UK.
These important management positions signal iSyndicate Europe's growing leadership position in the European market. "iSyndicate Europe is now more than ever positioned for quick growth in major markets across Europe", said Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO of the Bertelsmann Content Network, the Bertelsmann group responsible for the company's syndication strategy.
Joel Maske, Chairman of the iSyndicate Europe Board, and President and CEO of iSyndicate, Inc. said: "I am confidant that Peter Bichara's vision, business savvy and superior management skills will grow iSyndicate Europe to its fullest potential. Tim brings a keen knowledge of the media business and an exceptional track record of success in the UK."
Top appointments include:
Peter Bichara, Chief Executive Officer, iSyndicate Europe
Bichara is responsible for leading the country-specific units of iSyndicate in Europe and for the integration of iSyndicate Europe within the company's worldwide network. After finishing his graduate studies in engineering and business, Bichara spent seven years in top management positions with The Boston Consulting Group in Düsseldorf, Los Angeles and Budapest, where he was considered an expert on telecommunications, multimedia and energy issues. Most recently he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at the Bertelsmann Direct Group where he was instrumental in the design and execution of Bertelsmann's content syndication strategy.
Christian Cramer, Vice President, Finance and Administration, iSyndicate Europe
Cramer formerly served as CFO at GAUDIA.COM, an application service provider for the entertainment industry. Cramer also served as a management consultant with Bain & Company, were he developed business strategies for numerous major enterprise companies. Cramer attended Technical University Munich and earned an MBA at Berkeley's.
Tim Heath, Managing Director, United Kingdom, iSyndicate Europe
Tim Heath has extensive knowledge of the UK and European content markets and fast growing digital distribution and broadband technologies. He joins iSyndicate Europe from CNBC Europe where he launched the thematic business TV channel in May 1996 and built distribution from 13 million cable and satellite subscribers on launch to reach 65 million currently. At CNBC Tim Heath was also engaged in developing new markets for CNBC products and services to major corporate customers in the financial and travel sectors.
Steven Moran, Vice President People; Director Strategic Alliances, iSyndicate Europe
Moran began his professional career in Asia working for the Samsung Corporation. Prior to iSyndicate Europe, Moran led various multimedia efforts on behalf of Bertelsmann AG, including implementing the company's Lycos and AOL ventures in Germany and expanding the business of eGroups in Europe. Moran attended the University of Houston, Harvard University, and Washington University in St. Louis.
About iSyndicate Europe (www.iSyndicate.com)
iSyndicate Europe is the leading provider of syndicated content and services in the Pan-European market. The Company develops, markets and supports a line of infrastructure and application software, technologies and tools that allow for the aggregation, distribution, exchange and management of digital content and information across the Internet and to any Internet-connected device. The Company's solutions allow its customers to maximize the power of information distribution and exchange on the Internet. iSyndicate Europe's content providers include some of the world's leading traditional and Internet brands including Agence-France Presse, BBC, dpa, Datamonitor, Dow Jones, Financial Times Germany, EMAP, IPC Magazines, Sportal, BBC, Sky News and Worldpop, among others. iSyndicate Europe is in the process of acquiring French-based Web syndication company nFactor SA, however there is no assurance that a final deal will be reached. nFactory S.A.'s 600 European content providers, combined with iSyndicate UK's content offerings, will bring to more than 1700 the number of content providers iSyndicate Europe represents, including leading brands La Tribune, VNU.fr and El Mundo. iSyndicate currently distributes content in eight languages including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Danish, Spanish and Swedish. ISyndicate Europe maintains offices in Hamburg and London. Including nFactory, iSyndicate Europe will operate additional business units in Paris, Spain, Belgium and Morocco. iSyndicate Europe is a 50:50 joint venture between San Francisco-based iSyndicate Inc. and Bertelsmann.
About Bertelsmann AG (www.bertelsmann.com)
As the world's most international media enterprise, Bertelsmann commands leading positions in the global media and entertainment industries. The Bertelsmann Group consists of publishing and music companies, book and music clubs, magazines and newspapers, television and radio stations, print and media service providers, multimedia and professional information companies represented by such brands as Random House, BMG, Gruner + Jahr
and RTL. Bertelsmann is the world's largest general-interest publisher and the biggest English-language publishing house worldwide. Bertelsmann book and music clubs are number one worldwide. Through RTL Group and Gruner + Jahr, the company ranks first in the European broadcasting and magazine sectors, respectively. Bertelsmann is the worldwide leading media company in the internet, and top ranking in its peer market in e-commerce with BOL in Europe and barnesandnoble.com in the US. The organization currently employs 76,000 people in 58 countries and posted DM 32,4 billion in total revenues in the 1999/00 financial year ended June 30, 2000.
For further questions, please contact:
iSyndicate Europe Pat Reilly Mobile: +1 - 415 - 760 02 65 Phone: +1 - 415 - 563 99 69 pr@isyndicate.com
Bite Communications Ltd. Kelly Scutt/Nick Morris Phone: +44 - (0) 208 - 741 1123 kellys@bitecomm.co.uk/nickm@bitecomm.co.uk
Bertelsmann AG Susanne Erdl Media and Financial Relations Phone: +49 (0) 52 41 - 80 25 35 susanne.erdl@bertelsmann.de
Original content of: Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, transmitted by news aktuell