Click2learn Appoints Top Executives To Foster Growth of Asia-Pacific Market
BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Click2learn (Nasdaq:CLKS) has appointed two new Asia Pacific market development veterans
to strengthen Click2learn’s presence and growth in Australia and the greater
Asia Pacific market. Grant Smuts, a corporate attorney and former strategic
consultant for Accenture (NYSE:ACN), has been named vice president of Asia Pacific
operations. Learning veteran Martin Cayzer has been named vice president of
business development for the Asia Pacific region.
Smuts will lead the launch of the Aspen Enterprise Learning Platform(TM) in
the Asia Pacific region and serve as the primary liaison between Click2learn
and its Asia Pacific regional distributor, LearnNow. Cayzer, previously the
alliances manager and senior product consultant for Saba Software (NASDAQ:SABA)
in Sydney, will be responsible for building strategic accounts and alliance
partnerships. "The learning technology market in the Asia Pacific region
is expected to see strong growth in the next few years, driven in large part
by growth in Australia. However, an upsurge in IT training, combined with strong
Internet access, also make Hong Kong and India targets for expansion. Click2learn
will play a key role in the support and development of all key regions of this
burgeoning market," said Kevin Oakes, chairman and CEO of Click2learn.
"Grant’s entrepreneurial approach to management — as well as his experience
in commercial law, strategy consulting and new media — will provide Click2learn
with a distinct advantage as we introduce the Aspen platform to the region.
Meanwhile, Martin’s deep knowledge and expertise in both learning and this region
will allow us to quickly develop strong vertical sectors like banking and finance,
mining and resources, pharmaceuticals, utilities and government." IDC expects
the Asia/Pacific IT training industry to grow 21 percent from 1999 to 2004,
to $2.5 billion. Most of this training is still conducted via the classroom.
By 2004, about 10 percent of IT training in the Asia-Pacific region is expected
to be conducted via e-learning.
Smuts joins Click2learn after two years in the UK where he served as managing
director for a content syndicator, YourNews. Before that, he was new media business
development manager for News International’s digital arm in London, a strategy
consultant for Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) in Sydney and a corporate
lawyer at Mallesons Stephen Jacques in Brisbane. He is a qualified solicitor
and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce from Bond University
in Queensland.
Cayzer, who has a decade of experience in learning technology, played a key
role in gaining Saba’s first customers in Australia. Before that, he worked
for Click2learn in various business development and consulting roles in Europe
and Australia.
Both Smuts and Cayzer will be based in Sydney, Australia.
About Click2learn
Click2learn (Nasdaq:CLKS) is a provider of enterprise software for Global 2000
organizations seeking to capture, manage and disseminate knowledge throughout
their extended enterprise. Using Click2learn’s Aspen Enterprise Learning Platform,
organizations can deploy highly interactive, personalized learning initiatives
to achieve strategic business objectives. Many of the world’s best-known corporations
use Click2learn’s technology and award-winning content development services
to improve workforce performance, educate customers, and publish large volumes
of learning content. Click2learn’s clients include Microsoft, Fidelity Investments,
Wells Fargo, Symantec, Prudential, American Airlines, ADC Telecommunications,
Ernst & Young and the New York Stock Exchange. Based in Bellevue, Wash.,
Click2learn (www.click2learn.com,
800/448-6543) operates offices in the United States and Europe.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including information contained in this document where statements
are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "plans,"
"intends," "expects," "anticipates" or similar
expressions. For such statements, The Company claims the protection of the safe
harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted,
and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements include, market acceptance of Click2learn’s e-learning
solutions and competing e-learning offerings, the ability to successfully implement
Click2learn’s solutions and increase revenues, the ability to successfully address
technological developments and standards and the risk factors set forth in filings
the Company has made with the SEC.
Click2learn, Aspen and ToolBook are trademarks of Click2learn. All other company
and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Click2learn
Sara Britton, Director of Public Relations
425/637-5872
or
Jeff Howlett, Director of Investor Relations
425/637-1514
