Geoff Kerr, USWeb Corporation, (408) 987-3260,
[email protected]
Robert Shaw Joins USWeb as Chief Executive Officer
Professional services powerhouse executive from Oracle joins to further company's momentum; Joe Firmage continues in new role as chief strategist
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - November 5, 1998 - USWeb Corporation (Nasdaq: USWB) announced today that Robert Shaw has been appointed CEO of the firm. Shaw brings to USWeb a strong background of building global world-class professional service organizations.
Shaw was Executive Vice President for Worldwide Consulting Services at Oracle Corporation. During his six years at Oracle, Shaw was responsible for building the global consulting organization and infrastructure, setting strategy, defining the services offering, service delivery and client satisfaction. Shaw oversaw the recruiting and professional development of over 15,000 consultants in Oracle�s Worldwide Consulting Services group. He grew the organization to profitability and revenues in excess of $2.5 billion during his tenure at Oracle. Also under Shaw�s purview was worldwide sales for Oracle�s largest and most strategic clients as well as vertical markets. Prior to joining Oracle, Shaw was the Partner responsible for the San Francisco office of Booz Allen & Hamilton and was also Managing Partner in charge of the IT practice for a subsidiary of Coopers & Lybrand.
Upon the planned completion of the merger of USWeb with CKS Group, Inc. to form Reinvent Communications later this year, Shaw will become CEO of Reinvent and will be a member of the board. Mark Kvamme, Chairman of CKS is expected to become Chairman of the Board of the new combined company.
Joe Firmage, co-founder and current Chairman and CEO of USWeb, will move into a new role as Chief Strategist. He will focus on translating the paradigm-shifting forces created by the emergence of the Internet into practical business advice for clients. He will also contribute to developing business strategy for USWeb and Reinvent Communications after the expected close of the merger with CKS later this year. Firmage will continue his service on the board of directors.
�Joe Firmage has led USWeb with vision and focused execution for nearly three years and the Board could not be more pleased with his performance and the company�s progress to date,� said Robert Hoff, general partner of Crosspoint Ventures, and a member of USWeb�s Board of Directors.
�I believe that this is the right time to bring in a seasoned executive like Robert Shaw. I have pushed the search for a new CEO and am thrilled to have found Robert. As a leader in our market sector we�ve accomplished amazing things in under three years. I believe we have found an individual with the reputation and capability to lead us into the next century,� said Firmage.
�I�m excited by the tremendous opportunity to execute on Joe�s vision and strategy,� said Robert Shaw. �My task will be to work with the management team to grow the firm to become a multi-billion dollar global Internet systems and marketing communications company.�
Not only did Shaw substantially grow the Worldwide Consulting Services business for Oracle, he helped develop systems and methodologies to scale the organization�s capabilities to meet ever-changing and expanding client requirements. Other keys to Shaw�s success was establishing a comprehensive recruiting engine to find the right people coupled with training and professional development programs designed to retain employees and increase productivity.
Reporting to Shaw will be Joe Firmage, Chief Strategist, Toby Corey, President and COO, Sheldon Laube, CTO and Carolyn Aver, CFO. Upon the completion of the merger with CKS Group, Tom Suiter, Chief Creative Officer, will also report to Shaw.
Company Background
USWeb Corporation is a leading strategic Internet services firm helping clients achieve revenue, profit, market share, and customer loyalty objectives through Internet strategies and systems. USWeb works with a diverse and prominent portfolio of clients, from Fortune 100 corporations to medium-size organizations. The Company, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, recently announced that it intends to merge with CKS Group, Inc. pending regulatory and stockholder approval. Additional information about USWeb Corporation is available by calling 408-987-3200.
This press release contains �forward-looking statements� (as defined under federal securities law) regarding the planned merger of USWeb and CKS Group, their operation as a combined company, the potential benefits of the merger and the Company�s planned changes in management personnel and positions. The Company�s ability to complete the CKS merger, integrate with CKS or other recently acquired entities, realize the desired advantages of the planned merger, maintain customer relationships, retain employees and make transitions in key personnel may differ materially and adversely from those discussed in this press release. Factors that may cause such a difference include, without limitation, risks related to acquisitions, such as difficulties in integrating operations, loss of customer accounts, inability to retain employees, decline in growth rate, challenges or costs involved in combining technologies or services, merger-related costs, adverse fluctuations in stock prices, potential litigation and diversion of management attention from other business concerns, and challenges related to changes in senior management include possible differences in strategy or implementation methods and the risk and expense of a departure of an executive valuable to the Company. For additional information about factors that could affect the Company�s business, see the documents file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.