James Espinas, USWeb/CKS, 408-986-6747 or
[email protected]
Kate Wagner, USWeb/CKS, 408-987-3268 or
[email protected]
USWeb/CKS Establishes Presence in Norway
Leading Internet Professional Services Firm Appoints Management Team to Build Scandinavian Presence
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - April 19, 1999 - USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB), a leader in strategic Internet and marketing communications services, announced today plans to expand into Norway. Marking the firm's first steps into the Scandinavian market, USWeb/CKS has appointed veteran consulting professionals Paal Roppen, Odd Martinsen, Jostein Borgmo and Eirik Johnsen as founding members of the region's management team tasked with building the firm's presence in Norway. Roppen will be Managing Partner of the Nordic Region, responsible for extending the firm's presence into the other Scandinavian countries. Martinsen will be Managing Director for USWeb/CKS in Norway.
"A USWeb/CKS presence will provide Norwegian businesses instant access to more than 2,300 Internet specialists around the world, in addition to one of the largest pools of expertise and experience in the area of Internet and marketing communication services," said Paal Roppen. "We hope to scale quickly in this market by recruiting top Internet experts from various communities in Norway and potentially from acquisitions. Our goal is to become a leader in the Scandinavian market."
"By combining expertise in marketing communications and Internet technology, USWeb/CKS helps companies transform their businesses to compete in the digital economy," said Bob Clarkson, executive partner, International region. "As we expand our presence in Europe, we intend to transfer this recipe for success to the Norwegian market, growing the expertise through both organic hiring and acquisition. We also expect to expand into the other Scandinavian countries over the next 18 months."
USWeb/CKS currently has more than 40 offices worldwide and is one of the largest Internet professional services firms in Europe with more than 400 employees in five countries.
About the Management Team
The management team in Norway has unique experience in business development and management for both marketing communications and technology-based companies. Paal Roppen previously held a variety of top managerial positions in JBR/McCann and McCann-Erickson International, two leading marketing communications companies. He helped guide McCann's International Internet service offerings by establishing Thunderhouse, an Internet services company based in Norway. Now, as managing partner for the Nordic Region, Roppen will be responsible for developing and coordinating USWeb/CKS's business activities in the Nordic markets and will sit on the company's European management board.
Odd Martinsen also helped to develop Thunderhouse into one of Norway's leading Internet service firms. Before joining ThunderHouse, Martinsen was Managing Director of Apple Norway. As managing director of USWeb/CKS in Norway, he will focus on developing the Norwegian office of USWeb/CKS and will contribute to the establishment of USWeb/CKS in the other Scandinavian countries.
Jostein Borgmo, has been appointed Creative Director of the USWeb/CKS office in Norway. He was previously Creative Director of ThunderHouse Norway. Borgmo has a long and impressive track record as a creative director and copywriter in the Norwegian advertising industry and is a specialist in new media communication. At USWeb/CKS, Borgmo will be responsible for recruiting expertise and ensuring quality marcom practices in the field. Eirik Johnsen will join USWeb/CKS as Technology Director. He too is joining USWeb/CKS from ThunderHouse, where he was Chief IT adviser and a member of the management team - playing a central role in McCann-Erickson's international developments in information technology. Johnsen will drive the Norway office's technological direction.
About USWeb/CKS
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) is a professional services firm that works with companies to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses by combining the expertise of strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy. With more than 2,300 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as traditional IT and Internet systems-everything from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Additional information about USWeb/CKS operations in Scandinavia is available by sending an email to mailto:[email protected]/ or by calling 408-987-3200.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (as defined under securities law) about USWeb/CKS' plans and expectations regarding its business in Nordic Regions. Prior to this announcement, USWeb/CKS has had no presence or expertise managing an operation in this region. International operations entails inherent risks and unless the Company overcomes the challenges of initiating operations in a new region, its success will fall short of its plans and expectations and its business will suffer. For additional information about factors that could affect the businesses of USWeb/CKS, see the documents filed by the companies with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.