EBSCO
Industries, Inc. (EBSCO) is pleased to report it is
in the final stages of fully integrating the RoweCom
acquisition. This includes RoweCom U.S., Canada and
Australia as well as RoweCom Europe.
EBSCO's
international presence has been extended by the merger
of the existing EBSCO office in Orsay, France with
the former RoweCom office in Villebon, France. All
employees are now operating from the Villebon location.
The combined entity, EBSCO Information Services SAS,
greatly strengthens EBSCO's capabilities worldwide,
and specifically in France. "We've got new EBSCO products
and services to offer former RoweCom customers and
others. Plus we've gained more staff to serve our
growing customer base in France," said Luc Prudhon,
general manager of EBSCO Information Services SAS.
To
support this larger office in France, EBSCO has upgraded
the systems in the U.K. that provide information technology
(IT) support for Europe. The IT support for the former
RoweCom European operations is provided from Folkestone,
U.K. According to John Fitts, vice president and general
manager of Information Systems & Services for
EBSCO, "We invested to strengthen the capabilities
of the IT network in the U.K. These systems have been
upgraded and are now integrated with EBSCO's worldwide
network of services."
EBSCO
is also pleased to report it will continue operations
in the Boston area (the former RoweCom office in Westwood,
Mass., U.S.A.). Recognizing the caliber of people
working from the office in Westwood, EBSCO will continue
work there under the leadership of Susan Kalalas,
operations manager. "We are glad to have become part
of a company like EBSCO. They said their focus was
going to be on merging personnel and systems in a
way that would best serve our customers in 2003, and
they've done what they said they were going to do,"
Kalalas said. "The remaining team at Westwood looks
forward to applying our skills to support customers
and the various EBSCO Regional Offices in North America."
"It's
with great pleasure that we have been able to retain
so many experienced, highly motivated and quality
people with the knowledge and ability to continue
providing outstanding service to the former RoweCom
customers, and to contribute to EBSCO's future success,"
said F. Dixon Brooke, Jr., vice president and division
general manager for EBSCO Information Services.
After
a challenging year for everyone involved, EBSCO regards
the RoweCom acquisition to be a success. "For us,
key measures of success include the volume of renewals
processed for 2004 and the level of customer satisfaction,"
said Allen Powell, vice president and chief financial
officer for EBSCO Subscription Services. "Renewal
season is beginning to wind down, and we are pleased
so far with the renewal activity and customer feedback."
About
EBSCO Industries, Inc.
EBSCO Industries, Inc. is a global corporation with
sales, service and manufacturing subsidiaries at work
in 19 countries around the world. EBSCO's business
interests include information management services,
online and print journal subscription services, online
research databases, real estate development, commercial
printing and more. EBSCO, an acronym for Elton B.
Stephens Company, is based in Birmingham, Alabama,
U.S.A. and employs 4,800 people around the world.
Additional information on EBSCO Industries is available
from http://www.ebscoind.com/.
Contact:
Regina Kennamer
Corporate Communications
(205) 981-5145
E-mail: [email protected]
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Release
Date: Dec. 2, 2003
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