(from SEC doc) Background on TIGI newly acquired RIMC's CEO.........
Kevin Harrington, 43, prior to his current tenure as Chairman and CEO of
Reliant Interactive Media, Kevin Harrington helped pioneer the growth and
acceptance of televised direct-response marketing, or what our culture more
commonly calls "infomercials." In fact, Harrington produced his first
infomercial in 1985, and then founded Quantum International, one of the most
successful companies in direct response history. Limited to a three-person staff
(which included his brother, Tim), Harrington turned a $25,000 investment into
sales of more $140 million in the company's first two years of operation. While
at the helm of Quantum, Harrington launched a string of highly-profitable shows
featuring such universally popular products as The Great Wok of China, Wolfman
Jack's Solid Gold Rock 'n Roll Hits (the first ever music infomercial), The
JetStream Oven, The Daily Mixer, Ginsu/The Blade Knives, Kevin Trudeau's Mega
Memory and The Flying Lure (the industry's first fishing lure show). In 1989,
Harrington started the expansion of direct-response television into more than 30
foreign markets. In 1991, Quantum was sold to industry giant National Media. [NYSE: NM] As
a result of this transaction, Harrington ascended to the presidency of National,
where he presided over the launch of another string of a blockbuster shows,
including Bruce Jenner's Stair Climber, Bruce Jenner's Super Step, Bruce
Jenner's Powerwalk, Blue Coral's Autofoam and Regal Royal Diamond Cookware. In
July, 1994, Harrington left National Media to form joint venture company with
The Home Shopping Network. Called HSN Direct International, the aim of the
venture was to develop an infomercial company that could take products that had
performed successfully on HSN and roll them out into traditional infomercial
formats for broadcast around the world. The high-profile domestic and foreign
successes of HSN Direct include shows such as Tony Little's Ab Isolator; Sweet
Simplicity, a hair removal product; and Kathy Smith's AirTech Glider. HSN Direct
also forged a number of ground-breaking alliance with international marketers in
countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
Eventually, the company saw its shows broadcast in some 70 countries around the
world. In August of 1998, Harrington was appointed Chairman and CEO of Reliant
Interactive Media Corp., (OTC BB: RIMC). Kevin Harrington is a founding Board
member Electronic Retailing Association, an industry association. |
