Dobbrow to Lead Expansion of Ziff-davis' Internet Learning Offerings for Consumers
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1999--Ziff-Davis (NYSE: ZD and ZDZ) today tapped Chris Dobbrow to lead the company's efforts to leverage the significant opportunity the Internet holds for personal development and learning.
''The Internet is transforming learning just as it is transforming business,'' stated Eric Hippeau, chairman and CEO of Ziff-Davis Inc. ''Our pioneering efforts in providing online training in technology for corporate markets really hit a responsive note with consumers this past year as we broadened curriculum and reach. To fully realize the potential of training via the Internet, we need to give the consumer market the level of attention that we have historically given and will continue to give to the business market.''
''Our goal is to develop the greatest range of topics that will help individuals engage in life long learning to improve their personal and professional lives,'' said Dobbrow. ''We want to create a significant presence in the personal learning market where consumers of all ages and interests can learn about a wide range of topics relating to today's most important lifestyle topics--from tax planning and online investing, to travel and wine tasting.''
Dobbrow is a sixteen-year veteran of print and Web publishing. Most recently, as Executive Vice President, ZD Publishing, he was responsible for flagship brands, PC Computing and PC Magazine. During his tenure, both brands successfully migrated their content and advertising base towards Internet products and services, both business and consumer. In 1997, Dobbrow launched Equip magazine and the Web site as the ''field guide for the digital age,'' focusing on consumers living the tech lifestyle.
''We are fortunate to have an executive of Chris's caliber to lead this effort,'' continued Hippeau. ''The business and consumer markets are discreet, requiring fundamentally different strategies and skill sets. Chris has what it takes to move an existing brand into a new space as well as to develop an entirely new category.''
ZD Education, based in Rochester, New York, will continue to build the business market for online learning. The consumer-focused business will be headquartered in San Francisco and will be part of Ziff-Davis Inc.'s ZD Group (NYSE: ZD - news).
''Our experience and success with ZDNet gives us confidence in establishing other fast-growing Internet-based businesses,'' said Hippeau. ''We already have more than 100,000 students in our Web-based training services, and we expect to grow this base in the coming months. We believe we have only scratched the surface of the opportunities the Internet holds for our customers, our audiences and for Ziff-Davis shareholders.''
About Ziff-Davis Inc.
Ziff-Davis Inc. is a leading integrated media and marketing company focused on computing and Internet-related technology, with principal platforms in print publishing, trade shows and conferences, online content, market research and education. Ziff-Davis provides global technology companies with marketing strategies for reaching key decision-makers. On March 31, 1999, Ziff-Davis Inc. completed an initial public offering of 11.5 million shares of a new series of common stock. This class of common stock is intended to track the performance of ZDNet (NYSE: ZDZ - news). As part of the ZDNet IPO, the existing common stock of Ziff-Davis Inc. became a series of common stock (NYSE: ZD - news) intended to track the performance of the ZD Group, which includes Ziff-Davis Inc.'s print publishing, trade shows and conferences, education, market research and television businesses and an 84% retained interest in ZDNet.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Although Ziff-Davis Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those expectations. Important cautionary statements and risk factors that would affect actual results are discussed in materials filed by Ziff-Davis Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission including under the caption ''Risk Factors'' in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 which became effective on March 30, 1999.
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Contact:
Ziff-Davis Inc.
Glynnis Woolridge
(212) 503-5477
glynnis_woolridge@zd.com
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