ACTIVCARD NAMES GEORGE GARRICK AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
24 September, 2003
category: Contactless, Corporate, Digital ID
Digital Identity Management Software Provider Appoints Proven Industry Leader
FREMONT, California – September 17, 2003 – ActivCard(r) (NASDAQ: ACTI), a
provider of Identity Management software for secure remote access, secure
sign-on and digital ID card solutions, today announced the appointment of
George Garrick as Chief Executive Officer, commencing October 1, 2003, as
well as his election to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Garrick brings a wealth of experience in driving success and high growth
in technology companies and a record of results throughout 20 years of
leadership in global executive management positions. Most recently, Mr.
Garrick served as Chairman, President and CEO of Placeware, Inc., until its
acquisition by Microsoft Corp. in April 2003. Placeware is the world’s
leading provider of web conferencing software and hosted services that
enable businesses to conduct real-time, interactive presentations, meetings
and other collaborative multi-media communications over the Internet.
PlaceWare’s customers and end-user companies include many of the Fortune 500
as well as the U.S. Department of Defense. He successfully restructured the
company’s product lines, opened new distribution channels, launched
aggressive new marketing and sales programs, and achieved over 20% in
revenue growth within 12 months prior to the sale to Microsoft.
Previously, Mr. Garrick was chairman, president and CEO of Flycast
Communications, joining as a startup and growing the organization into the
Internet’s leading direct-response advertising company. At Flycast, Garrick
expanded annualized revenues from $2 million to over $40 million in less
than a two-year period, took the company public for $500 million, and then
sold it for $2.3 billion. Throughout much of Mr. Garrick’s earlier career,
he served in various executive positions with Information Resources, Inc.
(IRI), a publicly held company addressing the marketing information analysis
and related software technology needs of Fortune 1000 clients.
Throughout
the 1980s to the early 1990’s, Garrick held global positions with IRI, and
was named IRI-CEO for North America in 1993. Garrick’s international
management experience includes his launching of IRI’s services into the UK,
France, Germany, Netherlands and Turkey, while living in London. He left in
1996 to pursue opportunities in Silicon Valley after building the North
American unit to $270 million in revenues, and concurrently expanding to
over 3000 employees. In 1993, Mr. Garrick was president and CEO of the A.C.
Nielsen Company, with nearly $300 million in revenues and over 3500
employees.
“George’s extensive expertise in marketing, sales, and the global software
sector is an ideal fit for expanding ActivCard’s delivery of digital
identity solutions to the marketplace, continuing our commitment to quality
solutions for our customers and building a market-leading company,” said
Steven Humphreys, current CEO of ActivCard, who will be remaining on the
Board of Directors following Mr. Garrick’s appointment. “George brings a
broad international background and proven track record in driving aggressive
growth. His ability to build effective management teams, establish
category-leading businesses, identify and respond to customer and
marketplace opportunities, and execute across global markets will unleash
the full potential of our best-of-breed identity solutions.”
“With its technology expertise and fundamental financial strength, I’m
pleased to be part of shaping the next phase of the Company. The
convergence of it’s strong technology, and a rapidly increasing demand for
digital identity solutions that confirm users are who they say they are
online, positions ActivCard to become the de facto standard in securing the
foundation of electronic communications,” stated Garrick. “I’m truly excited
about joining the ActivCard team, and to further establishing our products
as universally adopted business tools at the center of commerce – in
corporate, government and financial transactions.”
“The selection of George Garrick followed an extensive search. Among a
field of excellent candidates, he clearly was the strongest, and is very
well suited to the specific opportunities and needs at ActivCard,” said
James E. Ousley, chairman of the nominating committee of ActivCard’s Board
of Directors. “We’re extremely pleased that George has accepted the
opportunity at ActivCard. We’re confident that his leadership will result
in the establishment of ActivCard as the clear leader in the new category of
strongly authenticated identity management, as well as help us expand into
new and complementary product and service areas which take advantage of
ActivCard’s assets and core competencies.”
Mr. Garrick holds dual B.S. degrees in Engineering and Mathematics, and an
M.S. in Management from Purdue University.
About ActivCard
ActivCard, www.activcard.com, is the leader in IDentity Management (IDM)
software for remote access, secure sign-on and digital ID card solutions.
Our scalable IDM and strong authentication solutions are trusted by
organizations – from enterprise to governments around the world. ActivCard
IDM systems deliver maximum Return On Identity(tm) (ROI) through increased
security, reduced cost, and user convenience. The modular product design
allows our customers to add capabilities as required, preserving their
investment.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including
risks associated with fluctuations in operating results, our history of
losses, the concentration of our customer base, our reliance on strategic
relationships, acquisitions and managing our future growth, and other risks
identified in our periodic filings with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those appearing under the
caption “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the fiscal
quarter ended on June 30, 2003. Actual results, events and performance may
differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
ActivCard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
ActivCard is a registered trademark of ActivCard in the United States and/or
other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners in the United States and/or other countries.
CONTACTS
ActivCard Corporate
The Merritt Group
Consort PR
Julie White
Tom Rice
Tony Bovill
Tel: +1 (510) 574 1708
Tel: +1 (703) 748-3482
+44 1344 626171
[email protected]