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New E-Commerce Company Fills Key Posts Baker & Taylor, Inc.( 05/09/2000 ) Baker & Taylor today announced a number of organizational changes to serve the newly formed electronic business company, whose creation was reported last week. The new company, as yet unnamed, is the repository for all activities that Baker & Taylor conducts in the electronic business arena. The new company's name will be disclosed after the trademark and registration process is completed. Craig Richards currently serves as the CEO for Baker & Taylor and the new company. Richards named several key officers for the new company: -Robert Doran and the Electronic Business and Information Services group, formerly the information services unit of Baker & Taylor, have transferred to the new company. This group focuses a large amount of its efforts on database operations, both bibliographic and cataloging, Richards said. Doran is Senior Vice President of the Database Operations Unit for the new company. -Matt Carroll is Senior Vice President, Information Technology, for the new company. Formerly Vice President of Information Technology for Electronic Business and Information Services, he serves as the new company's Chief Technology Officer. His group accompanies him to the new company. -Pamela Smith serves as Senior Vice President, Internet Portals, in the new company. Her duties involve marketing for the new company and the development of Internet portals, the first of which is TheLibraryPlace.com for libraries. She has held various positions at Baker & Taylor, the most recent being that of Senior Vice President, New Business Development. Moving to the new company along with Smith is Robin Gridley as Director of Marketing. -Glen Secor and the Yankee Rights Management team, which focuses on digital distribution rights, have become part of the new company. In addition to continuing to develop the rights management business, Secor serves as the focal point for electronic distribution efforts. Susan Frost, publisher of Replica Books, moves with Baker & Taylor's print-on-demand business to the new company. Richards also announced an organizational change at Baker & Taylor. Gary Rautenstrauch has been appointed Baker & Taylor's Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to him are Jim Ulsamer, President, Retail; George Coe, President, Institutional; Arnie Wight, Executive Vice President, Distribution; and Dan Johnson, Vice President, Information Systems. Rautenstrauch had been Executive Vice President of Baker & Taylor. In making the organizational changes, CEO Richards noted each company will be an independent business-to-business entity. The new company's chief goal is development of the fast-paced business-to-business e-commerce opportunities emerging today. Initially, its three primary areas of service are distribution of electronic content; database operations; and creation of Internet portals to host fulfillment services for related vendors. Baker & Taylor now owns 100 percent of the new company, but outside equity financing will be sought and strategic relationships with third parties are likely to reduce the ownership percentage. Baker & Taylor, a global information and entertainment services company, offers books, videos, music and services to libraries, educational institutions, and traditional and Internet retailers. It is based in Charlotte, N.C.
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